1:16pm UK, Tuesday March 29, 2005

Huge rallies have marked the last weekend of campaigning ahead of Thursday's election in Zimbabwe.

The run-up has been largely free of the violence and intimidation that have characterised the country's last two elections.

180 Robert Mugabe

Robert Mugabe addresses supporters

However, the opposition says that is because the ballot has already been fixed.

Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe has been accused of deliberately starving opposition supporters.

It is alleged to be a tactic designed to force them to back him in Thursday's election.

The Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube told Sky News' David Chater that emergency food stations were turning away those who did not support the government.

He alleged that President Mugabe's Zanu PF party members told those backing the opposition NDC party they would starve to death.

Mr Mugabe was accused of overseeing a "sham of free and fair elections" through a "black dictatorship" which was worse than a white one.

"At least they allowed food to flow. They (Zanu PF) stopped non-governmental organisations helping the people. We are in a drought here."

The archbishop said people came to him complaining of their plight, many destitute and with no money for food.

He said his country was suffering an "evil form of coercion".

David Chater spoke to voters in Zimbabwe who backed the cleric's claims.

They said they were bribed with food to attend pro-Government rallies.