On Friday, 22 May 2026 marked a new chapter in Tawananyasha Diane Hwata’s life as he graduated with a Bachelor of the Built Environment in Urban and Regional Planning, achieving both Cum Laude and Dean’s Merit for academic excellence at the Durban University of Technology (DUT).
Born in Zimbabwe, Tawananyasha came to South Africa at a young age and grew up in Mpophomeni Township near Pietermaritzburg with his mother. Life was never handed to him easily. Like many immigrant families, they carried dreams bigger than their circumstances, holding onto hope even during uncertain times.
Watching his mother work tirelessly to provide for him became one of the greatest motivations in his life. Every sacrifice she made planted in him a deep desire to succeed not only for himself, but for the people who believed in him when life was difficult.
As a young boy, Tawananyasha was observant and thoughtful. He noticed the inequalities around him communities struggling with poverty, neglected environments, and the economic hardships faced by many African countries despite their wealth of natural resources. Being born in Zimbabwe and raised during difficult economic realities gave him a unique understanding of struggle, resilience, and survival. These experiences shaped his heart long before they shaped his career path.
“I am deeply concerned with the preservation of African biodiversity, as I have observed a disregard for our natural environments that I wish to challenge and transform through my professional work. These are the areas in which I aim to dedicate my efforts and expertise as I progress in my career and urban and regional planning offers the opportunities to do so,” he explained.
During primary school, he joined an environmental club that awakened something powerful inside him. He developed a deep love for the environment and a growing concern for how cities, communities, and people coexist. He wanted to understand why some places flourished while others were forgotten. More importantly, he wanted to become part of the solution.
In 2022, He was supposed to begin his studies at the Durban University of Technology. He had prepared himself mentally and emotionally for this new chapter, only for his study visa to be delayed. While others moved forward with their lives, he was forced to remain behind and take an unexpected gap year. It was painful watching his dream pause before it had even begun.
“I started studying at DUT in 2023. Although I was supposed to start in 2022 but because my study visa was released later into that year, I was forced to take a gap year,” he said.
From the moment he entered university, he gave everything he had. There were sleepless nights, stressful deadlines, and moments of exhaustion. As an international student, financial opportunities were limited, and there were times when the pressure weighed heavily on him. Yet even in those difficult moments, his mother, Mrs Tsitsi Hwata, his foster father, Mr Simo Sibisi, and close family friends stood beside him with unwavering support. Their belief in him became fuel for his determination.
In his second year, his hard work earned him recognition for the best academic performance in his class. He was also awarded the Sharon Wilson Award for top performance in a communication module across various courses. In his third year, his creativity shone through when he won a logo design competition for the DUT RISE programme. The logo he designed remains the official logo of the programme today, a permanent mark of his contribution to the university.
Yet through every achievement, Tawananyasha remained grounded in his faith. He hopes to one day lead teams of planners and engineers who create innovative solutions for social, economic, and environmental challenges across Africa and the world. He dreams of building cities and communities that restore dignity to people and protect the environment for future generations.
Pictured: Tawananyasha Diane Hwata
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Thubelihle Dumakude
