Online Reporter
H Metro Reporter
FOR only the second time in eight years, OK Grand Challenge serial winner, Clement Muhle and his family, will miss out on collecting a car prize.
The country’s biggest retail promotion will not be held this year.
It will mark only the third time that the OK Grand Challenge, which was established in 1988, will not be held.
The first time was in 2008 as the country battled hyperinflation while the second time was in 2000 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The OK Grand Challenge is Zimbabwe’s largest and most anticipated retail promotion.
It is popular for its major prizes, including brand new vehicles. The Muhle family has dominated when it comes to winning the vehicles.
Last year, for the first time in seven years, the Muhle family failed to win a car.
He said he was no longer one of the favourites and only entered the competition, through his four children, after technicalities hit the phone number he wanted to use to enter the promotion, which started in April.
Muhle told H-Metro that he only started two weeks before the closing day.
“It was never my year,” he said.
“This year, I entered the names and numbers of my four children.
“I can only try again next year and hope to win another car by God’s grace.”
Unfortunately, there won’t be a chance for him and his family this year as the OK Grand Challenge will not be held.
OK Zimbabwe CEO Mr Willard Zireva told our sister newspaper, The Sunday Mail, that preparations for the annual promotion would have typically begun four to five months ago.
However, this period coincided with operational and financial challenges that led to stock shortages and branch closures at the giant retailer.
“It is impossible to start (preparations) in March,” said Mr Zireva.
“That has to be looked into in the future.”
OK Zimbabwe has started replenishing shelves.
Key suppliers of various products have recommenced deliveries to branches across the country, providing a vital boost to OK Zimbabwe’s restocking efforts.
A challenging trading environment marked by growing informal market competition, pricing issues emanating from exchange rate disparities, smuggled cheaper substitutes and internal management issues led to restocking difficulties for OK Zimbabwe.
The company was forced to temporarily close four branches in Chitungwiza, Glen Norah and Kuwadzana and one in the Harare CBD.
The Muhle family’ winning run in the OK Grand Challenge started in 2018 when they won their first three cars and they also won a $50 000 cash prize in 2019.
Each of Muhle’s nine children have won a car in the promotion.
They won their 11th car, Nissan NP200, two years ago.
Last year, the grand prize was won by Cuthbert Magora, whose winning ticket came from OK Karoi in Mashonaland West.
A total of 49 cars were dispersed last year while one car was donated to Bulawayo’s Emthunzini Wethemba Children’s Home as part of the OK Grand Challenge charity programme.
