Susan Mutami, the outspoken ex-partner of Zimbabwean politician Temba Mliswa, has called on the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to disqualify Mliswa from its upcoming presidential election.
Taking to her X account, Mutami questioned Mliswa’s suitability for the position, citing personal experiences and accusing him of irresponsible behavior.
“Dear @online_zifa, I have a son with aspiring ZIFA President Temba Mliswa. I just wanted to notify you that he holds no decorum to hold such a prestigious position and is an irresponsible father,” Mutami wrote.
Mutami alleged that Mliswa, who shares a three-year-old son, Tinotenda, with her, has failed to provide financial support for their child while indulging in public displays of generosity.
“To date, he has never contributed a single cent towards Tino’s upkeep. I’m surprised he’s even printing out t-shirts and buying you guys lunch when Tinotenda, who’s now 3 years old, is living at the mercy of the Australian government,” Mutami claimed. She went further, accusing Mliswa of selective parenting.
“Temba Mliswa abandoned his responsibilities as a father and has no respect for women at all. He only looks after certain kids to suit a certain narrative.” Mutami expressed grave concerns over Mliswa’s potential leadership of ZIFA, warning of risks to female soccer players and staff under his presidency.
“You will be putting all your female soccer players and office staff at risk of being taken advantage of, and before you know it, the whole team and office administrators will be pregnant by Temba. You will make it harder for other stakeholders and foreign embassies who genuinely want to assist the football fraternity by having dodgy characters like Temba Mliswa as your President,” she stated.
Mutami highlighted the potential impact of such leadership on international relations, questioning how diplomatic figures could engage productively with Mliswa.
“Recently, the Australian Government pumped money to Africa. How do you expect our Mama Cash at the embassy, who has a heavy purse that can change the face of the nation’s football fraternity, to sit down and have a productive meeting with Temba Mliswa? Please don’t betray women.”
Mliswa’s announcement to contest in the ZIFA presidential elections, scheduled for next year, has already drawn widespread attention. Mutami’s public statements are likely to intensify scrutiny of his candidacy.