Chido Nyaruwata, a Zimbabwean researcher and systems thinker, is redefining environmental activism through a feminist lens. Inspired by Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, Nyaruwata’s work bridges the gap between gender equality and climate resilience.
From analysing cholera outbreaks to documenting the harrowing survival stories of Cyclone Idai, she highlights how socioeconomic vulnerabilities exacerbate environmental crises.
Through her initiative, Flames and Lilies, she empowers women to lead local adaptation efforts.
In this episode of In Conversation with Trevor hosted by Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube (TN), Nyaruwata (CN) discusses the urgent intersection of climate-induced violence, child marriage, and the necessity of feminist movement building to secure a just future.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
TN: Greetings. Welcome to In Conversation with Trevor, brought to you by Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services.
Today I'm in conversation with Chido Nyaruwata – a feminist, a researcher, and a community builder.
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You describe yourself as a feminist movement builder, researcher, and systems thinker. Was there a moment, a book, a person, a painful point that led you to this work?
CN: I can attribute it to my O-Level literature set book, Nervous Conditions. I was 16, just a girl existing in Zimbabwe.
That book gave me the language to understand the world, the systematic discrimination women face across generations and countries.
We see it everywhere, even in places seen as pillars of western liberation. That book made me realize it's a bigger problem. I've read it many times since, and each time it gives me a new perspective.
TN: Prior to the book, what were you experiencing?
CN: I grew up as the only girl among three siblings. Education was vital. At dinner, we all brought our perspectives – right or wrong. But outside, I saw girls not represented in certain subjects.
I wanted to be a chemical engineer, but there weren't many girls in science classes. I pivoted to literature and French.
Looking back, I ask myself why I didn't pursue it. Social norms embedded in certain places discouraged me from reaching my full potential.
TN: What is it about Nervous Conditions? Speak to the language and experience it surfaced.
CN: The characters – Tambu, Maiguru, Nyasha – show how even educated women must step back. Nyasha has an identity crisis, struggling with racism abroad and disconnection at home. One quote stuck with me: "This question of femaleness..."
As I've grown older, I see how gender rules limit people from being their full selves.
It's not just about jobs or money – it's about waking up with a sense of fulfillment.
TN: Have you met the author?
CN: I've been in spaces with her, but I'm always too nervous to approach. She's a phenomenal writer, courageous and principled.
TN: After reading the book, what did you do?
CN: I studied law in South Africa, wanting to advocate for human rights. But an internship at a corporate law firm wasn't for me. So, I pursued Honours in International Relations, then a Masters comparing the 2008 and 2018 cholera outbreaks.
That introduced me to social geography – how people relate to space, water access, why some neighborhoods are always hit harder. That led me to climate issues.
Zimbabwe is ranked 171 out of 184 on the ND-GAIN Index for climate vulnerability. We've seen Cyclone Idai, the drought. Climate affects us all, but our socioeconomic backgrounds make some more vulnerable.
TN: Describe the work you're doing now – Flames and Lilies.
CN: Flames and Lilies is a play on our national flower, the flame lily. It's delicate but powerful, like women and girls. We create safe spaces for women and girls to learn about climate change and take action.
They already know the impacts — water access, drought — but we give them the language and research skills.
Our first cohort trained 105 women and girls from Harare, Bindura, and Epworth. Twenty of them conducted studies on climate change and girls' education, disaster risk reduction plans, and women entrepreneurs.
TN: Why should a business executive support you?
CN: You're not donating – you're investing in present and future leaders. The climate crisis is a generational challenge.
Young people need knowledge, skills, and confidence to build resilient communities.
With our Ecoflow project, young mothers learned vermiculture – making compost with worms. In six weeks, they harvest and earn income. That tackles waste, unemployment, and education simultaneously.
TN: Your parents were nation builders. Where were you born? Which schools did you attend?
CN: I was born in Harare in 1993 at Mbuya Nehanda Hospital. My parents had just moved from Highfield to Mount Pleasant – my siblings call me "the suburbs baby."
At four, we moved to South Africa for eight years. I attended Reston Prep, one of the few black children there post-1994.
That experience – racism, xenophobia – I didn't have the language for it then, but later I understood. When I told my mother I felt different, she listened and moved me.
Back in Zimbabwe, I went to Heritage School, where I shone in public speaking, debating, and drama. That boosted my confidence.
TN: You wanted to be a chemist. Any regrets?
CN: I'm comfortable in my skin. I have multiple interests, but they're all driven by a passion to ensure people can take up space and have opportunity. That comes from my parents. Their stories nurtured my sense of self.
TN: Are parents letting children down today?
CN: It's complex. The social fabric has been broken – economic pressures, the HIV pandemic. Many parents aren't present. I wasn't raised by screens; I had homework, chores, then TV. Now, community structures must step in. It takes a village.
Read full interview on www.standard.co.zw
*“In Conversation With Trevor” is a weekly show brought to you by Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services.
