President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday filed their nomination papers for the presidential election to be held together with legislative and local government elections expected on July 31 at the earliest.

Defense Minister and politburo member in Mugabe's Zanu-PF party Emmerson Mnangagwa filed on the president's behalf, while senior staffer in Tsvangirai's office Alex Magaisa filed on behalf of the leader of the MDC-T party.

Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube, leader of MDC-N, is due to file his papers early afternoon.

The elections are expected to retire the inclusive government formed in 2009 following inconclusive elections the previous year.