Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa has taken the time to salute individuals who participated in the 31 July anti-corruption protests.
Ruvheneko is viewed by a majority of Zimbabweans to be privileged because her father David Parirenyatwa was a Health Minister in the Zanu PF Government before President Emmerson Mnangagwa came into power.
She however dismissed that notion saying that she lost her job thrice. Ruvheneko was fired recently from the state owned ZBC where she was working as director of corporate communications. She was fired without an explanation.
Parirenyatwa was also sacked from CapiTalk in 2018. She had joined CapiTalk from ZiFM where she was also fired for interviewing ThisFlag activist Evan Mawarire.
Ruvheneko was fired from ZiFM Stereo by the station’s owner Zanu PF MP for Nyanga South Supa Mandiwanzira.
Mandiwanzira was irked after Ruvheneko interviewed Mawarire on the station at a time when the activist campaigned for an uprising against former President Robert Mugabe, who was eventually ousted in a military coup.
Ruvheneko was sacked from CapiTalk together with the then station’s manager Napoleon Nyanhi in August 2018 after she opened the phone lines to angry Zimbabweans in the aftermath of an army shooting in the streets of Harare in August following protests over delays in releasing election results.
In her latest tweets, Ruvheneko salutes Fadzayi Mahere and internationally acclaimed author Tsitsi Dangarembga who were arrested for participating in the anti-corruption protests on Friday. She said, “Many are protesting on their keyboards, claiming Unity in the safety of their homes, but @advocatemahere and @efie41209591 are leading from the front taking hits for “the team.” Expressing ones Constitutional Rights shouldn’t be high risk gambles.”
In a thread she said that she stands with her generation, “No one can decide that because of their name, one has no right to speak on National issues. I stand with my generation & want better for us. I appreciate anger needs a punching bag, but if that bag is human, please punch the right bag.”
She goes on to salute everyone who took part in the protests on 31 July saying, “I salute all the brave Zimbabweans who have taken a stand- some of us have lost our jobs. Thrice. No such “privilege.” So, play a part, but let’s not tear each other apart. Emotions are high, I can feel it! That’s okay. We are all passionate. But I am you, I am me, I am Zimbabwe.”