Sober gambler’s winning streak

By Farai Chikore

ZIMBABWE’S luckiest perennial competitions winner has won again.

Clifton Mandla (39) from Chinhoyi, a competitions winner, now nicknamed “juju man” has been winning large sums of money since 2014, and recently he was at it again, winning a refrigerator from a Castle Lager competition.

The gambler, who admits to not taking alcohol, denied ever using juju or charms.

In 2022 Mandla won air tickets after being selected as one of only two Zimbabweans going on an all-expenses paid trip to Qatar to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup and travelled together with Tafadzwa Manyonda from Chitungwiza.
 
Speaking at the time, ahead of his trip to Qatar, Mandla said: 

 “I am just lucky, and have become so popular at winning prizes almost every year since 2014. Some people have labelled me ‘juju man’ for having won so many times; actually, l have lost count of what l have won.”
He said that he bought a stand and was building a house using proceeds from the numerous competitions he has won.

The vehicle, which he is using as a taxi, was bought using proceeds from the competitions.
 
In 2014 the gambler won a mobile phone worth US$100 from Coca Cola, then the following year won a grocery hamper.

The same years 2015 Mandla won US$5 000 cash from Delta Corporation, a two- plate full set gas stove from Madison cigarettes and also numerous cash prizes from Baker’s Inn.

In 2016 he won Z$5 000 in the TM Bargain Bonanza, winning together with his son who won Z$10 000 in the same competition.

2017 He won Z$10 000 in the Choppies Big Birthday Promotion and a Flat Screen television set.
In 2018 he won a National Foods cash voucher and the grand prize, which was a trip to South Africa. However, he could not make the trip as he did not have a passport at the time.
The year after that he won US$150 cash from a Mortein promotion and RTGS$10 000 in a Jacobs promotion.