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12 Things You Didn’t Know About Zimbabwean Business Mogul Strive Masiyiwa

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Zimbabwean Business Mogul Strive Masiyiwa

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Zimbabwean business mogul Strive Masiyiwa has been incredibly successful in his career as an entrepreneur and investor, with business interests worldwide showing his pedigree as a businessman.

The founder and CEO of telecoms company Econet Wirless is Zimbabwe’s richest man, and continues to use his fortune for philanthropic pursuits throughout the African continent, with education among the youth proving to be a particular passion for the British educated Masiyiwa.

One of the great success stories from Zimbabwe, the 56-year-old enjoys great global influence and is respected throughout Africa and the world as a business mogul of great ability and experience.

Here are 12 things you may not know about Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa.

Source: Forbes, TechnoMag, KweseSports, iMzansi, ReferenceForBusiness.

Econet Wireless founder and chairman Strive Masiyiwa. Photo: World Economic Forum

A qualified electrical engineer

Masiyiwa may have built a business empire as a successful entrepreneur and telecoms mogul, but his early education was focused on engineering. The celebrated businessman holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wales.

Strive Masiyiwa is very wealthy. Photo: InnovationVillage.com

Zimbabwe’s richest man

Strive Masiyiwa is Zimbabwe’s wealthiest man, and Forbes estimates that his networth is around $600 million due to his many business interests spanning the globe, while Ventures Africa believes the figure to be closer to $1.4 billion.

Mugabe headed for US
Masiyiwa took on the Zimbabwe government. Photo: XuLingui/Photoshot/telegraph.co.uk

He took Mugabe’s government to court

In an effort to improve mobile telecoms in his home country, he took Zimbabwe’s state monopoly to court and, after many years of dedication and patience, won the freedom to set up his now very successful mobile company under license in the country.

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Econet House, Harare, Zimbabwe. Photo: techloy.com

Business interests across the globe

The court ruling allowed him to found Econet Wireless, a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America and the East Asia Pacific Rim, offering products and services in the core areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, satellite, optical fiber networks and mobile payment.

Strive Masiyiwa is respected globally as a businessman of high regard. Photo: africaprogresspanel.org

Philanthropist of note

The Zimbabwean is a prolific philanthropist, using his personal fortune to build one of the largest programmes dedicated to supporting orphans in Africa, while supporting numerous initiatives and charities that involve health issues, agriculture and education in Africa.

Luol Deng
Luol Deng – espn.go.com

His company has the rights to NBA in Africa

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Econet agreed a multi-year partnership in 2016 to become the official broadcaster of the NBA in sub-Saharan Africa in a new deal representing the largest ever for the NBA in Africa, and a great coup for the Econet’s sports business, Kwesesports.

Masiyiwa supports the education of countless students. Photo: Africanamerica.org

Education is important to Masiyiwa

Education has always been important to Masiyiwa, and he values the need to educate African youth. His family foundations support and educate more than 40,000 children throughout Africa and the world in an effort to build a better tomorrow through education.

Strive Masiyiwa with former US president Obama. Photo: Econet Wireless
Strive Masiyiwa with former US president Obama. Photo: Econet Wireless

Great global influence

Considered one of the most powerful business leaders in Africa, he holds great global influence with positions serving on boards such as The Rockefeller Foundation, the US Council on Foreign Relations International Advisory Board, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the African Union’s (AU) EBOLA Fund, among others.

NBA Partners With Zimbabwe's Econet - Strive Masiyiwa
Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa. Photo: mg.co.za

Showered with various honours

Masiyiwa has been recognised with many honours and awards, including most influential, businessman/entrepreneur of the year, and lifetime achievement awards from various respected media and organisations.

joint venture to invest in African infrastructure
The Africa Progress Panel in action building infrastructure. Photo: Jean Baptiste Dodane, africaprogresspanel.org

A member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP)

The business icon is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, which is a group of 10 powerful and highly respected individuals who advocate at the highest levels globally for equitable and sustainable development in Africa through policy change and coalition building.

Masiyiwa believes that Christian values promote ethical business. Photo: BlackBlueDog.com

Strong Christian values

The mogul may be a shrewd businessman, but he tries to run his business ventures with a Christian approach, as his Christian values are important to him. He claims to read the Bible every morning in an effort to feel close to God and develop an ethical approach to the business landscape.

Strive Masiyiwa is a highly successful business mogul. Photo: iMzansi
Strive Masiyiwa is a highly successful business mogul. Photo: iMzansi

Over 100,000 followers on Twitter – @StriveMasiyiwa

The Founder of the Econet Group has over 109,000 followers on Twitter, and he has been an active member of the social media site since January 2012. Masiyiwa often comments on African business while publicising news about his business interests.