She has a passion for gender equality

become a gender activist.
It is a role many women shun, rather opting to become the represented.
Credit should therefore go to one such woman who chose to be the face of women’s rights, Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network executive director Mrs Naome Chimbetete.
Naome’s role as executive director of ZWRCN is to advocate for social and economic justice for other women in the country.
She is one person who knows the importance of addressing gender inequalities in development processes, including policy, plans, programmes and budgets which are increasingly gaining legitimacy as a development issue globally.
Naome believes that women should strive to make a difference and fight for recognition in the society by getting involved in activities that can contribute to their self and national development.
“Many people claim that they desire success but so few of them are willing to take even the simplest steps to move towards that destination.
“So one has to be self-motivated in order to reach their planned destiny,” she said.
The seventh born in a family of nine, Naome was born in Mutare on May 15 1965 and grew up in Sakubva.
As a young girl, Naome always wanted to see the girl child and women getting the same treatment as men in society.
This is what inspired her as she grew up seeing many women being deprived of their rights in a patriarchal society.
“I have always wanted to be a gender activist.
“My vision is the same as the organisation’s vision and that is to see women enjoying the benefits of actualising their full potential in all areas of their lives.
“Society always subscribes a certain image of a man; he must own property, he must support his wife and the women must put themselves in a situation where they must accommodate the men to do that.
“If the roles are reversed society wants to know what is wrong with the man or they will assume that his wife controls him.
“If the woman demonstrates the slightest bit of independence or success even if the man is not personally bothered by it, he will be expected to be bothered,” she said.
Naome is a devout Catholic.
She expressed her feelings over the issue of women’s rights and economic empowerment by referring to the recently updated One World Gender and Development Guide which states that social and economic indicators for developing countries consistently show that women bear the brunt of hardship in poor communities.
Naome strongly agrees with this perspective saying that women are hard workers who deserve to enjoy the benefits of their potential.
“Women are not only key agents for delivery of poverty reduction programmes but also find themselves in the front line of major global issues like food production,” she said.
The mother of three did her secondary education at Kriste Mambo Girls near Rusape and Nagle House Girls in Marondera.
Naome attained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Geography at the University of Zimbabwe.
She went further to attain a master’s degree in Environmental Policy in Planning at the same university.
In terms of work the gender activist has been “all over the place” (her own words) and this includes the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, different developmental agencies and non-governmental organisations which focused on environment, climate change and developmental issues.
Naome received a lot of training around gender mainstreaming, HIV/Aids and developmental issues and holds many gender development courses she attained during her career as a gender activist.
“I got most of the training working at developmental agencies and I have vast experience at different levels,” she said.
Naome is a member of the council for the Women University in Africa and also sits on the boards of several non-governmental organisations dealing with the environment and charity work.
One such organisation is the Communication Development Trust.
“There are a lot of women who have got a drive; they have climbed to the top and this really drives me.
“These people give me a cause to address certain things with integrity and make a difference,” she said.
In the local arena she draws inspiration from the Zimbabwe Tourism Board chairperson, Mrs Marah Hativagone.
“Our aim as ZWRCN is to make a difference in whatever small manner we can.
“Socially I get involved in helping young boys and girls to become better people especially under the Chimbetete netball and football tournament, which takes place in my village,” said Naome.
In the tournament they pick the best two boys and girls and cater for their school fees and financial needs.
In her spare time Naome engages in sporting activities, reading and travelling.
Naome aspires to venture into mining and is trying to set up a base in the sector.
“ZWRCN is moving towards being a renowned gender and gender budgeting organisation.
“We have been driving the process in Zimbabwe and in the region. Women empowerment starts with addressing budget issues,” she said.
The gender activist indicated that she has achieved a lot career-wise though she has not reached her destination.
Naome said: “I have not reached my destination. I am on a journey and I think I am on the good road.
“My major goal in life is to fully discover and fulfil my destiny. There is still much to achieve in life and I wouldn’t want to say I have achieved this and that.”
She said her organisation would continue focusing on capacity building and policy analysis lobbying.
Naome also said there is need for serious consideration for women to be able to benefit from the indigenisation and empowerment programmes and that there must be deliberate inclusion of women in the programme.
Her advice to other women who aspire to be gender activists and successful businesspeople: ” This might sound a cliché but the sky is the limit.
“There are endless opportunities and those who want to be in the gender field must not be scared.
“In this world you are going to meet some adversity. You may meet it a lot but don’t let it discourage you.
“If you have got a problem start to think what you are going to do about it and stop thinking about it.
“If someone does not appreciate your efforts don’t bother, just keep on going as there are others who rely on your efforts.”
Naome is married to Mr Isaac Chimbetete whom she described as a supportive husband.