Ruvheneko denies vying for Parly seat
4 nabbed for 118kg ivory
RADIO personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa yesterday said she was not vying for the Harare East parliamentary seat on the National People’s Party ticket in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
NPP is led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who was expelled from Zanu-PF for plotting to oust former President Robert Mugabe unconstitutionally.
Ruvheneko is the daughter of Zanu-PF Politburo member and Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa.
She carved a name for herself in broadcasting when she joined ZiFM Stereo.
Ruvheneko has since joined Zimpapers as radio division projects manager.
In an interview yesterday, Ruvheneko denied that she was running for any political office.
“I have come across a campaign poster on social media which falsely FOUR men from Bulawayo have appeared in court for possessing 118kg of ivory worth more than $20 000 without a permit.
Laurence Edward Van Aswegen (69), Norman Dlamini (43), Christopher Mishoni (46) and Vusa Lunga (29) were ambushed by detectives on Tuesday and found in possession of 26 pieces of raw unmarked ivory valued at $20 060 while they were on their way to Sunninghill suburb..
Van Aswegen is also facing an additional charge after two pieces of unmarked ivory were found at his house in Hillside suburb.
A court heard that when they were arrested Dlamini, Mishoni and Lunga said Van Aswegen was the owner of all the ivory.
Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nyarai Ringisai did not ask the quartet to plead to charges of illegal possession of ivory.
She advised them to apply for bail at the High Court alleges that I am running for the position of Member of Parliament for the Harare East constituency under the National People’s Party,” she said. “It is fake news. I categorically state that I do not work with or for the NPP and that I am not running for any political seat in the 2018 election. “I have spoken to the NPP’s secretary general, Mr Gift Nyandoro, who reassured me that the hoax did not originate with them. ‘‘If and when I am running for public office, it will not be a debate and remanded the matter to Monday when they will be provided with a trial date.
Mishoni and Van Aswegen are represented by Mr Nqobani Sithole of Ncube Attorneys while Dlamini and Lunga are represented by Ms Vivian Chikomo of Dube Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners.
For the State, Mr Tawurai Hondoyemoto alleged that detectives arrested the four on Tuesday following a tip off.
“Detectives drove to Ascot complex around 9PM and at the intersection of King George Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street they observed the four who were in a Toyota Avensis turning into Leopold Takawira towards Gwanda. They intercepted the vehicle when it turned into Sunninghill suburb along Gibbs Avenue,” he said.
“They introduced themselves as police officers and conducted a search and discovered 26 unmarked elephant ivory pieces. The four failed to produce a licence and implicated Van Aswegen as the owner.
“Dlamini, Mishoni and Lunga then led police to Van Aswegen’s house in Hillside. Van Aswegen confirmed that there was ivory at his house and two more pieces were found in his store room.” — @MondelaC. about whether or not it is true because I will announce my candidacy clearly through my own and other official channels.
‘‘Sadly, we may never know who did this, but I have my suspicions.
“Either way, it is untrue and no one should continue to spread this lie.”
Ruvheneko said she was shocked at the rate at which the fake news was spreading on social media.
“I appreciate sincerely those who were seeking clarity because it means they ‘know better’ but were just double-checking,” she said.
“The main concern seemed not to be that I am running for a political office but that I am supposedly running under the NPP while others were excited by the heat this might have brought to the already explosive Harare East seat.
“The only ambition I have for Harare East Constituency this year, as a journalist, is a debate on our ‘ Zimbabwe Election Debate Series’ with all of its candidates after the Nomination Court announcement.”