T. J. completed his "A" levels in 1977 at Mount Pleasant High School, Harare. In 1981 to 1985 he studied a Bachelor of Pharmacy II - IV but developed an interest in photography in 1984 whilst studying pharmacy. After winning the "Nikon Press Photograph of the Year" for an image used in a student newspaper, he decided to register for a photography course whilst completing his pharmacy degree part-time.
From 1989 to 1990 he was a photojournalism lecturer at the Journalism Department, Rhodes University. In 1991 he started as a freelance contributor to the South-light Photo Agency in Johannesburg, publishing in Ada, Learn and Teach, Work in Progress, Die Suid-Afrikaan, Monitor and Development Bank.
From 1991 to 1993, he freelanced for the Select Photo Agency, London, photographing the turbulent pre-election South Africa and publishing in Newsweek, Der Spiegel, The Independent, The Sunday Telegraph, VSD, The World, The London Sunday Times and others.
He was the managing director of the Market Theatre Photography Workshop for a short while, teaching photography and managing the day to day running of 'The Workshop' but left in 1994 to continue with his own photographic work.
From 1994-1998 he was a photographer at The Saturday Star and Sunday Independent. Presently he is the chief photographer of the Sunday Independent Newspaper.
Honorary positions
1994 Deputy chairperson: Press photographers group
1993 Gallery advisory committee Market Theatre
1990 Picture editor and contributor "Review" journalism
Awards
2001 CNN African Journalist of the year, Mohamed Amin photographic award.
2001 World Press Photo, First prize Arts story.