Tich has found his niche in Standerton
Tich believes people are really the same and with his Ndbele-background from his late mother’s side, this Shona does not have that much difficulty with Zulu.
Tichafa Haparimwe, Tich for short, has found a job and to boot, love in Standerton.
Tich hails from Harare, Zimbabwe where his father, two brothers and a sister live.
This barman from a restaurant in town has been serving customers for the past four years and picked up some colloquial Afrikaans.
He is acquainted with ‘ja’, ‘meneer’, ‘môre môre’, ‘hoe gaan dit’, ‘goed en jy’ and ‘baie dankie’ .
“I am keen to learn,” Tich said.
After completing school in Zim in 1990, wanting to become an electrician, he spent time at a college to acquire the trade.
Walking, however, past a coffee shop one day and noticing the people and the vibe, the hospitality industry beckoned.
“I believe I was born with the ability to communicate and I enjoy talking to different people.”
Tich underwent training in Harare to do almost everything, aptly named barlogic training.
The most difficult cocktail then?
Thinking about more than 50 at least, the potent pangalatic giggle blaster came to mind.
It consists, in a 650ml glass, of red grenadine syrup at the bottom, followed by squirts of Jack Daniels, vodka and lime juice, half a cup of orange juice and to top it all, Blue Carousel liqueur.
He arrived in Standerton through a friend’s tip-off.
The friend, also a Zimbabwean, was living in town and working at a guesthouse.
He told Tich that the restaurant was looking for a barman.
Knowing the industry after working in restaurants, he applied and a cold winter’s morning in May, heralded his arrival.
Tich believes people are really the same and with his Ndbele-background from his late mother’s side, this Shona does not have that much difficulty with Zulu.
No xenophobic remarks have come his way either.
His five-year-permit expires in 2025 and the future is not set in stone as far as a fixed abode applies.
Nokwanda, his girlfriend from KwaZulu-Natal, could have the final say.
Her brother made the introductions at the restaurant and the couple will have the traditional wedding first, and possibly a white wedding afterwards.
“I am now saving for ‘lobola’,” Tich also said.
He has not met her parents yet.
“I am not allowed to visit their home as the ‘lobola’ has not been paid yet.”
One of his relatives will be available to negotiate proceedings in KZN.
He has returned home for a visit, taking the bus all the way from Johannesburg to Beit Bridge when his shifts made it possible.
Tich does not believe in mixing business with pleasure, albeit tempted to.
