Tensions are running high in Zimbabwe with the first votes being counted in the embattled country’s general election ¿ and the accusations are flying of cheating and vote-rigging.

Opponents of President Robert Mugabe, as well as foreign observers, claimed the 84-year-old had stuffed the ballot with “phantom voters”.

Despite those fears, victory seems likely for the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Official results, however, will not be known until later in the week.

The election will decide the fate of a country enduring the highest rate of inflation in the world - 100,580.2 per cent - and an unemployment level of more than 80 per cent.

Once seen as the region’s breadbasket, the country is now suffering from previously unheard of shortages of basic foodstuffs such as cooking oil and bread.

Mr Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since a black liberation movement won its war against Ian Smith’s white-led “rebel” Rhodesia government in 1980. The country previously was a British colony.

Mr Mugabe has blamed the economic chaos on the West, which imposed sanctions after he allegedly rigged the 2002 elections.

Yesterday, as votes were counted at 9000 booths, Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his party had uncovered evidence of widespread vote rigging.

He said one million “ghost” voters had been registered in a northern region. Zimbabwe’s official population is about 13 million.

“Victory is assured in spite of the regime’s attempt to subvert the will of the people,” he said.

Mr Tsvangirai last year was assaulted by members of Mr Mugabe’s security forces.

A pan-African team of monitors alleged 8450 voters had been registered as living on a patch of deserted land in northern Harare, the capital.

“Despite the fact that the area is empty, voters were registered using addresses of the empty stands (blocks of land),” the team stated.

Mr Mugabe shrugged off the claims, warning the Opposition to respect any announcement on the result.

“We don’t rig elections,” he said. “I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged.”

Mr Mugabe’s opponents are former finance minister, Simba Makoni, and Mr Tsvangirai.

The election will also determine the composition of Zimbabwe’s 210-strong parliament.

Opposition secretary-general Tendai Biti said the swing to the MDC was “irreversible”.

“Thus far, short of a miracle, we have won this election beyond any reasonable doubt,” he said.

(Source)