Meet Strive Masiyiwa: Zimbabwe's richest man defying limits with Africa’s first AI factory

Strive Masiyiwa is not merely a billionaire; he represents resilience, innovation, and quiet defiance. In a continent where entrepreneurship often clashes with political authority, the Zimbabwean telecom magnate made history by taking on Robert Mugabe’s government in a landmark legal battle that spanned five (5) years.

Masiyiwa was not simply pursuing a business licence. He was fighting for the very future of telecommunications in Zimbabwe.

From his formative years as an engineering student to establishing one of Africa’s most influential telecom empires, his journey is a testament to vision, integrity, and an unshakeable belief in the power of technology to uplift communities.

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This is the story of a man who dared to challenge entrenched power, and in doing so, helped reshape the African business landscape.

Early Life and Foundation

Born in 1961, Masiyiwa’s early life was defined by displacement and determination. His family fled Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle, seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. There, he pursued his studies in electrical engineering at the University of Wales.

This period in exile deeply influenced his worldview and nurtured a passion for connecting Africa through technology.

Returning to Zimbabwe in the 1980s, Masiyiwa began his career as an engineer before founding a small electrical contracting firm. However, his entrepreneurial spirit and technical insight soon led him to the transformative potential of telecommunications, a sector then dominated by state monopolies and hampered by underdeveloped infrastructure.

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The Battle That Changed Everything

The defining moment of Masiyiwa’s career came in the early 1990s when he sought to establish Zimbabwe’s first privately owned mobile telecom company. What should have been a straightforward business venture quickly escalated into a five-year-long legal confrontation with Robert Mugabe’s administration, which zealously guarded its control over the telecommunications sector.

Masiyiwa’s refusal to yield in the face of intimidation, bureaucracy, and legal stonewalling underscored his firm belief that communication is a fundamental right, not a tool for governmental manipulation.

In 1998, after exhausting all legal avenues, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled in his favour, granting him the licence to operate Econet Wireless Zimbabwe. The victory was more than personal. It broke the state monopoly and catalysed the liberalisation of telecommunications across Africa.

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Building a Continental Empire

From that hard-fought beginning, Masiyiwa laid the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s largest telecom conglomerates. Launched with just a handful of subscribers, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe now serves over 16 million users, transforming how Zimbabweans connect, access information, and conduct business.

Yet Masiyiwa’s ambitions were never confined to Zimbabwe. Recognising that Africa’s future hinged on connectivity, he expanded Econet’s footprint across the continent. Today, his operations span from Southern Africa to the Sahel, connecting nations and bridging digital divides.

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Under his stewardship, the Econet Group evolved into a diversified technology powerhouse. Its subsidiary, Cassava Technologies, has emerged as a key player in Africa’s digital transformation, offering services ranging from mobile money to cloud computing. Meanwhile, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, another arm of the business, now operates the continent’s largest independent fibre-optic network. This network stretches over 100,000 kilometres across 14 countries.

Pioneering Mobile Money and Digital Innovation

Long before mobile money became a hallmark of African innovation, Masiyiwa’s enterprises were at the forefront. His team developed EcoCash, one of Zimbabwe’s most widely used mobile money platforms, which proved indispensable in a country plagued by economic instability and limited banking infrastructure.

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EcoCash was not merely a business success. It was a social lifeline. Masiyiwa grasped that technology should serve practical needs, particularly in contexts where basic financial services are inaccessible.

His companies continually innovate to address Africa’s unique challenges, from unreliable electricity to inadequate banking systems. This reflects a deep commitment to building technologies tailored to the continent’s needs.

A Lifelong Commitment to Education and Youth Empowerment

Masiyiwa’s most profound impact arguably lies in his investment in education and youth. Together with his wife, Tsitsi, he founded the Higherlife Foundation in 1996. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 250,000 young Africans, transforming the life trajectories of countless individuals.

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The foundation does far more than disburse funds. It supports over 40,000 orphans through comprehensive educational programmes, underpinned by the conviction that education is the key to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering long-term development.

Masiyiwa views philanthropy not as charity but as strategic nation-building. He firmly believes that Africa’s progress depends on empowering its human capital. His educational initiatives have produced engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders, many of whom are now contributing meaningfully to their communities and beyond.

Global Recognition and Strategic Influence

Masiyiwa’s reach extends far beyond Africa. He sits on the boards of global corporations such as Unilever and Bank of America, lending African perspectives to international decision-making. His appointments are a testament to his reputation for strategic thinking and his insight into emerging markets.

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Championing Africa’s Digital Future

Challenges, Tenacity and Innovation

Legacy and Lasting Impact

Today, he ranks as the 21st richest man in Africa according to Forbes’ Africa billionaires rankings.

Conclusion

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