The Board

Women's Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence > The Board

The WALPE Board

The WALPE Board is comprised of various professionals drawn from different fields but all with a passion for gender equality.

Maria Mache Malomalo

Board Chairperson

Maria Mache Malomalo is a pan-African feminist who is passionate about participatory action research focusing primarily on women’s rights, youth development and leadership, adolescent, youth sexual and reproductive health, rights, and climate change. Maria is currently the Senior International Research Manager for Restless Development where she leads youth engagement and leadership in research.

Ms Maria holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy in Human Rights: Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa), Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management (Roehampton University, London, United Kingdom), Bachelor of Science in Media and Communication Studies (Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe)

She is also the founder of Mwana Pwo, the first Angolan NGO working entirely in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health. In addition, Maria is a volunteer Lusophone Africa Advisor for Urgent Action Fund Africa, a member of the African Feminist Network for Communication and Development (FEMNET), and the Board Chairperson of the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence. She is an alumna of the 2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Permanent Ngoma

Board Vice Chairperson

Permanent Ngoma is a strategist, who has made significant contributions to civic organizations through her expertise in project planning, social advocacy and grant

management. She has played a significant role in building and strengthening residents’ movements in demanding improved service delivery. She has trained and empowered women in leadership, particularly in politics, to address the under-representation of women in politics and decision-making positions.

Additionally, she has fought for essentials like access to clean water, service delivery, and housing implementing projects that positively impact community at large. Her inclusive leadership style has fostered collaboration and cooperation, driving initiatives focused on economic growth, gender equality, and poverty reduction. She has also engaged and empowered the broader community through community forums and programs for youths, promoting active citizenry and social cohesion. By involving residents and investing in the next generation, she has created positive change and sustainable development, contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous society. Currently, she is the Executive Director for Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA).

Natasha Mutemeri

Board Secretary

Passionate human rights lawyer, disability and gender expert, driven by commitment to produce results with experience in report writing, training, litigation, legal research, drafting, advocacy. She is skilled in drafting and coordinating the compilation of state party reports and stakeholder engagement at the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Also worked with private law firms, government ministries, agencies and departments and non-profit organizations in Zimbabwe and in the region.

On academic qualifications, she holds a Bachelor of Law Honours degree from the University of Zimbabwe and she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Law in Disability Rights in Africa from the University of Pretoria , she’s a member of the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Disability Rights sub- committee Secretariat which was trained by a team from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on State Part reporting on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). She was also a member of the team that drafted,

compiled, consulted and submitted Zimbabwe’s initial state part report on the CRPD.

Ms Natasha also have experience in carrying out research and she has researched on the unconstitutionality and discriminator nature of Sections 193 and 246 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, drafted principles which resulted in these sections being amended to comply with the CRPD and the Constitution.Further, she has experience in

disability advocacy as she has advised the Ministry to procure assistive devices for its employees with disability to ensure inclusion in the workplace.

Elijah Chakwizira

Board Treasurer

Elijah Chakwizira is an Electronic Commerce Engineer and a (CISCO) Cybersecurity Operations Associate. He also holds several qualifications in Computer Programming and Web Development as well as The Internet of Things from CISCO. Elijah is currently a lecturer at Harare Institute of Technology.

In the past, Elijah worked with Home lux Holdings as a Digital Marketing Executive, Met bank Holdings as Merchant Services Manager. He is chairman of the board for Lind net Institute of Technology and sits on the Board of FEBI Consulting group. Elijah is also the incoming Director of the Student Connect Trust for 2024.

Lastly, Mr Chakwizira holds a Masters of Technology in Electronic Commerce (Harare Institute of Technology), Bachelor of Technology Honors Degree in Electronic Commerce (Harare Institute of Technology, Belvedere Harare, Zimbabwe). Mr Chakwizira is also an accredited teambuilding consultant and is the founding CEO of Capdev Pathfinders teambuilding organization doing teambuilding for youth groups, corporates and various other organizations across the country.

Tatenda Mashanda

Board Member

Tatenda Mashanda is an academic writer with a rich background in education philanthropy. Driven by a passion for public policy, development, and civic engagement, he is dedicated in addressing and ending inequality. His expertise lies in International Relations, with a focus on Southern Africa Geopolitics, Rhetoric, and Political Culture. Mr Mashanda is also a researcher who has undergone several researches such as Visual Rhetoric and Symbolism in Zimbabwe, Military Rhetoric: Zimbabwe National Army Operations in the Mozambican War and Democratic Deliberation in the Authoritarian States: A Case of Rhodesia National Affairs Association.

Academically, Mr Mashanda has B.A. in Politics and International Affairs, Minor in African Studies(Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 2017), International Baccalaureate Diploma (Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Mbabane, 2013), and Ph.D. in Communication (Rhetoric and Political Culture), University of Maryland, College Park, May 2025 (Anticipated).

Currently, Mr Mashanda is undergoing several researches and he is also a board member of the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence

Jane Pugeni

Board Member Jane Pugeni is a heritage practitioner with experience in planning and management, vast to know more on cultural heritage, preservation and conservation. Excellent community coordinator for various projects including gender-based education. She has experience in engaging with communities, poverty alleviation, gender-based violence education and community development which she attained all these years she spent in teaching.

She seeks to leverage knowledge of sustainable economic development in communities and contribute more to the social, economic and political well-being of communities.

Currently, she has managed to establish good working relations with women and co- workers, developed new quality standards for better community engagement and reliability through being the chairperson of Mother Support Group for CAMFED and the current WALPE board member.