Econet Founder, Strive Masiyiwa, Has Founded Four Businesses That are Worth More Than $13 Billion

Strive Masiyiwa, a Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has responded to a jibe by exiled Former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and G40 Kingpin Professor Jonathan Moyo that he is a Bondnote billionaire, a reference to the local currency that is used in Zimbabwe.

In a statement issued by Econet Wireless on Friday titled Masiyiwa has started four businesses that are worth more than $13 Billion the company said:

Businessman Strive Masiyiwa has so far founded four different businesses that are valued at more than $13 billion. Commenting on his Facebook the Econet Founder said four of his business ventures had become what are known as unicorns:

• Econet Wireless Zimbabwe $3.2 bil
• Cassava Zimbabwe $3.8 bil
• Liquid Telecom $2.5 bil
• And Airtel Nigeria, which he started is now worth over $4 bil. He sold his stake in the business about two years ago

Other well known businesses that he started such as Mascom Botswana and 2Degress New Zealand are also closing in on the billion dollar status.

Mr Masiyiwa said all these were businesses that he started from scratch, “I promoted them to investors, and I set them up hiring their first employees.”

He said he is working on developing other businesses  that he hopes one day will also reach Unicorn status.

Masiyiwa said, “Econet Zimbabwe did not succeed because we had a license. There were two other operates with licenses. Telecel had three International partners  but none of them could beat us in the market.

Read the full statement below: