It was inevitable something dramatic would have to happen.
The electoral playing field had become so one-sided, the incidents of violence and murder against his supporters so widespread, that Morgan Tsvangirai had to do something.
On Sunday afternoon he called a press conference in his Strathaven home in Harare's central suburbs and announced that his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was pulling out of the presidential run-off scheduled for Friday, 27 June.
In the week preceding this announcement, the city had become numbed by the ongoing violence and ruling party Zanu-PF's brand of aggressive campaigning.
Whole constituencies comfortably won in the 29 March poll were being overrun by Zanu-PF's youth militias. Mob rule reigned even in the townships.
Those affiliated with the opposition - elected MPs, councillors, organising secretaries, activists - were being systematically targeted.
One youth was dragged out of his councillor relative's home in Chitungwiza, a satellite town south of Harare, and the axe used to break down their door was embedded in his skull. An opposition mayor had his young wife kidnapped and murdered.
It was against this background that Sunday promised something dramatic from the opposition.
MDC: URGENT APPEAL FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND FUNDS
Faced with a rapidly escalating, brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Mugabe regime, Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change has issued an urgent appeal for medical supplies as well as funds for medical costs, food and legal assistance.
Their appeal comes in the wake of a vicious crackdown on opposition activists and supporters that began with the planned day of prayer on Sunday 11 March and continues to make headlines worldwide. More information here.