Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main wing of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change, on Saturday March 19 is standing against President Robert Mugabe in arguably the country’s most hotly contested presidential election since independence 28 years ago. Alec Russell, the FT’s southern Africa correspondent, interviewed him between election rallies in north-east Zimbabwe, in an area where until recently it was too dangerous for him to campaign.

FT: Three years ago you were not able to campaign in this part of the country. Now you face big rallies. What has changed?