Thirteen years ago today, a pivotal meeting took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, between opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe. The encounter marked the first face-to-face meeting between the two political rivals in three years.

Tsvangirai seized the opportunity to address the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) leaders, who had gathered to discuss Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis. He presented a clear ultimatum: Mugabe must halt government-sponsored violence immediately to ensure free and fair presidential elections.

The MDC leader outlined minimum conditions necessary for a credible ballot, including:

– An end to state-sanctioned violence
– Guarantees for a free and fair electoral process

Tsvangirai described the meeting as “tense but frank and fruitful.” This encounter was significant, as it marked the first time the two leaders had met since 1998, when Tsvangirai was leading the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in a nationwide strike against government economic policies.