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| Strive Masiyiwa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 (age 61–62) Zimbabwe |
| Nationality |  Zimbabwe |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Being one of the wealthiest residents in Zimbabwe and operating numerous business ventures |
| Spouse | Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa |
Strive Masiyiwa (born 1961) is a Zimbabwean born businessman, cellphone pioneer and founder of Econet Wireless. He first came to international prominence when he fought a landmark constitutional legal battle for five years in the African country of Zimbabwe. The ruling, which led to the removal of the monopoly of the state in telecommunications, is generally regarded as one of the key milestones in opening the African telecommunications sector to private capital.
Aside from Econet, Strive Masiyiwa is a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and a board member of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa which is funded by both the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and chaired by Kofi Annan.
With Sir Richard Branson, Masiyiwa is a co-founder of the Carbon War Room, a global, independent non-profit established to help entrepreneurs unlock market-driven solutions to climate change.
Business interests
Econet Wireless
Econet Wireless is 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, internet and satellite.
The company’s activities include mobile cellular telephony, fixed networks, enterprise networks, fibre optic cables, and satellite services. It also provides payment solutions to banks across Africa.
Also, through Econet’s subsidiaries, the Group funds one of the largest orphan care programs in Africa, run by Capernaum Trust. Established in 1999, initially as the social investment arm of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the Trust is currently responsible for over 40,000 orphans.
Other interests
Beyond telecoms, Strive Masiyiwa's business activities include operations and investments in some of Africa’s leading businesses in financial services, insurance, renewable energy, bottling for Coca-Cola, hotel and safari lodges. The Econet Group is also exploring several opportunities in targeted African other international emerging markets.
Activities
Masiyiwa was a member of the coordinating committee which set up the Social Dimensions Fund (SDF), an initiative to alleviate the impact of poverty arising during the implementation of economic reforms in Zimbabwe. He was also a founding member of the African Latin American Institute at Punta Del Este in Uruguay in 1994. The institute promotes cultural, educational and business linkages between Southern Africa and the Mercusior region of Latin America.
Masiyiwa has served on numerous boards and trusts both in Zimbabwe and internationally. In 1995, Masiyiwa was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the board of the Southern African Enterprise Development Fund (SAEDF) which is chaired by Ambassador Andrew Young. He is also a member of Thebe Investment Corporation of South Africa, an empowerment company that was set up by the Mbabatho Trust of the ANC.
In 1990, Masiyiwa was the youngest ever recipient of Zimbabwe's coveted Businessman of the Year Award; in 1998 he was named his country's Manager of the Year as well as Entrepreneur of the Year. He was named by Junior Chamber International (JCI) as one of the "Ten Most Outstanding Young Persons of the World" for 1999. In 2002 he was named to Time Magazine's Global Business Influentials List.
He was also the publisher of the Daily News, Zimbabwe's only independent daily newspaper, shut down by the government in late 2003 after its management refused to comply with new media regulations which required that media organisations be registered with a government commission.
Masiyiwa is also a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. Every year, the Panel releases a report, the Africa Progress Report, that outlines an issue of immediate importance to the continent and suggests a set of associated policies. In 2012, the Africa Progress Report highlighted issues of Jobs, Justice, and Equity. The 2013 report will outline issues relating to oil, gas, and mining in Africa.
Personal life
Strive Masiyiwa and his family live in Johannesburg, South Africa.
References
- "Rockefeller Foundation".
- "AGRA".
- "Carbon War Room".
- "Econet Wireless".
- "Econet Wireless".
- http://africaprogresspanel.org/en/publications/africa-progress-report-2013/
- Out of Zimbabwe, a telecoms boss means serious business in Africa Guardian
- Time Magazine's profile
- Sunday Times' article
- Strive Masiyiwa's biography