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Elections will see President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, a long-time Mugabe ally, clash with Nelson Chamisa, a 40-year-old lawyer and pastor who aspires to become Zimbabwe's youngest head of state.
The polls, which are unreliable, give the former intelligence chief, Mnangagwa, a slight lead over Chamisa, making a second round possible on 8 September.
Mugabe, whose 37-year term ended when he was forced to resign in November, said Sunday at his home in Harare that the Mnangagwa government was unconstitutional and ruled by the gun.
"I hope the choice of tomorrow's vote will cast off, repel the military government and bring us back to constitutionality," said a frail-looking Mugabe in a rowdy speech that lasted nearly from one o'clock.
"I said that I can not vote for those who have caused me to be in this situation … so he remains Chamisa."
Mugabe, one of the last "big men" of African politics, still hangs over Zimbabwean politics and he can influence the first vote without his name on the ballot since the country gained independence from the Great Britain in 1980.
Although he became more and more unpopular with most Zimbabweans, mismanagement and corruption triggering the economy, he retains his support in his rural center where supporters remain bitter over the the way he was expelled.
Mnangagwa, known as "crocodile", an animal famed in the Zimbabwean tradition for stealth and cruelty, was removed by Mugabe last November to allow his wife, Grace, to seize power, badysts said.
It was too much for the army generals who were rolling military vehicles in the streets of Harare and kept Mugabe under house arrest until he resigned in the face of an impeachment imminent.
Fear of violence
million. Mugabe said Sunday that it was "utter nonsense" that he wanted his wife to succeed him and baderted that he was preparing to resign at a ZANU congress -PF in December.
This is the drawing that Mugabe keeps even seven months after being removed, he became the subject of questions at a parallel press conference held by Chamisa.
"Mr. Mugabe's wishes are his wishes, I will accept any voter with open arms, the more we will be crazy," said Chamisa in response to a question about the approval of Mugabe.
The elections under Mugabe were often undermined by violence, rigging and intimidation of voters.
The Chamisa Movement for Democratic Change (CDM) has already cast doubt on the electoral process, accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of bias.
There have been reports of intimidation and coercion, and state media are skewed in favor of the Zimbabwe African National Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). But there is a consensus that the process has been better than before.
Mnangagwa hosted in foreign media and international observers from the EU, US and Commonwealth, while opposition parties were allowed to campaign.
If Chamisa disputes the result or if no candidate gets more than 50 percent and there is runoff, there are fears of street protests and possible violence.
Dozens of people were killed in anticipation of a second round in 2008 between Mugabe and MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai, who died in February. Tsvangirai was withdrawn from the contest before the vote in an effort to end the bloodshed.
"A second round becomes more likely, which also increases the risk of violence, as has been the case in previous election cycles," said Robert Besseling, an badyst at EXX Africa.
"Although an outbreak of widespread violence as in 2008 is not expected … incidents of localized violence are increasing in frequency and intensity."
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