Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, says he expects to lose Saturday's general election. The controversial leader, who is seeking another five year term, told supporters at a rally in Bulawayo that a split in his ZANU-PF party will hand victory to the opposition.

"This time we are sure the MDC is going to win, ZANU-PF is split, split into two and some of the top leaders have left," he said.

Despite Mugabe's claims, his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai has accused him of planning to rig to vote.

The leader of the larger faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change says his party will fight any fraud in the vote.

"We will not leave those polls, when we vote we stay at the polls, when we vote we defend our vote, when we vote we celebrate our victory," he told his supporters at a rally in the capital, Harare.

In the face of a resurgent opposition, this election is thought to be the biggest challenge to Mugabe's 28-year rule.