Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

On this day in 1961, Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa was born. Masiyiwa is best known as the founder and chairman of Econet Wireless International and Zimbabwe’s first billionaire. In 1968, together with his family fled to north-central Zambia Town of Kitwe due to regional government instability in the country (Zimbabwe). In 1978, after graduating at Edinburgh, in Scotland, he returned to Zimbabwe to join the anti-government guerilla forces but was stopped by a senior officer who argued that the conflict was almost over. After attempting his degree in electrical and electronic engeering, he joined the Zimbabwe Post and Telecommunications Corporations, (ZPTC) as a senior engineer. In 1990, he founded and financed Econet Wireless. Being one of the richest man, he has shown his genorosity in helping those with special needs to avert poverty and for this reason in 2015, he was awarded the Freedom Award by the International Rescue Committee for his contributions towards supporting refugees and championing the cause of dignity, individual freedom and liberty.