Floyd Mayweather attended a political rally in Zimbabwe on Thursday to woo youth voters ahead of the general election next month. The ruling party, ZANU PF, was welcomed with song and dance by supporters in Mabvuku, one of Zimbabwe's oldest townships. Gold magnate Scott Sakupwanya, one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's closest allies, invited Mayweather to the rally. The 46-year-old American former boxer performed a public workout, including punching and jumping rope, and watched three matches from Zimbabwe's budding boxers. Some young people pledged to vote for Mnangagwa, seeking a second term in the Aug. 23 poll.
The youth vote is expected to be a crucial battlefield for the two main political parties, ZANU PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The election occurs amid a raging economic crisis, with high inflation and a currency that plummeted over 50% against the U.S. dollar.
