Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwe’s richest man and one of Africa’s most respected entrepreneurs, has long stood as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and visionary leadership. From his modest beginnings in the early 1990s, when he launched a daring campaign to break Zimbabwe’s state monopoly on telecommunications, Masiyiwa has built a multibillion-dollar empire that stretches across continents. Yet, even for a man whose business acumen has earned him global recognition, recent market developments have taken a toll on his wealth.
According to the latest figures from Forbes, Strive Masiyiwa’s net worth has fallen to approximately $1.2 billion, down from $1.3 billion in August and a peak of nearly $1.8 billion earlier in the year. The drop represents a decline of about $100 million over the past few months and $600 million year-to-date, underscoring the impact of Zimbabwe’s volatile economic environment on even its most successful business figures.
Masiyiwa’s decline in net worth is largely tied to the revaluation of his publicly listed holdings in Zimbabwe, including Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and Cassava Technologies. The country’s economic turbulence — marked by currency reforms, inflationary pressure, and fluctuating exchange rates — has rattled investor confidence and dampened market capitalization across major companies.
The introduction of the new gold-backed currency, known as the ZiG (short for Zimbabwe Gold), in May was intended to stabilize the economy and curb hyperinflation. However, the reform instead created fresh uncertainty in financial markets. Analysts say the move unsettled investors and triggered a wave of repricing across the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, causing a temporary dip in the market value of major firms — including those under Masiyiwa’s Econet Group.
“The introduction of the ZiG created more confusion than confidence,” one Harare-based economist explained. “Many investors struggled to price assets in a new currency system, and the resulting uncertainty saw listed companies lose significant value on paper.”
Econet Wireless, the telecoms flagship of Masiyiwa’s business empire, remains Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operator and one of the most recognized brands in southern Africa. However, it has not been immune to the country’s economic shocks. Operational costs have surged due to foreign currency shortages, rising inflation, and complex exchange rate regulations. Similarly, Cassava Technologies — the parent company overseeing Strive Masiyiwas interests in digital infrastructure, fintech, and data services — has also faced market headwinds.
Despite these short-term setbacks, Strive Masiyiwa’s long-term vision and diversified portfolio continue to safeguard his standing among Africa’s wealthiest and most influential figures. Beyond telecommunications, his investments span fintech, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure, with operations in over 20 countries across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Strive Masiyiwa’s Fortune Dips Amid Zimbabwe’s Economic Turbulence, But His Vision Endures
His London-based company, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, operates one of the largest independent fibre networks in Africa, connecting cities from Cape Town to Cairo and providing critical digital infrastructure that powers much of the continent’s internet backbone. Through Distributed Power Africa (DPA), Masiyiwa has also positioned himself at the forefront of Africa’s renewable energy revolution, building solar power solutions for businesses and governments across the region.
In addition to his business ventures, Masiyiwa is celebrated globally for his philanthropy. Through the Higherlife Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife Tsitsi, he has supported education and youth empowerment programs for hundreds of thousands of underprivileged students in Zimbabwe and across Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masiyiwa also served as a special envoy for the African Union, helping to coordinate the continent’s vaccine acquisition and distribution strategy.
For many observers, Masiyiwa’s recent wealth dip is more a reflection of Zimbabwe’s unstable economic environment than of any decline in his business performance. “His companies are sound, but the domestic market remains unpredictable,” said an investment analyst in Johannesburg. “Currency reforms, inflation, and regulatory uncertainty continue to weigh on valuations — even for solid, profitable firms like Econet.”
Strive Masiyiwa’s calm response to such volatility has become part of his legend. Known for his faith-driven leadership and stoic resilience, he often reminds young entrepreneurs that “wealth is a by-product of purpose.” In a recent public statement, he echoed that sentiment: “Markets rise and fall. What matters is the value you create, the people you empower, and the legacy you leave behind.”
Indeed, while his net worth may have fallen by hundreds of millions on paper, Strive Masiyiwa’s influence — both in business and philanthropy — remains intact. He continues to serve on several global boards, including Unilever, Netflix, and the Gates Foundation, where he plays a key role in shaping discussions around technology, education, and sustainable development in Africa.
For a man who once risked everything to challenge the status quo in Zimbabwe’s telecoms industry, temporary financial fluctuations are unlikely to shake his resolve. To many Africans, Strive Masiyiwa’s story remains a beacon of what persistence, integrity, and vision can achieve — proof that greatness can rise from adversity.
As Zimbabwe’s economy grapples with its latest wave of uncertainty, Strive Masiyiwa stands, as ever, focused on the long game — building the infrastructure, industries, and institutions that will outlast any market storm.
Source- iHarare
