17-year-old vendor wins a car

THE 17-year-old vendor who fainted after winning a car at the Spar 25th anniversary celebration promotion on Saturday yesterday said she will not sell the car because it was a gift for her.

Chronicle visited Cecilia Manyoro, of Bellevue and confirmed that she fainted because she could not believe the car was really hers.

Manyoro, who is originally from Rusape in Manicaland, is a vegetable and fruit vendor who operates in front of Bellevue Spar Shopping Centre.

The car, a two-door Honda, was parked at her house. She appeared to be a celebrity as many people were greeting and congratulating her while others would hug her when news crew visited the shopping centre yesterday morning.

Manyoro said she would need some time before she decides what to do with the car but would not sell it, as it was a "pretty gift for me".I could not believe it in the first place that the car was mine and I thought it was a joke. However, now I know it is not a dream and I believe it is mine. The family is very happy," she said. I cannot sell my gift. In church we were taught that one should not give away a gift because it comes only once."

Manyoro said since Saturday she has been receiving phone calls from friends and relatives, some advising her to sell the car.

"Many people have been telling me to sell it and buy a house in the western suburbs while some are saying I should sell it and buy a bigger one I can invest with.

"I am still young and I do not know what to do exactly and would still want to sit down with my family and consult," said Manyoro, who goes to Zaoga Forward in Faith Church.

Born in a family of nine children, Manyoro is the last-born and has a twin sister, Tatenda.

She said they both dropped out of school before finishing Form Two at Montrose Girls High School after the death of their mother.

After her mother's death, she said she inherited the vending bay and she has been running it to date.

She said she completed more than 100 coupons in the build-up to the final day of the promotion.

"I had forgotten about the promotion and on Saturday were just talking with others when I saw that the drums in which we were throwing the coupons were not in the shop and that is when we remembered that it was the day of the draw and we went to Nkulumane Complex," said Manyoro.

She said her dream was to do a course in computers and she was not in a hurry to get a drivers' licence.

"I left school in Form Two after the death of my mother and I am staying with my brother. Last year I worked at a restaurant but came back to the market as I inherited this from my mother. My twin sister wants to go back to school but I want to do a course. I want to thank God for what he has done for me and my family and also thank Mr Modi because of the happiness we have as a family," said Manyoro.

At the moment the car is being driven by her brother.

Her elder sister, Ms Abigail Manyoro, who also is a vendor together with her husband Mr Oliver Takaendesa next to Miss Manyoro's bay, said they would give her the advice she needs as a family.

Mr Takaendesa said : "We are very happy but as a family we will not tell her what to do because we believe she is now an adult as shown by what she has achieved but we will advise her."

Sai Enterprises, owned by leading businessman Mr Raj Modi, and with a chain store with a number of branches in Bulawayo has been running a number of promotions as part of its corporate social responsibility and ploughing back to the community.

A number of customers have won cars, household property, groceries and many other items.