The Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy notes, with utter disdain and regret, the
false allegations that are making the rounds on social media, allegations aimed at defaming
the characters of our Founder and Commander in Chief, Honorable Temba Mliswa, and
extends to two other YARD Officials- our Secretary General, Eleanor Kaziboni and
Commander Goodwill Zinyama.
We would like to state for the record that these allegations are fictitious, baseless and uncouth animations, authored in the heads of patriarchs that are bent on soiling the aforementioned commanders.
While we appreciate that such dirty political tactics are always expected in Zimbabwean
politics, we feel that there is a much broader power dynamic at play, and it is this dynamic of
toxic masculinity that we are challenging. Honorable Mliswa is a grown man, and his
personal relations remain that, PERSONAL.
However, problems arise when we see an attack on a generation, and attack on a young
person and an attack on the Equality of opportunity to participate in politics, for women in
Zimbabwe.
The accusations that have been levelled against Eleanor Kaziboni are a representation of
toxic masculinity, which is embedded in the heads of the accuser and her handlers. It is
disheartening that these attacks are being manufactured by another woman who is educated.
YARD has always been a safe space for young people, including women, to develop
themselves, receive mentoring and equal opportunity to realize their potential, work and gain skills and institutional memory on effective representation, have been offered to young people by Honorable Mliswa, who immediately assumes the role of loco-parenthesis for all the mentees that he works with. Like Eleanor, young women including Abigale Mupambi, Sakhile Khumalo, Chipo Musukutwa and Tariro Tawana have all worked closely with Honorable Mliswa, and they have worked with him in a respectful and progressive manner.
It is a matter of principle for him, principle that is sacrosanct for him. We challenge Susan Mutami, to substantiate her claims, or to withdraw unconditionally, the accusations laid on Eleanor Kaziboni. Zimbabweans need to remember that Susan Mutami joins a growing list of baseless accusers, attacking Honorable Mliswa’s character.
Eleanor Kaziboni is an upright young woman of integrity and honor. She has served in
Norton with Distinction and earned the office of YARD Secretary General due to merit and
her love for Zimbabwe.
She has, unfortunately, been publicly humiliated, harassed, abused and has suffered from these accusations. She represents a sector of Zimbabwean women who have been discouraged by a mob, from engaging in politics, which results in the low participation of women in electoral processes.
Eleanor represents the girl child, who is raised and consistently reminded to stay away from politics and public representation, in fear of such victimization.
The attacks on Eleanor, were mooted and implemented by people who feel that women have no place in politics. The Secretary General is a disciplined and talented young leader, and she has now been forced to live with this stage managed intentional and deliberate political attack on Honorable Temba Mliswa.
We would further like to register our disagreement with the weaponization and stigmatization of the LGBTQ communities, for the scoring of cheap political points. The burden of proof on this allegation remains with Susan Mutambi, and we hope that she will reflect on all she has said, and her conscience will advise her towards reconstructive steps
We will reiterate that Honorable Temba Mliswa has never, and will never engage in any
affair of a sexual nature with any of the YARD Commanders.
YARD remains a safe place for all young people. Our movement has very clear policies on the respect foor women, youths.
We Stand with Eleanor Kaziboni, we Stand with Goodwill Zinyama and his family and we
stand with Honorable Temba Mliswa, who to this day, continues to face accusations and
allegations that always fail to test the acid test of substance and fact.