HARARE, April 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said Thursday that he was "completely, totally optimistic" about the ruling party's victory in the southern African country's one-day parliamentary elections.

    Mugabe, who has been in power for 25 years, cast his ballot in Highfield residential area, where he began his political career in the 1950s.

    He told reporters present the ruling Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party would triumph in the poll, which largely pits it against the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

    "We (ZANU-PF) know we are going to win. Surely we will get a two-thirs majority," Mugabe told reporters.

    He also refuted some reports by Western media that his government just released food aid to ruling party supporters, saying that's "nonsense" and same treatments were given to the people in food-deficit provinces.

    Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC, cast his ballots in Harare.

    Speaking to journalists after voting, Tsvangirai said that he was confident victory would go to his party.

    "The people will speak today. I hope the outcome will be an MDC victory," Tsvangirai said.

    "I think change is on the way. It has always been on the way since 2000."

    ZANU-PF has been ruling party since Zimbabwe attained politicalindependence on April 18, 1980 from former colonial ruler Britain.However, in last parliamentary elections held in 2000, the party just got a feeble majority with 62 seats. Its main rival, the MDC,a party launched just one year before that elections, won 57 seats.

    Zimbabwe's parliament, also called House of Assembly has 150 members: 120 elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies and 12 appointed members by president, eight governors and 10 elected chiefs.

    ZANU-PF predicted it will win over 75 elected seats in Thursday's elections, with the opposition getting about 36, and about three going to independents.

    However, Morgan Tsvangirai disagreed, saying economic hardship would cause voters to cast ballots against Mugabe and his administration's policies.

    Though five political parties are contesting Thursday's elections, it is largely seen as a two-horse race between ZANU-PF and its main rival, the MDC. Enditem