Standard Style 15 June 2014

June 15 to 21 2014 THE STANDARD STYLE / WOMAN / PROFILE 3
Star Profile
RUVHENEKO
PARIRENYATWA
Her maxim: We are all born who we are; but what we become is who we really and truly are
She is only 25, yet she has already made a name for
herself as a journalist and activist, as well as recently
been placed at number 23 on the 100 Most Influential
Young Zimbabweans under 40. Her poise and smile
say it all; Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa is a woman on the go –
even the sky will not limit her.
“Ndiri muzvare, mwana waMwari [I am princess. I am a
born again Christian, God’s child] and a daughter of the
soil,” are her own words that give an apt description of
the vivacious yet down-to-earth young lady who says
she would have studied Law if she hadn’t chosen
journalism.
A talk show host on Zimbabwe’s fastest
growing and first ever private radio station
in Zimbabwe, ZiFM Stereo, she holds a
Bachelor of Arts with majors in Media,
Writing and Political Science and a
Post-graduate Diploma in Marketing
from the University of Cape
Town in South Africa. She captures
the attention of many
through her shows which
cover politics, social issues,
health matters and
youth-focused discussions.
Her never-saydie
spirit is probably
the reason why she
is also thriving
as the Deputy
Chairperson
of the
Hara-
re Youth Council, while her bubbly other side has endeared
her to many folk as she has become a new favourite as an MC
for functions and events. As if all this were not enough, Ruvheneko
is also an entrepreneur who runs a shop at Harare
International Airport.
“I am here living fully in the present and preparing for
a future that I don’t even comprehend because I was told recently
by a mentor that my dreams offend God because they
aren’t big enough. So before I offend him further by telling
you ‘who I am’ let’s just tread carefully!”
Describing her passion as working towards her ambition
and helping others achieve theirs; Ruvheneko loves
everything media and her passion clearly rests on its bosom.
What she loves most about it is that she gets to interact with
the public and reach out to them; the fact that she may never
meet or see them frightens and excites her at the same time.
“I just stop and ask, ‘Dear God, who am I that you can give me
this microphone? You must trust me a lot! but I know it’s not
me he trusts -- but the power of Him in me.”
According to her, people who try to control and filter her
content have been her biggest challenges in her career; she
does not conform to “safe journalism” and this in essence,
is what defines her. Being a talk show host, she is a natural
debater who likes dialogue and discussions on anything and
everything.
In terms of principles and beliefs, the phenomenal new
wife puts God first above everything as she believes that this
way, there will be love in the world because every religious
leader who ever made a difference in this world taught love.
While she remains steadfast in her beliefs, she acknowledges
that although people will differ in views, there is a need for
us as fellow human beings to share our space and respect differences.
It is evident that Ruvheneko cannot tolerate bullies
in the world as she believes that kills the whole point of coexisting.
On family, she expressed how deep her love is for her
parents, siblings and husband, adding that there would be
more to tell on her fresh and new marriage after the wedding.
Despite working very hard as Deputy Chairperson at The
Harare Youth Council in community-based projects there,
the humble young woman does not feel she has achieved
anything big yet.
“Everything I have done up until now has been
in preparation for and on the way to my biggest life
achievement. I am disappointed in myself about that;
I should have a ‘biggest life achievement’ but for me,
nothing I have achieved is good enough to be ‘big’ –
yet. The fact that you’re asking me this question
says it all. If there was something that huge, it
would speak for itself and your question would
be, “Ruvheneko, how did you achieve…”
At the council, Ruvheneko together with
her team work tirelessly to reach out to young
people and meet their needs. Of late they held
a successful fundraising dinner which managed
to raise funds to begin work on vocational
training centres and farming projects. “I want
Zimbabwe to know that I am not a spoilt and
privileged minister’s daughter. There is more
to people than meets the eye. Zimbabwe should
learn to know people as individuals and not label
them by affiliation. We are all born who we are;
but what we become is who we really and truly are.
Ruvheneko’s inspiration comes from many sources,
including the news. “Bleak and depressing as most
news stories are -- on whatever channel or source -- I
find inspiration in every story. I am inspired to discuss
a certain topic on one of my shows, or I’m inspired to go
donate clothes, or to go for a long run, or to go visit my
grandparents, but mostly to work hard and leave something
behind when I’m gone.”
As a parting shot, Ruvheneko -- who’s love for bubbles
has her keeping a bottle in her room all the time to keep the
child in her happy -- had this to say to fellow young Zimbabweans,
“You should learn to balance your life; there is time
to be serious but there must always be time to breathe a little
. . . and be little for a little. You are never too young for
anything -- except sex, alcohol and a driver’s licence. Find
what you are good at and be the best at it. There are so
many people in Zimbabwe yet the news rotates the
names of about 100 individuals over an entire year.
Are we not living hard and well enough to catch
the attention of the media? So again, find what
you are good at and be the best at it; the cameras
will follow -- and even if they don’t -- your
reward is waiting for you on the other side. The
biggest honour you can give to your creator is to
accept His reason for creating you and live it out to
the fullest!” - Prudence Muganiwah