She was involved in a scandal in 1795 for living with Nicolás de la Peña Maldonado, with whom she wasn't married at the time.

Zárate and her cousin, María Ontaneda y Larraín, formed a group of female patriots which participated in the early fight for the country's independence.

[2][3] She was present for the Mutiny of August 2, 1810 [es], during which many Ecuadorian patriots rose up to rebel against Spanish rule.

In 1813, the colonial government persecuted many politicians and activists, among them Rosa Zárate, Nicolás de la Peña, and their daughter-in-law, Rosaura Vélez.

[2] On July 17, 1813, in the vicinity of La Tola and Esmeraldas, Zárate and her husband were apprehended by Toribio Montes.