What began as an ordinary morning for Shakuu Joshua, 31, a taxi driver from Kimara-Temboni, turned into a life-changing moment after he won a brand-new Mazda CX-5 through Airtel Tanzania’s “Mwaka Umenyooka” promotion.
Shakuu
had woken up early on Tuesday and, like many Tanzanians, used the Airtel Money
App to purchase electricity tokens worth TZS 1,000.
After
completing the transaction, he was prompted to spin a digital wheel as part of
the promotion. He did so and went on with his daily routine, thinking little of
it.
A
few hours later, he received a call from Airtel Tanzania informing him that he
had won the top prize — a Mazda CX-5.
“At
first, I did not believe it. I thought it was a scam,” he said.
Shakuu, who recently welcomed a baby girl into his family, shared the news only with his wife and mother. Even they remained doubtful.
It was not until he was
contacted by Airtel’s headquarters and asked to submit his personal details
that he began to accept the news as genuine.
On
Wednesday, the vehicle was officially handed over at his parents’ home in
Ubungo-Msewe, where relatives and neighbours gathered to witness the moment.
His
mother, Ms Magreth Mtei, admitted she initially advised her son not to announce
the news widely.
“We
were not sure it was true. We even kept it from his father at first because we
wanted to confirm before celebrating,” she said. “It is a wow moment to see the
car here with us.”
Shakuu
works as an online taxi driver using a vehicle owned by another person, to whom
he submits daily earnings.
Although
the new Mazda represents a significant financial boost, he says it will
primarily serve family needs.
“This
car is of a higher status. I will use it for family purposes,” he said,
describing the win as a major milestone in his life.
His
wife, Ms Veronica Jeremiah, said the family remains overwhelmed with gratitude.
“No one believed he could win, but now we have seen it with our own eyes,” she
said.
According
to Airtel Tanzania, the “Mwaka Umenyooka” campaign aims to encourage customers
to adopt digital financial services through the Airtel Money App.
Users
who conduct transactions such as sending or receiving money, paying bills and
purchasing airtime are automatically entered into prize draws.
The
company says it has so far awarded more than seven Bajaj three-wheelers, over
30 television sets, eight motorcycles and one car since the launch of the
promotion.
Airtel Money Director Andrew Lugamba said the initiative is designed to reward customer loyalty while promoting secure and convenient digital payments.
Two
additional Mazda CX-5 vehicles are expected to be awarded before the campaign
concludes.
For
Shakuu, however, the promotion is more than a corporate campaign. It is a
reminder that even a small transaction, in this case, TZS 1,000, can
unexpectedly change a family’s fortunes.