Cameroon’s presidential free-for-all: 81 candidate...

Cameroon’s presidential free-for-all: 81 candidates including 92-year-old incumbent, and their very own Egypt Dzinemunhenzva

ZimNow Africa Desk

Cameroon’s presidential ballot has drawn a record-breaking 81 candidates for the October 12 vote—including seven women and a mix of seasoned politicians and new hopefuls. The final list of confirmed candidates is expected to be announced by August 20, after vetting by ELECAM.

The election has become a big internet joke, with most of the jabs directed at Paul Biya, Africa’s oldest leader, who has been in power since 1982 and is now running for an eighth seven-year term at the age of 92.

Funny takes abound: the situation has prompted quips that Biya’s running mate could be a nurse from Switzerland, and social media is joking that ELECAM might start selling “participation certificates” to all 81 hopefuls. With so many filings, critics argue the contest reflects fragmentation more than any real challenge to Biya’s long‑standing grip on power.

Then there’s Batoua Silas, one of the many fringe names filing paperwork, inciting memes themed around the spectacle of “Western‑style democracy meets African reality.”

Some Zimbabweans on social media have dubbed Silas “Cameroon’s Egypt Dzinemunhenzva.” Dzinemunhenzva, a legendary serial presidential candidate in Zimbabwe, is more famous for his tenacity than for votes—his campaigns often featuring grand promises and memorable visuals (once arriving to register in gumboots).

He once claimed to be cleaning up politics while running a toilet-cleaning business. Like Egypt, Silas seems less bothered by the odds and more committed to the principle that in democracy, even the long shots deserve their shot—preferably with a side of internet fame.