Business & Enterprise
Landmark
Strive Masiyiwa
born 1961
Founded Econet after a five-year court fight with the state
Landmark is level 2 of 5 in the Zimbabwe Hall of Fame: a first, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
He beat Zimbabwe's state telecoms monopoly in a five-year legal battle, founded Econet, and in doing so opened Africa's telecoms sector to private investment.
Strive Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean businessman, founder and executive chairman of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies.
He founded Econet Wireless in 1993 after a five-year legal battle against the state monopoly to secure a licence — a victory that opened the continent's telecommunications to private operators. He was also a major shareholder in the opposition Daily News. Through the Higherlife Foundation he and his wife Tsitsi have supported the education of more than forty thousand children across Africa.
He founded Econet Wireless in 1993 after a five-year legal battle against the state monopoly to secure a licence — a victory that opened the continent's telecommunications to private operators. He was also a major shareholder in the opposition Daily News. Through the Higherlife Foundation he and his wife Tsitsi have supported the education of more than forty thousand children across Africa.
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