By Nobleman Runyanga

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa is desperate for endorsement by former African leaders to atone for his defeat during last year’s harmonised elections.

This came to the fore yesterday during the launch of the book, Democracy Works – Re-wiring politics to Africa’s Advantage which was co-authored by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Brenthurst Foundation member, Gregg Mills, American Jewish University President, Jeffrey Herbst and MDC Alliance Deputy National Chairman, Tendai Biti at the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust offices in Belgravia, Harare. Obasanjo and Mills attended the book launch.

Chamisa who was one of the members of the panel of speakers during the event and was expected to officially launch the book, invited Obasanjo to the podium to co-launch it with him citing that he could not do it while an elder was available.

After the official launch he insinuated that co-launching the book with Obasanjo meant that the West African retired leader had endorsed him.

“Don’t say that I was not anointed (by Obasanjo),” he said excitedly.

Distraught by his poll defeat, Chamisa has lately taken to visiting retired African leaders ostensibly to tap into their experience. After his visit to Ghana early this month which was shrouded in closely-guarded secrecy, he announced his desire to meet former President, Robert Mugabe to learn from his successes and failures.

Last week he visited former Botswana President, Ian Khama. Mugabe is yet to respond to Chamisa’s intimation to meet him.