Zimbabwe’s 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa eyes ‘Obama effect’ in presidential bid
Nelson Chamisa and his MDC party face an uphill battle to win the all-powerful presidency
Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader and presidential hopeful Nelson Chamisa believes he will ride a wave of youthful optimism to election victory, emulating Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau.
In an interview, the 40-year-old Chamisa said Zimbabweans were craving generational change in the landmark July 30 elections.
The vote will pitch him against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a septuagenarian who was once a pillar of the Mugabe regime.
“People are connecting with young leadership,” Chamisa declared.
“The world is moving … young people are taking charge, look at France, look at Canada, look at New Zealand – look at the United States,” he said.
Barack Obama became US president aged 47, Justin Trudeau became Canadian prime minister at 43 while France’s Emmanuel Macron became president at just 39.