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“I cannot explain how this has happened, but I do not believe in luck charms. I was brought up never to believe in such things and I still do not believe in voodoo.”

The house and vehicle Mutukwa bought after bagging the main prize last year

The world of betting and gambling has the colossal footprints of the one of a kind individual, Stephan Mandel. In 1992, Mandel is said to have taken the luck out of the game and granted himself a winning ticket for Virginia’s US$27 million jackpot by buying every single combination of numbers possible. While it was by far the biggest jackpot he’d ever won, it was not his first lottery win — it was his 14th. Today, he is living on a tropical island in the South Pacific. Zimbabwe’s Todd Mutukwa (44) is our own Mandel. The Glen View-based father of five has made his own history beating the odds to win two vehicles in the OK Zimbabwe Grand Challenge.

Last year, the unassuming civil servant won the OK Grand Challenge main prize of a Nissan Navara Double Cab. Mutukwa was this year back on the podium claiming a Ford Ranger Single Cab from the same competition. The vehicle was sponsored by Brands Africa, one of several OK Zimbabwe partners in the annual promotion.

He achieved this after trying his luck for 10 years and, like Mandel who has been in the game for decades, he vows to continue trying his luck. “I have been trying my hand at the Ok Grand Challenge since 2005 and never missed the trip to Borrowdale Race Course until I hit the jackpot last year,” he said at his home in Glen View this week.

On June 5 last year, Mutukwa joined thousands of Zimbabweans who were trying their luck at the premier horse race; his wife, sister, Mary Gomo and her son Shingie in tow.

“It was a routine thing that we would go to Borrowdale Race Course for the OK Grand Challenge. I did not feel like winning but my sister had a vision and even my wife complained of the distance from the podium.

“She was wondering how we could get to the podium if we won,” he chuckled. Mutukwa’s name was announced as they were preparing to leave for home. That was the beginning of the good times.

He claimed the main prize. However, Mutukwa felt the car was too big and he could not maintain it so he put the vehicle on the market. “The Navara was a big engine and felt I could not maintain it, so I sold it and bought a house. There was even enough change to buy a smaller vehicle which I use,” he said.

Nevertheless, winning the OK Grand Challenge was not a surprise because the main prize has gone to different people every year. Mutukwa performed the unthinkable and won another vehicle this year.

Approximately one year later, Mutukwa was back on the podium at the OK Grand Challenge, at the same venue – Borrowdale Racecourse – winning another vehicle. The win has raised eyebrows among Zimbabweans.

While OK Zimbabwe were not readily available to comment on chances on how secure their system is against manipulation odds of such a feat are completely inexplicable.

Besides Mandel’s method of buying every single combination of numbers possible to win the jackpot, the other documented way of manipulating the gambling or betting system is unfathomable in Zimbabwe. This is called the Labouchere System, one of the more complicated systems and takes some getting used to.

Despite its complexities, however, it is still one of the better known systems and popular among gamblers. It is a negative progression system, so it involves increasing stakes after losing bets. The main idea is that one should be able to recover the losses from losing wagers with a smaller number of wins.

That system is difficult even to understand and to contemplate that Mutukwa used the same system is stretching the imagination a bit too far. The next assumption would be the use of juju. “There is strong belief, I know, that I could be using lucky charms but I believe anyone can win as long as they deposit their coupons.

“I cannot explain how this has happened, but I do not believe in luck charms. I was brought up never to believe in such things and I still do not believe in voodoo.” Mutukwa said he believes God has blessed his family for their faith in Him.

“I do not pray for a particular blessing. I pray in the morning for God to see me through the day and in the evening so that He guards me during the night. His blessings come because of our faith as a family,” he said.

Mutukwa said optimism has also driven him to collect coupons for each of the OK Grand Challenge jackpots. “We deposit our coupons in the different categories, so it’s just a matter of expecting to win,” he said. In 2015, he collected and deposited coupons in seven categories and scooped the main prize.

This year, Mutukwa upped the stakes and entered nine categories to get the second vehicle. “The optimism drives me and there is no way I can rule myself out of competition. As a human being you look forward to winning and that is the reason we enter the competition.

“It all borders on pure luck. I have tried for years in other competitions without success.” Mutukwa still cannot explain the feeling of being a winner. “When your name is called out it takes time to sink. You even ask your wife if you heard it right.

“I just remember the wind carrying me to the podium when I won the first vehicle but up to now I still cannot explain the feeling,” he said. His win has been an inspiration to many.

Mutukwa’s workmate from Marondera also tried her hand and won a vehicle this year. Mrs Silinganiso Manhombori won the United Refineries Ford Ranger Single Cab in this year’s competition. “Her husband dismissed my win last year but I think she was so inspired that she also collected coupons this year and she won her own car,” he said.

Mutukwa, however, believes that his special relationship with his late mother is also bearing fruit in his life. Born in a family of six, he is the oldest son with two elder sisters. “My mother lost two sons at birth before I was born. I have two elder sisters but my mother always cherished me,” he said.

“When she was ill I would visit her every week after work. I remember walking more than 80 kilometres trying to follow up on her debtors and telling her relatives that she was not well. “That night I walked until 3 o’clock in the morning and I think that is the kind of relationship that is bearing fruit.”

He said his mother promised to take care of him before she died.

“She summoned for me before she died and asked me to look after the family. She said she would protect me from my enemies but I think she did not mean any harm to anyone but to provide more in the face of adversity,” Mutukwa said. His wife, Servi, was all praise for God and His double blessings for the family.

“After he won the first vehicle last year, the win again this year came as a complete shock but it just means God is a faithful God. “I believe in God and that when he blesses you, no one can take away that from you. I accept his blessing for the family.” The family is, however, in agreement that they should sell the latest vehicle.

“We have three other cars and we are satisfied. The plan is to sell the Ford Ranger and try to invest the proceeds on another venture,” Mutukwa said.

The holder of a master’s degree in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting is currently reading towards a Doctorate in Commerce. Mutukwa was born and grew up in Mutoko.

He attended Musanhi Primary and Secondary schools completing his studies in 1989 before working as an accounts clerk in the private sector rising to be a bookkeeper. In 2002, Mutukwa joined the public service and was deployed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development as a clerk.

He has risen through the ranks becoming an assistant accountant before being appointed provincial accountant for Mashonaland East Province in 2007, the job he holds to this date.

Mutukwa, however, vows to continue being part of the OK Grand Challenge for as many years as it is possible to do so. Optimism runs in his blood and believes he could strike gold again.

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