Our Team

Founding Team Lead

Programs & Advocacy Lead

Tatenda Kutsirayi is a Social Justice and Accountability advocate and a Forensic Psychology and Criminology student at the University of Zimbabwe. A committed Pan-Africanist, he is passionate about bringing African solutions to African challenges through research-driven advocacy for transparency and the accountable use of African resources and public finances. Tatenda currently serves as the Programs & Advocacy Lead at the Youth Accountability Initiative, contributing to the design and implementation of initiatives that empower youth to influence public finance governance. 

Research & Policy Lead

Thandiwe Ndlovu is a Bachelor of Economics Honours graduate from the Namibia University of Science and Technology with a strong focus on social development and equity-driven public policy. Her advocacy experience includes championing gender equality, disability inclusion, and access to quality education.

From 2022 to 2024, she served as the Secretary for Gender, Disability, Marginalized Communities & Social Welfare within the Namibia National Students’ Organization (NANSO), where she engaged policymakers and contributed to national dialogues on inclusive education and social protection.

At the Youth Accountability Initiative, Thandiwe supports research and policy analysis—helping translate evidence into advocacy strategies that amplify youth voices in governance and accountability processes across Southern Africa. Skilled in debate and critical reasoning, she brings a dynamic, justice-driven perspective to the team.

She currently serves the Youth Accountability Initiative as Research & Policy Lead.

Communications & Digital Lead

Nodeshah Maingehama is a third-year law student at the University of Zimbabwe, an award-winning youth activist and spoken word artist passionate about gender equality, youth participation, Pan-Africanism, and diplomacy. She has been recognized with the Simba Redzidzo Speech Contest Award and the Ignite Youth Award for Youth Governance & Participation (2024). 

Internationally, she earned Best Speaker and Best Researcher titles at Model United Nations (2018), along with an Honourable Delegate Award at the Yale Model African Union. She has championed digital advocacy through collaborations with UNICEF, Girl Up Zimbabwe, and HeForShe, and continues to advance youth engagement as a Zimbabwe Young Ambassador and trainee of the Southern Region Young Diplomats.

She currently serves the Youth Accountability Initiative as the Communications & Digital Lead.