HARARE, March 29 (Reuters) - Zimbabweans began voting on Saturday in the most crucial election since independence from Britain in 1980, with veteran President Robert Mugabe facing the biggest challenge of his 28-year-rule.

Voting began at 0706 a.m. (0506 GMT) and was scheduled to end 12 hours later.

With the once-prosperous nation's economy in ruins, Mugabe must defeat a formidable two-pronged attack from veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and ruling party defector Simba Makoni.

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