adminchances of scooping the grand prize.
And then some have used their dreams, birthdays of loved ones and shoe sizes to predict correct winning numbers.
For others predicting numbers is only a skill that comes with playing the game regularly.
Others will try and try until when they finally win. Others simply fail and give up.
All the tales are usually forgotten when one wins and family and friends switch into a happy mode, while the nation envies.
These are just a few things said about gambling, which is slowly gaining popularity thanks to life-changing jackpots that have been netted in the recent past.
Four lucky punters who bought Africa Lotto tickets this week stumbled upon a gold mine when they won over US$20 000 each.
The winners are 60-year-old Ronny Makondo of Seke, Chitungwiza who bought double tickets winning himself US$42 390, Cornwel Dube of Gwanda, Fungai Zengerere of Mabvuku and another individual who has not come forward to claim his prize shared the remaining amount pocketing US$21 154 apiece.
In an interview, Mr Makondo who surprisingly did not show any excitement at all, said he was grateful to his ancestors for winning such a windfall.
“I did not dream of these numbers, I just got an idea to create a certain pattern with the numbers and I got five numbers correct,” he said.
“I believe in the guidance of my ancestors and I am not in a position to tell what I will do with the money until I get instructions from them.
“From here I will go and do some rituals at home throwing snuff on the ground for confirmation on how I am supposed to spend the money,” Mr Makondo said.
A retired factory worker, Mr Makondo said he had always been gambling for as long as he could remember and would usually win small amounts of money ranging from US$5 to US$30.
He said he had played six other tickets and spent about US$14 for that draw.
Mr Makondo who has been out of employment for over a decade now said he did not plan anything before winning the amount as that would have brought him bad luck.
“People who always have good plans in mind never get the money to accomplish them and it is people like us who end up getting the money,” he said.
Mr Makondo who only had little to say for fear of being bewitched, said one really needs to be careful after pocketing such a huge amount of money otherwise they end up being victims of witchcraft.
“An instance like this can attract negative attention resulting in witchcraft therefore I want to keep this matter as quiet as possible,” he said.
“My friends do not even know about this and I want to keep it that way. Only my wife and children should know.”
Zengerere (37) of Mabvuku, a sales representative at a local company, was ecstatic saying his days of being a tenant were coming to an end. He said he hoped to present the present the news to his wife on his return from a business trip to South Africa.
The presentation was made to him about two hours before his departure. Zengerere said he started gambling two years ago and it was his secret as he never told his wife.
“I buy three or four tickets every week, but my wife never knew that I was gambling, I hope she is going to be happy knowing that we are rich,” Zengerere said.
“I just got the numbers out of the blue and I hope to build my family a decent house.”
Africa Lotto is paying out fortnightly whether or not there are punters with all six winning numbers correct beginning this month, Marketing Manager Tarisai Chipamanga said.
She said the move is meant to change people’s negative perception that lotteries are hard to win.
In a recent draw, US$105 975 000 was won and shared among five players who got five winning numbers correct.
Ms Chipamanga of Africa Lotto said they hope to become the biggest lottery company in the country that is why they are changing the game by making sure that they give away US$50 000 every fortnight.
She said the company was also involved in charity work with more than 50 local organisations having benefited so far.
The more people buy tickets the more they help people in need, Maryward Children’s home in Kwekwe and Isheanesu, home being the latest beneficiaries.
A 33-year-old Chitungwiza woman recently became one of the moneyed till operators in the world after winning a whopping US$131 000 in the Africa Lotto jackpot.
Mrs Olivia Lole, a till operator at ViJays Wholesalers, could not hide her joy when she was presented with the cheque at a ceremony organised by Africa Lotto at TM Magaba in Harare in May this year.
Africa Lotto began in 2010 with various people winning huge cash prizes turning some of their lives from “rags to riches.”
It remains to be seen whether the money won by the lucky punters is put to good use for as Ayn Rand put it, “money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”
Online Reporter