Strive Masiyiwa To Launch $100m Rural Entrepreneurship Fund

Farai Mudzingwa Avatar
Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa

The Founder of Econet Global, Strive Masiyiwa, along with his wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa have pledged $100 million to a fund rural entrepreneurs. Masiyiwa, who also happens to be one of the richest Africans in the world had this to say about the fund:

My wife and I have decided to set up a special fund of $100m over 5 years for ReImagine Rural in Zimbabwe.
We have also challenged our friends in the philanthropy community to join us to expand it across Africa.
The fund which is our own personal money will be disbursed as loans through Steward Bank (a member of the Econet group).
The money will support projects from rural entrepreneurs or those entrepreneurs willing to focus on rural areas.

SB will set up a special team [Masiyiwa Rural Challenge Fund].
I want to use this initiative to challenge global donors to support mass entrepreneurship in Africa by putting my own money into what I believe. My wife is currently on a major drive to get this concept adopted by other philanthropists, so we can push into other African countries.

This initiative does not reduce our commitment to other areas of our philanthropy efforts including education and the $60m sanitation and water initiative in Harare.
We thank the Lord who empowers us!

Details of how the fund will work were posted on his Facebook page and we know the following:

  • 25% must be set aside for an area of Zimbabwe called Matabeleland;
  •  Women must get minimum 50%;
  • Young people must be the focus;
  • Traditional businesses like stores and grinding mills will be excluded. We want to see a new generation of businesses, to fulfil my dream of #ReImagineRural.
  • Min: $1000, Max $10,000.
  • No collateral;
  • Maximum interest 5%;
  • Repayments will go into revolving fund;
  • All entrepreneurs must undergo training before loans;
  • No political lobbying for support

 

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36 comments

  1. Anonymous

    What are the qualification requirement?

  2. Anonymous

    This is a noble idea. Actually, this will go a long way to promote rural women with noble ideas who can contribute immensely to the economy but they lack capital to grow their projects. Women are hard workers even though most of the times find it difficult to access loans due to collateral hence their ideas never go into an implementation stage but remain on paper.

    1. Tich Musarurwa Muzivi

      Totally agree Sir and Ma’ am.

  3. Anonymous

    MAY GOD BLESS YOU .YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB

  4. Anonymous

    May God continue to abundantly BLESS you. You are a Blessed to Zimbabwe.

  5. Anonymous

    Great initiative
    When is this likely to start and what are the prerequisite requirements to qualify for this Loan

  6. Tafadzwa

    This is really needed to push the economic mindset in the nation and its a noble initiative however a Tony Elumelu approach would work better.. Should be interest free it’s its philathropic

  7. Anonymous

    Nice

  8. Tich Musarurwa Muzivi

    Glory to God.May He continually increase His Grace over your stewardship.You tirelessly and perpetually bring solutions unlocking value in every fabric of this potentially great nation.

  9. Anonymous

    Great initiatives. Hope the outcomes and the impact will be felt by all beneficiaries.

  10. Anonymous

    May GOD ALMIGHTY continue to bless you and bless you ever after

  11. Matthew Chenjerai Chimhondo

    Mwari arambe achikukomborera narini narini

  12. Babongile

    Thank you very much sir. God bless.

  13. alex

    i am inspired.

  14. Anonymous

    The message is clear. Its about bulding the Zimbabwe Rural Areas we want. What i want to know are the steps or procedures. Where should we take the proposal. Secondly, i have something i did. I send it to Econet, it was turned down but i still feel, since you are a great visionary and dreamer, you will advice or guide me.

  15. Anonymous

    Inspired thank you Mr & Mrs Masiyiwa

  16. Haha

    Just send it via ZANU of… It’s going to be political whether you like it or not. As you know chiefs control areas

    1. Anonymous

      but they said its being distributed through Steward Bank??? . . . are you suggesting then that the chiefs are going to apply on behalf of rural people.

    2. Farai Mudzingwa

      😂 why the rush to think along political lines??

  17. Francis

    Great initiative, I hope my presentation will be granted . As we work on transforming the Rural areas to a better if not outstanding environment.

    1. Anonymous

      Totally agree with you fellow citizen.Zim rural area is were the economy is at and we need to work hard to make it an outstanding environment.Am personally in the process of raising funds to move to rural areas and focus on agriculture and cattle farming.

  18. Anonymous

    are good chance for us to develop our rural areas and to give the people are chance to are better life .to generate education funding for their children food security and clothing their families and developing infrastructures in the rural areas . it will also help them get exposed to the world and what is around them

  19. Pozait Jotamu

    When is this starting?

  20. charles ndlovu

    Thank you very much sir. Imagine no collateral, no political lines , siyabonga lomcabango(thank you for the idea).

  21. Anonymous

    Thts great news

  22. master master

    It’s a great story ,I hope to persue in my dreams as one of the rural dweller.Thanks to Mr n Mrs Masiyiwa.

  23. Llodza

    Now that’s real empowerment and driving initiative for growth and self sustenance

  24. Tafadzwa Zata

    As for me if i was to be selected as a young man if 22 , i would come with many points (facts) which makes sense in the mean that i woul open up factories such like for plastics and rubber technology in the rural areas so that it could create employment to our beautiful Zimbabwean people. That industry will obviously grow up and helps the nation to achieve what is lost.
    I am a first year student at Harare Polytechnic studying plastics and rubber technology upto HND level. For more information contact me on +263 772634346/+263 785205013

  25. elisha mtshiya

    THE WAY TO GO. I HOPE OTHERS JOIN IN

  26. Farmer Dimbo

    I pray that people don’t take money to bhawa, semari dze command agriculture dzinoperera patwu fodya twenhando

  27. Anonymous

    Brilliant and well thought of. All the best to you boss

  28. Norman Zawayira

    Lovely

  29. Charles Gambiza

    How can you access the loan

  30. Nhlanhla munatsi

    As a young guy aged 23 2nd year at Midlands state university doing agricultural economics and development ,, I’m motivated to apply for this loan and start a sustainable project that will bring out the best from the resources in Matabeleland

  31. Nhlanhla munatsi

    As a young guy aged 23 2nd year at Midlands state university doing agricultural economics and development ,, I’m motivated to apply for this loan and start a sustainable project that will bring out the best from the resources in Matabeleland

  32. Munatsi Nhlanhla

    Loving this initiative,,

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