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Founder & Executive Chairman, Econet Global
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Strive Masiyiwa is a London-based Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist widely recognized as a pioneer of the telecommunications industry in Africa. Born on January 29, 1961, in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Masiyiwa has built a career defined by his advocacy for digital connectivity, economic development, and social empowerment across the African continent and beyond. Masiyiwa's early life was marked by significant transitions. At the age of seven, following the declaration of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in his home country, his family moved to Kitwe, Zambia. Later, he was sent to Scotland to complete his secondary education. He eventually pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, graduating with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Cardiff University in 1983. After a brief period working in the computer industry in Cambridge, he returned to Zimbabwe in 1984, seeking to contribute to the nation’s post-independence development. His career trajectory shifted dramatically when he entered the telecommunications sector. After working as a telecom engineer, Masiyiwa founded Econet Wireless in 1993. His path to establishing the company was arduous; he became embroiled in a landmark, five-year legal battle against the Zimbabwean government, which maintained a state-owned monopoly on telecommunications. Masiyiwa’s court case, which was ultimately argued on the basis of freedom of expression, resulted in a historic Constitutional Court ruling in his favor. This decision is regarded as a pivotal moment in African telecommunications history, as it dismantled the state monopoly and opened the sector to private capital, accelerating digital access for millions. Following the success of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, Masiyiwa expanded his business interests internationally. He founded the Econet Group and later Cassava Technologies, a diversified technology and telecommunications firm. His business portfolio has grown to include operations and investments in over 40 countries on four continents, encompassing fibre optic networks, data centers, fintech, and renewable energy. His companies have been instrumental in building digital infrastructure, including one of Africa’s largest independent fibre networks. Beyond his corporate success, Masiyiwa is a prominent philanthropist. In 1996, he and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, co-founded the Higherlife Foundation. The foundation focuses on social impact investments in human capital, having supported hundreds of thousands of scholarships for orphaned, vulnerable, and gifted children across Africa. The Masiyiwas are also signatories to the Giving Pledge, the philanthropic initiative founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Masiyiwa’s influence extends to global policy and humanitarian efforts. He has served in numerous high-profile leadership roles, including as the African Union’s Special Envoy for the COVID-19 response, where he coordinated the acquisition of vaccines and medical supplies for the continent. He has held board positions at major international organizations and companies, including Netflix, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Geographic Society, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He is also a co-founder of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Carbon War Room, reflecting his long-standing commitment to food security, climate change mitigation, and sustainable economic transformation. As of early 2026, Masiyiwa continues to reside in the United Kingdom while managing his global portfolio. He is a recognized authority on business and development, frequently advising governments and international bodies on digital transformation and infrastructure. His legacy remains anchored in his dual pursuit of commercial innovation and social responsibility, continuously aiming to bridge the digital and developmental divides in Africa.
Founded Econet Wireless, securing a landmark constitutional victory in Zimbabwe that destroyed the state telecoms monopoly and sparked the African mobile revolution
Built Liquid Intelligent Technologies, laying over 100,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across the African continent
Appointed as the African Union Special Envoy to mobilize the private sector response to COVID-19, establishing the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP)
His initial refusal to pay bribes and his relentless legal challenges against the deeply entrenched, corrupt government of Robert Mugabe forced him to flee Zimbabwe in 2000, living in permanent exile in South Africa and later London
Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe frequently faces intense criticism and regulatory harassment from the current Mnangagwa administration, which occasionally attempts to shut down its mobile money platform (EcoCash) under the guise of combating inflation
In the 1990s, Masiyiwa engaged in a protracted five-year legal battle with the Zimbabwean government to obtain a mobile telecommunications license. He accused the state of corruptly denying him a license to favor political cronies, eventually winning the case at the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe in 1997, which effectively dismantled the state's telecommunications monopoly.
First African to be appointed to the Board of Directors of Netflix
Returned to Zimbabwe in 1984 to work as a telecoms engineer for the state-owned Zimbabwe Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.
Founded his first business in 1986 after leaving his position at the state telecommunications corporation.
Named Zimbabwean Businessman of the Year in 1990, becoming the youngest recipient of the award at the time.
Founded Econet Wireless in 1993, aiming to provide mobile telecommunications services in Zimbabwe.
Served as an advisor to the Southern African Enterprise Development Fund from 1994 to 1998.
Co-founded the Higherlife Foundation in 1996 with his wife, Tsitsi, to support the education of orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa.
Won a landmark five-year legal battle against the Zimbabwean government in 1998, securing a mobile telecommunications license and launching Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.
Named Zimbabwean Manager and Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998.
Named one of the 10 Most Outstanding Young Leaders in the World by the World Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1998.
Recognized as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Young Persons of the World by Junior Chamber International in 1999.
Emigrated from Zimbabwe to South Africa in 2000, where he founded the Econet Wireless Group.
Named to the Time Global Business Influencers List in 2002.
Selected as one of the 15 Global Influentials of the Year in a 2003 CNN/Time magazine poll.
Served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Rockefeller Foundation from 2003 to 2018.
Received the Builder of the Modern Africa award in 2010.
Served as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience from 2010 to 2021.
Named one of the 20 Most Powerful Business People in African Business by Forbes in 2011.
Named one of the 25 Leaders of Africa's Renaissance by the Times of London in 2011.
Served as a special advisor and ambassador to Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Global e-Health Ambassadors Programme from 2011 to 2015.
Invited by President Barack Obama to address leaders at the Camp David G-8 Summit on food security in 2012.
Served as Co-chair of Grow Africa from 2012 to 2015.
Served on the Board of Trustees of Morehouse College from 2012 to 2017.
Served on the international jury for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Prize from 2012 to 2018.
Served on the Global Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2012 to 2023.
Became a founding member of SMART Africa in 2013.
Served on the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board for Sustainable Energy for All from 2013 to 2016.
Served as a panel member of the Africa Progress Panel from 2013 to 2018.
Named one of Fortune Magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders in 2014.
Served as Chair of the Micronutrient Initiative of Canada (now Nutrition International) from 2014 to 2016.
Named one of the 10 Most Powerful Men in Africa by Forbes Magazine in 2015.
Received the Freedom Award from the International Rescue Committee in 2015.
Received the UN Foundation Global Leadership Award for Africa in 2015 for his role in the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust.
Served on the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society from 2015 to 2020.
Served on the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board for Financing Global Education Opportunities from 2015 to 2016.
Invited by the White House to introduce President Barack Obama at the 2016 launch of the Feed the Future Agriculture initiative.
Served as a Cervical cancer awareness ambassador for the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Campaign from 2016 to 2019.
Named one of Fortune Magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders in 2017.
Named Zimbabwe's first billionaire by Forbes Magazine in 2018.
Received the Points of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister in 2018 for his philanthropic contributions.
Served as a member of the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 to 2019.
Co-chaired the Pathways for Prosperity Commission for Technology and Inclusive Growth from 2018 to 2019.
Awarded the Norman E. Borlaug Food Prize Medallion in 2019 for his work as Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
Named a speech laureate at the 9th Annual Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture in 2019.
Named an Honorary Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2019.
Recognized by New African Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans multiple times, starting in 2019.
Inducted into the Junior Achievement Worldwide Global Business Hall of Fame in 2020.
Named one of Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential People in the World in 2020.
Appointed to the board of directors of Netflix Inc. in 2020.
Appointed by the African Union as a Special Envoy for the COVID-19 response, serving from 2020 to 2022.
Served as an advisor on the South African President's Advisory Council on Investment from 2020 to 2023.
Named one of Fortune Magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders in 2021.
Named Entrepreneur of the Year by Spear's Magazine (UK) in 2022.
Inducted as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
Awarded the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal by Harvard University's Hutchins Center for African & African American Research in 2024.
Received the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award alongside his wife, Tsitsi, in 2025.
Named by Time Magazine on its list of 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2025.
In 2020, Masiyiwa and his company were embroiled in a public intellectual property dispute with the developers of a medical app called 'PocketPatientMD.' The developers accused Masiyiwa's organization of misappropriating their solution for the African Union’s COVID-19 Africa Medical Supplies Platform, allegations which Masiyiwa and his legal team strenuously denied.
In 2018, Masiyiwa faced significant public backlash and criticism after he publicly advocated for the removal of economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. His comments drew sharp rebuke from some citizens and political commentators who believed his stance ignored the role of government policy in the country's economic struggles.
