By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
For Victor Godoh and Decent Chiramba, grilling Nandos chicken is more than a job—it’s a craft, a passion, and now, a ticket to the world stage.
The two Nando’s grillers emerged as Zimbabwe’s finest at a high-stakes national competition in Avondale on Tuesday, earning the honor of representing their country at the International Grillers Challenge in Perth, Australia, this October.
Godoh took top honors, walking away with US$1000, while Chiramba secured second place and US$500.
Emmanuel Vakayi rounded out the top three, winning US$250 in a field of 15 contestants drawn from Nando’s outlets across the nation.
For Godoh, the victory felt less like a surprise and more like a confirmation.
“I was really confident in my work,” he said, a quiet pride in his voice. “This did not come as a surprise to me.”
But the win means more than personal achievement. With his prize money, Godoh plans to invest in his mother’s business—a gesture he says comes straight from the heart.
“She needs it most,” he explained simply.
The upcoming trip to Australia marks a major milestone in his life. “I’m happy to be representing Zimbabwe on the international stage,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll bring the competition home.”
The event is part of a global Nando’s initiative that brings together master grillers from over 20 countries—a celebration not just of flame-grilled perfection, but of the people behind it.
“Our brand is not about chicken,” said Thabani Banda, Nando’s Zimbabwe general manager. “It’s about the people who make the chicken.”
The competition began at outlet level, with winners rising through the ranks to Tuesday’s national finale. From there, only two could earn the chance to compete on the global stage in Perth.
Magnus Potgieter, executive for Nando’s partners division for Africa and the Middle East, said Zimbabwe kicked off this year’s international calendar with a standout showing.
“The quality we saw today from all 15 competitors—it was a very close call,” Potgieter said. “The food quality in Zimbabwe has always been next level, so there is no surprise there.”
He noted that Zimbabwe has consistently performed well at the global competition, which continues to raise the bar each year.
“The competition is improving every year, the quality is improving every year,” he said.
“We are very pleased.”
For Godoh and Chiramba, the journey ahead is about more than a title. It’s a chance to put Zimbabwe on the culinary map—one perfectly grilled chicken at a time.
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