As the Presidential Election is ongoing in Zimbabwe, CEOAFRICA.Com gathered that today has been declared a national holiday in ensuring people’s participation.

The tussle for the topmost position in the country is between 89 year-old incumbent President Robert Mugabe of the Zanu-PF party, and prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 61 of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Already, President Mugabe has said he will step down after 33 years in power if he and his Zanu-PF party lose.

Zanu-PF and the MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year

However, western observers, according to what CEOAFRICA.com gathered from sources,  have been barred from monitoring the election by the government, but the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as local organizations, have been accredited.

Election has started since 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and would close at 17:00 GMT.

People are out in appreciable numbers to carry out their civic right, with some of them expressed their readiness to vote.

Although, Mr. Mugabe expressed his willingness to step down if voted out, his opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai had dismissed the president’s remark.

"He does not believe in the right of the people to choose. He does not believe he can be voted out of office," Tsvangirai said.