HARARE, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate for Murehwa North, Alois Mudzingwa, complained his polling agents had been denied access totwo poling stations in the constituency as voting began on Thursday in the country's parliamentary election.

    Mudzingwa said the agents had been denied access to Njedza and Chingwaru polling stations and that ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party supporters had intimidated MDC supporters.

    In response, the ZANU-PF secretary for finance, who is also thegovernor and resident minister for Mashonaland East, David Karimanzira, dismissed the allegations, saying all parties had access to the stations.

    "The allegations are baseless and nonsensical because the elections are being run by an independent commission and not by a party," he said.

    The poll, which are being held over one day, are being run by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, an independent body in charge of all elections and referendums in the country.

    Karimanzira said voter turnout, which was low when voting started at 7 a.m., was expected to improve during the day.

    He said ZANU-PF, which controlled the seat, expected at least 50,000 voters in the constituency to vote by midday.

    Voting in the constituency started at a slow pace with at least200 people at five three polling stations having cast their ballots by 9 a.m.

    David Parirenyatwa is standing for the ruling party in the constituency. Enditem