Prosper Motuwe from Zim settles in Standerton

The assistant coach at the Tennis Academy in Standerton has a few aces up his sleeve.

Mr Prosper Millar Mutowe turned pro in Zimbabwe in 2006, but the political upheaval forced a decision to apply for a work permit in South Africa.

“We had a choice in terms of stability and better living conditions,” Mr Mutowe said.

That immediately raised the question, why Standerton?

Father Lovemore, a qualified boilermaker, played an important role in the decision.

“The town has no high crime rate and it will be a good pace to live,” he advised.

Mr Motuwe, senior, now works on a farm in the Val-district.

The family put their roots down in the country in 2015, after passing the required skills tests needed for stay.

Prosper is a sound engineer, can play almost any instrument and build one from scratch.

“Piano, electrical and classical guitar, violin, flute and marimba do not present problems, and I can handle the drummer-part quite comfortably,” he added.

This single young man has, without a doubt, gone clubbing in Johannesburg and in town,

“I enjoy dancing, especially to African rhythms,” he admitted.

Prosper’s fitness regime includes a 10km jog daily to expose himself to what nature has to offer, and the tennis courts wait as well.

“I take any direction to see what the environment looks like.”

He took a flight to Zim over the festive season, not opting to wait at Beit Bridge as in the past.

“We used to make up food parcels for the family, but the vegetables and meat sometimes got spoilt on the bus trip.”

His mother, Lucia, passed away and his brother, Promise, is a truck driver.

The naming of the Mutowe-sons was thus explained by his father.

“I promised your mother to prosper in the relationship,” his quick-witted father said.

Prosper is slowly trying to wean himself from meat, with the vegetarian life style on the horizon.

“You can’t just wake up and decide on it, you have to take it step by step.”

He drinks two litres of water daily and is a staunch opponent of using too many energy drinks.

His reception in town was ambivalent.

“Some people welcomed me with open arms, while others were xenophobic.

“Each and every Zimbabwean knows from where they come and is prepared to work hard.”

This born-again Christian concluded the interview with a strong message of faith.

“Life is a gift.”