Zimbabwe’s richest man Strive Masiyiwa gains $900 million; hits $2.2 billion

Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has gained $900 million since the start of the year, lifting his net worth back above $2 billion for the first time since 2022 and reinforcing his standing as Zimbabwe’s richest individual and one of Africa’s wealthiest business leaders.

According to estimates by Forbes, which tracks the wealth of the world’s richest people, Masiyiwa’s net worth has climbed from $1.3 billion on Jan. 1, 2026, to $2.2 billion at the time of drafting this report. The increase reflects stronger performance across parts of his business empire and renewed investor confidence in companies linked to his group.

Masiyiwa is widely known as the founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the country’s largest mobile network operator. After years of legal battles with the government in the 1990s, he secured the license that allowed the company to launch in 1998, a move that helped transform Zimbabwe’s telecoms sector and laid the foundation for one of Africa’s top telecoms groups.

Tech investments lift Masiyiwa’s fortune

Today his interests stretch well beyond mobile services. Through Cassava Technologies, Masiyiwa has expanded into digital payments, data centers, renewable energy, satellite connectivity and artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa. The broader technology push reflects his effort to build businesses that support the continent’s growing digital economy.

The latest rise in his wealth follows a difficult 2025. Last year his fortune dropped by about $500 million, falling from $1.8 billion on Jan. 1, 2025 to $1.3 billion by Dec. 31, 2025. The decline came as Zimbabwe faced currency adjustments and broader economic pressure that affected valuations across several sectors.

This year’s recovery has been supported in part by gains linked to Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, where Masiyiwa holds about a 38 percent stake. Improved investor sentiment around telecom and digital infrastructure businesses has also helped lift the value of companies connected to his wider investment network.

Liquid secures $410 million credit facility

With a $2.2 billion fortune, Masiyiwa ranks 1,908th on Forbes’ billionaires list, placing him among the world’s 2,000 richest people. The gain in his wealth comes as Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a unit of Cassava Technologies, secured a $410 million credit facility after earlier debt repayments, combining rand- and dollar-denominated loans backed by equity.

Cassava is contributing about $195 million to strengthen Liquid’s balance sheet as the company prepares a broader refinancing plan. Liquid is also working toward issuing a new $300 million bond to replace an existing $620 million note that matures in September 2026. Group Chief Executive Hardy Pemhiwa said the refinancing effort is intended to align the company’s debt with its earnings profile and extend repayment timelines.

This follows earlier steps announced in November 2025, when Cassava completed transactions expected to raise more than $150 million in equity for Liquid. Those included $100 million from the sale of a minority stake in Africa Data Centres in South Africa to STANLIB, a $25 million equity investment from NVIDIA, and another $25 million from existing Cassava shareholders.