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Nelson Chamisa

Published : January 30, 2018

Nelson is a Zimbabwean politician who was the youngest minister and now the Vice President and acting President of the opposition party (MDC), Morgan Tswangirai.

Born on the 2nd of February 1978 to Alice and Sylvanus Chamisa, Nelson Chamisa was born and bred in Masvingo.

Early Life

Upon completion of A-level education, Nelson Chamisa proceeded to tertiary education were he made a mark in student politics when he became active in student leadership and governance by becoming the Student Representative Council President in his first year in 1998. In the same year Nelson Chamisa was dismissed from college for active participation and leadership in a demonstration against the government. In the same year, Nelson Chamisa was elected the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) in 1998. Nelson Chamisa, together with his colleges transformed the administration and politics of student activism by setting up union offices across the whole country and radicalising approach of student representation.

Political Career

In 2003, Nelson Chamisa became the youngest a member of parliament at the age of 25, breaking new ground in Zimbabwean politics. He became the Kuwadzana East constituency member of parliament; the community showed their trust in him by re-electing him as their representative. He also ventured into uncharted territories by becoming the youngest Minister at the inception of the inclusive government in 2009. Nelson Chamisa became the Minister of ICT.

Political journey

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

1. Student leader –

Became active in student politics and leadership the SRC president Harare poly 1998-2000
Elected Secretary General of ZINASU at a congress held at the University of Zimbabwe – 1999-2000

2. Parliament.

Became National Youth Chairperson – MDC 2000-2006
MDC Spokesperson in 2005-2011
MDC Organizing Secretary 2011 to date
Became MP as the youngest MP in March 2003
Kuwadzana MP 2003
Representative of Zimbabwe in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly 2003-2008
In Parliament, served as a member of the portfolio committees of Defence and Home Affairs, Public Accounts, Gender and Youth and Transport and Communications. He is also a member of the Local Government, Public Works & Urban Development
3. Government –

Became the Minister of ICT 2009-2012
He has served as Acting Minister of various Ministries:
Public Service ,
Science and Technology,
Labour and Social Welfare
Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs
4. International and Deplomatic Assignments –
Represented the country at various international fora: at the AU Summit, International Telecomunications Union in Geneva, ACP-EU in Brussels, Belgium. Participated in the Youth Leadership in USA programme Washington DC.

EDUCATION
Holder of BBA Marketing Degree IMM, SA.
BSc Honors Political Science, Zimbabwe.
Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy, Zimbabwe.
Governance and Development studies, Stanford University in California, USA.
3rd year Law Student.

AWARDS AND MERITS

Received several awards nationally and internationally
Best student Practice of marketing IMM Southern Africa
University of Zimbabwe Book prize (twice) Political Science and Intenational Relations
Victors award 2011 outstanding and exemplary leadership
Voted Minister of the year 2011
Voted top 35 of under 35 young people in International Affairs
Hon Nelson Chamisa is one of the winners of the first bi-annual Top 35 Under 35 Young African Leaders in International Affairs!

Attacked

In 2007 Mr. Chamisa had been on his way to attend an Africa Caribbean Pacific-EU meeting in Belgium. He was approached by unidentified men as he got out of his car outside the departures’ hall at Harare Airport.

“I was suddenly surrounded by, I think, about eight men,” he said later.

“One wore a green t-shirt. The other ones had suits. Then I was hit, I think about three times… Then I fell to the ground.”

Mr Chamisa said he had seen his attackers running off towards two vehicles without registration plates.

“Some women they came to me and started to help me. With a handkerchief. They were trying to stop the blood. It was really coming out,” he said.

He has now been admitted to hospital in Harare where his doctor says he has a fractured skull.