Billionaire Strive Masiyiwa kickstarts 2022 with $10.3 million gain

By Victor Oluwole | Business Insider Africa |

Zimbabwe’s richest man and Executive Chairman of Econet, Strive Masiyiwa, has already made $10.3 million this year following a surge in the market value of his stake in the Zimbabwe-based smart tech group, Cassava Smartech.

The shares in Cassava Smartech since the beginning of the year have increased from a price of ZWL40.65 ($$0.1263) on Dec. 31, 2021, to ZWL44.9 ($0.1263) on Jan 5, Billionaires Africa reported.

According to analysts’ projections, the surge in the market value of Masiyiwa’s stake since the year began can be linked to recent buying interest in the company’s share in the new year.

Masiyiwa, who holds a beneficial 30.26-per cent stake in the company through Econet Global Limited, has Cassava Smartech’s soaring share price to thank as his stake in the company rose from ZWL31.87 billion ($98.97 million) at the beginning of the year to ZWL35.2 billion ($109.31 million) on January 5.

This led to gains of 10.45-percent for shareholders as Masiyiwa’s total gains of ZWL3.33 billion saw his net worth rise by ($10.34 million) in the first five days of the new year.

Cassava Smartech is a diversified smart tech group that leverages digital and financial technologies to build shared economies, drive financial inclusion and promote economic empowerment.

The company has evolved from a Fintech operation (primarily Mobile Money) to a full-fledged smartech business, constantly tapping into new opportunities to address everyday challenges through innovative and inclusive digital solutions.

Another big gainer this week is Nigerian billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, who is now the 2nd richest person in the country, according to Billionaires Africa.

He chairs BUA Foods Plc, an operating unit of manufacturing conglomerate BUA Group, both of which have completed the listing of its shares on the Nigerian Exchange.

Shares of BUA Foods rose nearly 10% from N40 ($0.0968) to N44 ($0.1065) this week, boosting Rabiu’s net worth by $1.2 billion. His fortune has risen to $7.2 billion, skyrocketing from $5.3 billion last year.

Abdul Samad RabiuCassava SmartechEconet Global Limitedstrive masiyiwa
Comments (88)
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    • Joshua Makuvise

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony team reZanu iri just to protect madhiri ake

    • Kudzi Sango

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony why do you have to force him into politics when he is obviously not interested?

    • Wt Sithole

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony maybe zanu pf must start by appointing him zanu president coz he is a zanu

    • Tererai Zivanai

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony iye achidhura ne Econet yake kudaro

    • Alex Fraser

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony he is a British citizen now

    • Leslie Majome

      The guy is rich already haazobe zvakanyanya. Strive is not Zanu by the way

    • Enia Murunguzvuzvu

      Dicey Tinotenda Mcloony u know us zimbos next year we are running to zambia kkkk

  • Patrick Makoni

    Does this end poverty ??? you are too snobbish… Journalism of these days heeey

    • Kudzi Sango

      Patrick Makoni The same article can be in any newspaper. You aren’t being forced to read buddy

  • Kudzie Makarutse Makoni

    Econet yakadhakwa kuomera kudaro zvekutadzawo Ku sponsor woo sport zvayo Inga SA kune Telkom , MTN 8 , vanhu warii kukuitisai Mari wani

    • Marcus Major

      Kudzie Makarutse Makoni haha…kuSponsor maAdmin mbavha dzoga

    • Kudzi Sango

      Kudzie Makarutse Makoni ma charity aano supporter mashoma?

    • Killian Nyamutowa

      Kudzie Makarutse Makoni why dont appreciate more than 250 000 students that he had send to school. Zvimwe zvinota mweya wekutenda.

    • Herbert Chitongo

      Kudzie Makarutse Makoni Econet withdraws PSL sponsorship
      By The Independent- May 28, 2004
      Enock Muchinjo

      TELECOMS giant Econet Wireless has terminated its five-year sponsorship of football in Zimbabwe through the Premier Soccer League (PSL) with effect from the end of the current

      season, it was announced yesterday.

      In a statement, the company said the decision to terminate the largest ever football sponsorship deal in the country’s history was taken in response to a row between the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the PSL in which Zifa banned the PSL management committee after the league refused to release the contract it entered with Econet to the national association.

      “The action by (Zifa) and the subsequent media reports on the issue have brought the name of Econet into disrepute, and we do not want to be involved,” said Econet spokesman Sure Kamhunga.

      Econet will however stand by its obligations until the end of the current season.

      Kamhunga said Econet directors had reviewed the saga between PSL and Caps United over rival Net*One sponsorship, as well as the latest developments between Zifa and the top-flight league and concluded the Econet name was being dragged into disrepute.

      “All we as Econet wanted to do was to help develop football in Zimbabwe in the same way our sister companies are doing in other African countries like Nigeria. It has become clear to us that there are powerful forces in Zimbabwe who do not want us to be involved in soccer sponsorship, and we have therefore decided, sadly, to withdraw completely,” he said.

      In order to avoid unnecessary disruptions, Econet has given PSL notice up to December to find new sponsors “acceptable to the relevant authorities”. Sources say government was not happy with Econet’s sponsorship of the top-flight league.

      Econet owner Strive Masiyiwa is accused of bankrolling the opposition.

      However, Kamhunga said Econet had been working well with the PSL and the clubs.

      “This is very sad because we had just got to the stage with PSL where they had sorted out their administration, and we were now ready to pump in money which would reach all the clubs. We hope that another sponsor will work with PSL and finish the work we had started,” he said.

      The decision to sever ties with the PSL was made after a marathon meeting yesterday where the Econet management team tried in vain to persuade their board to stay on, arguing that with Econet’s support, Zimbabwe would become a stronger football nation.

      Meanwhile, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe chief executive officer Doug Mboweni expressed appreciation for the professional approach of the PSL management committee towards football administration.

      Mboweni said Econet had been impressed with the common sense of purpose demonstrated by the PSL leadership. “If this is maintained, it will enable them to successfully identify more sponsors for the football league.

      We wish them well in the future,” he said.

    • Phillip Mugayi

      Kudzie Makarutse Makoni zifa ndeye kumama iyo wangu matuzvi ayoo.

  • E GobaMakhate

    Imagine from zero to billionaire. Only borrowing & not manufacturing anything.

  • King Luda

    Haumbominzwa achiti ndine mari ?

  • Jeriphanos Tembo

    Ko hangaangopa family yega yega 1 million nhamo ipere muzim achibatsirana naJava

  • Wellington Joseph Gwamuri

    To imagine this man was once shunned by the Robert Mugabe headed government era but look where destiny took him to. Let your destiny be not defined by human beings but by God Himself.

  • Mkore Kore

    This man has stollen a lot from unsuspecting Zimbabwean citizens and somehow he manages to get away with it.

    • Ngoni Mapomba

      Mkore Kore

      Hw much did he steal from the Zimbabweans.

    • Marcus Tee Matewe

      Tinashe Kelvin Shonga all business pple vanoba nekutsika vamwe kusimukira kubirana chete hapana Mari iri clean

    • Mkore Kore

      Ngoni Mapomba tell me what happened to Ecosure,Ecofarmer, Kwese tv and not forgetting the biggest money heist in the history of Zimbabwe and Rhodesia combined ECOCASH 😂 work up my people work up

    • Mkore Kore

      Tinashe Kelvin Shonga how is it clean money when we all know no one was paid back the moneys of his failed programs that a lot of people had contributed their hard earned money to him

    • Ngoni Mapomba

      Mkore Kore

      Kkkkkk what’s wrong with eco-cash?

  • Jue Rozay

    Data rake rinodhura get away

    • June Ncube

      Joseph Matanda Saungweme Joseph pakaipa wena I love this man is great man in Bussines

  • Shepherd Mhondiwa

    Imbavha iyi sim card rake rakange rakaenzana neprice yemombe , sim card radarika price yehand set

    • Shepherd Mhondiwa

      Tinashe Kelvin ShongaTinashe Kelvin Shonga hakusi kusara kutora advantage chete. Zvakaitwa nana Ed nema money changer avo vachitora forex pablack market

    • Shepherd Mhondiwa

      Tinashe Kelvin Shonga takaisa Kumari mazuva ano it is 350us to 400us wangu saka pama line 100 imarii

    • Tinashe Kelvin Shonga

      Shepherd Mhondiwa even net one that ranga risingawanike buddie ndoraiwanika even raiduraharo hapana kuba apa wangu

  • Nagazak Try

    What is the use of that money in bank,while 1/3 of his fellow zimbos are starving in deep poverty?

    • Nagazak Try

      Misheck Nakirwai Chiware him is part of it,feel as a human being

    • Elsie Dorcas Ndiripo

      Nagazak Try Aaaaaaa you want him to save that one third on what grounds

    • Desire Kateyera

      Nagazak Try hi. Kindly do your research well. He has an organization called Higherlife Foundation that has sent hundreds of thousands to school, assisted in times of disaster, is striving to fight poverty through use of the Reimagine Rural fund, has pfumvudza projects that are ongoing. Human capital development is also his thrust. This is a skeleton that I have given you. More research would assist you understand better.

  • Lenation Gutuza

    why can’t he help with that a little kubatsirawo nyika yeZimbabwe kuti isimukire… Selfish

  • Samson Chifamba

    the dude is struggling to pay 20million debt for yrs now yet hes called a billionaire

  • Samson Chifamba

    l am a econet shareholder dont have any respect for this dude. tsotsi iri l am sure every econet shareholder can relate

  • Christopher Mudenda

    Zim’s number one criminal. Where are you Mr Law and relieve us from this world criminal

    • Maddave Kapita

      Kelvin Tinashe Masukume handiti ndiwe omu bigger here muchiti ane mansion …

  • Maka Kwayedza

    So its all about self Accumulation/aggrandizement/enrichment …no social/national/humanomic development ye Zim/Afrika…

  • Wilbert Mapa

    He is nolonger Zimbabwe richest ava muBritish uyo.

  • Shepie Xaepz Matasva

    You mean these 9 days only in 2022 he managed to accumulate US$10.3m profit?

  • Chris Bolivis

    For someone who’s a billionaire. Ishoma mari