2006-07-14Staff Report 2 "By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK Just when he thought he would be stuck with an old Mercedes Benz for life, John Nelwamondo got a pleasant surprise when he won a new Chevrolet Spark valued at N$64 000. Fifty-nine-year-old Nelwamondo from Windhoek this week became the lucky grand prizewinner of the Telecom Namibia FIFA Soccer World Cup competition. He could not conceal his surprise as he took his family of four children and his wife Elsie for a drive in the new metallic olive green car. The Telecom Namibia competition started on May 18 and ended on July 9. All Namibians were invited to take part in this fun-filled competition that ended on the last day of the FIFA World Cup last Sunday. The aim was for the participant to correctly predict this year's FIFA World Cup winner. Before handing over the new car keys to Nelwamondo on Wednesday, the Managing Director of Telecom Namibia Frans Ndoroma said that he was ""impressed at how many of our customers are using our services to engage in simple fun, apart from engaging in serious conversations or transacting business"". During the course of the competition since the World Cup started eight weeks ago, Telecom Namibia as part of the call-in competition also gave away a number of prizes that include a Plasma LCD Television, N$100 flexi vouchers and eight gigasets. At the same time, the company also captured the World Cup fever with its 50 percent lower call rates to Germany, which started on June 1, 2006. This special was from a fixed phone in Namibia to another landline phone in Germany during peak hours for only N$1,99 post-paid per minute and N$2,75 prepaid per minute. This promotion is said to be on till the end of next month. The draw for the car prize was held on July 10 - and Nelwamondo was announced the lucky winner this week. ""I am feeling very happy,"" said the elderly man turning the ignition and kissing his wife affectionately. For the family this was surely a blessing from God. ""It's wonderful news, I really can't express myself,"" said his wife Elsie as she stepped out of the car for a while. One of his daughters said that seeing that the old Mercedes Benz is an automatic, her father would now have to get used to the manual geared Chevrolet Spark. ""He will have to readjust again,"" she said with a smile. During the just-ended World Cup, Telecom Namibia went into partnership with One Africa Television with a sponsorship of N$500 000 giving Namibians the opportunity to enjoy this sporting event held every four years. Advertising partner TBWA/Paragon was also present at the prize-giving event." 2006-07-14Staff Report 2
