Man mysteriously dies less than 48hrs after winning a car

A Gweru man who had a knack for winning big prizes in virtually every competition he entered died mysteriously on Monday morning, less than 48 hours after winning a Nissan NP300.

Dumisani Kudzai Mabeka, 48, of Mtapa suburb, was in Harare on Saturday to be presented with his latest truck that he had won in the Natbrew Tankard draw.

He won another car on March 5, a Nissan NP200, in a Schweppes Mazoe competition draw held in Bulawayo.

Widely known as Kul Jays in Mtapa and neighbouring Mambo and Ascot, Mabeka first won a ticket to fly to Egypt for an African Nations Cup match between the hosts and Zimbabwe's Warriors in 2006.

In 2008 he won a grinding mill from Delta's Eagle brand and more recently won a DSTV decoder with a full bouquet month's subscription the Omo's fly and wash competition. Omo also presented him with a vuvuzela and a soccer ball since he kept winning the $100 draw, according to relatives.

Prior to that, Mabeka had participated and won small prizes like T-shirts and cartons of cigarettes in a Pacific competition and a solar light in an Econet competition.

His sister, Tendai Mabeka, said her late brother was a lucky man until he met his fate on Monday.

"We are at a loss as a family. Dumisani was at his grinding mill on Sunday. He had just told us he was waiting for other relatives to arrive before he could throw a party to celebrate his latest prize, the Nissan NP300.

"My younger sister, Rumbidzai, arrived at his house in Mtapa 6 on Monday morning intending to congratulate him. She enquired about his whereabouts and was told that he was still asleep in his bedroom.

"When she got to the bedroom, she tried to wake him up but he did not respond. He could not talk and his heart was beating fast," said Tendai Mabeka.

Mabeka said family members gathered immediately and their mother led them in prayer since they are a Christian family that attends the Methodist church.

She said the prayers failed to resuscitate Dumisani and an ambulance was called.

"We learnt from the ambulance crew that he was dead and they could, thus, not carry him. He died at around 11AM and his body was removed by Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour," said Mabeka.

When a Chronicle news team arrived at the Mabeka home in Mtapa Section Two, the Nissan NP200 he won last month was parked just outside while mourners were gathered in the yard. The car seats were still covered in plastic confirming that the vehicle was new.

Mabeka said her brother could not drive; hence the car would be parked most of the time. She said her late brother was a beer drinker but did not smoke.

Mabeka said Dumisani's participation in many Delta-sponsored competitions were because of his drinking habits.

"He submitted 1,300 entries for the Natbrew Tankard competition where he won the Nissan NP300. The truck is still to be collected because there was no one who could drive it from Harare.

"I am the one who collected the other car, the Nissan NP200 in Bulawayo last month  but this time I could not because I was in South Africa to see my husband," said Mabeka.

She said Dumisani was not formally employed and was now running a grinding mill in the Shamrok light industrial area.

She said: "As his family, we are suspecting foul play. Dumisani had no history of ailments like high blood pressure or diabetes. His tongue had turned grayish black.

"My brother was in good health. He did not suffer a heart attack because he was used to winning big prizes."

Dumisani is survived by wife Betty and five children, three boys and two girls.

Mourners are gathered at Number 20 Mtapa Section 2.