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The Forbes magazine (2025) has named Tanzanian businessman Mohamed Dewji among the world’s richest people, with a fortune of USD 2.2 billion, equivalent to TZS 5.7 trillion. Mo is ranked the 12th richest person in Africa and the wealthiest in East Africa.
Forbes’ 2024 list of Africa’s richest, revealed that Mo Dewji’s fortune grew from $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion, making him the only publicly known billionaire in East and Central Africa
In 2024 he was ranked 12th, sharing this position with Zimbabwean-born Strive Masiyiwa, a London resident.
Dewji inherited MeTL, the family business, from his father, Gulam Dewji, who had taken over from his own father.
MeTL, a third-generation family enterprise, began in the 1970s with Dewji’s grandparents selling small units of sugar.
Under his father’s leadership, the company expanded into an import-export business valued at $30 million when Mo took over.
Dewji’s business journey evolved step by step. His father taught him international business practices, taking him to countries like China, Thailand, Egypt, and the US from an early age.
His first business trip was to China at just 12, accompanying his father on visits to multiple cities, including Hong Kong.
After studying finance and international business at Georgetown University, Dewji worked in the family business during university breaks.
Upon graduation, he started at entry level, gaining experience in logistics, audit, imports and exports, before becoming finance director, then CEO, and now president.
MeTL spans over 126 businesses in sectors like food and beverage processing, agriculture, manufacturing, and textiles, with 40 manufacturing facilities.
Dewji plans to expand into banking, microfinance, and fintech, while also growing the company’s presence in East and Central Africa, and the Middle East.
He’s exploring tourism investments in Zanzibar and Tanzania’s national parks.
Dewji stresses the importance of corporate governance, integrity, resilience, and calculated risk-taking in business, adhering to the belief that “there is no elevator to success.”
He is a devout man of faith, a committed philanthropist, and a visionary investor, deeply passionate about job creation, strategic diversification, and giving back through the Mohammed Dewji Foundation (MDF).
Looking ahead: A global trailblazer
MeTL Group is expanding internationally, exploring new ventures in technology, real estate, and hospitality, while reinforcing its core businesses in agriculture, textiles, and distribution.
Simultaneously, the MDF is broadening its philanthropic impact, leveraging global networks and partnerships with institutions like Georgetown University to scale initiatives such as clean water access, healthcare, and education in regions of greatest need.
“I’m Tanzanian at heart,” says Dewji, “but it’s time for the world to recognise that Africa can produce global multinationals companies and leaders with genuine worldwide impact. With the right mindset, we can bring our values of community, empathy, and generosity to the global stage.”
A Pan-African economic powerhouse
Under Mo Dewji’s leadership, MeTL has grown into a globally recognised multinational, extending its reach across East, Central, and Southern Africa.
Each new market reduces the conglomerate’s dependency on any single economy, diversifying its revenue streams.
“Conquering the domestic market was just the beginning,” Dewji explains, highlighting MeTL’s contribution of over 3 percent to Tanzania’s GDP. But remaining static carries risks. Our vision has always been continental, and eventually global.”
This forward-thinking vision has facilitated the export of products, from sisal fibre to consumer goods, to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
By utilising trading hubs in Dubai, Dewji ensures smooth flows of goods and capital.
For Dewji, “success in your home country isn’t enough; you must look outward.”
This approach has propelled MeTL into a pan-African powerhouse, expanding into markets like Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, and the Central African Republic, alongside more distant territories such as India, Thailand, Italy, and Vietnam.
Following his 2018 kidnapping ordeal, Dewji accelerated his global ventures, solidifying his reputation as a purpose-driven serial entrepreneur.
“I’ve never relied solely on Africa for success. While Africa is home, we thrive in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, where innovation and impact intersect.”
Today, MeTL’s global presence continues to grow, with expansions into real estate, hospitality, recycling, and FinTech—diverse sectors that complement its established expertise in food processing, manufacturing, and retail.
Empowerment through job creation
For Dewji, a key focus is empowering citizens by tapping into neglected sectors, particularly agriculture.
This includes revitalising abandoned sisal plantations and introducing Mo Cola to the global beverage market, challenging international giants while creating jobs for Tanzanians.
This vision has helped MeTL become the second-largest employer in Tanzania, after the government, with a workforce of 40,000 across 126 businesses.
The target is to expand this number to 100,000 employees. “I’ve learned that what matters most is the impact you have on society—the jobs you create and the lives you touch.”
Tanzanian sports transformation
Despite being the largest employer after the government, Dewji’s contribution to society is most visible in the meteoric rise of Simba SC, the Tanzanian football club.
Under his leadership, Simba has transformed into a continental powerhouse, consistently competing at the highest level in CAF competitions.
As both President and major investor in Simba SC, Dewji has overseen a comprehensive transformation, propelling the club from outside the top 100 to securing a spot among Africa’s top seven football teams.
He has also introduced formal salaries for players, replacing the previous system where some players earned as little as Sh50,000.
This shift has created a more sustainable and motivating environment for player development.
Through significant investment in infrastructure, player development, and international partnerships, Dewji has positioned Simba SC as a competitive force in African football.
His vision extends beyond on-field success; he sees the club as a platform for youth empowerment and community engagement, inspiring a new generation of Tanzanian athletes and opening doors for both local and international opportunities.
Dewji advocates greater recognition and fairer representation of African football on the global stage.
“I am an Arsenal fan but I want to buy into a European club because I want to create a connection between East African football clubs and English clubs.”
In addition to football, he is looking to invest in boxing, believing it is a fast-growing sport in Tanzania, where the country has strong boxers.
“This is also a way for me to keep the youth out of poverty.”
Social services and humanitarian support
Through the MDF, Dewji has transformed access to clean and safe water in Tanzania.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Water, MDF has drilled wells across different wards, benefiting over 11,350 people.
In 2023 alone, the foundation rehabilitated 18 wells and treated four more, ensuring sustained water access for rural communities.
MDF plans to rehabilitate 50 additional wells and construct 50 new ones, bringing clean water to over 15,000 more Tanzanians.
Access to clean water for Singida residents was a major achievement during Dewji’s tenure as a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015.
When Dewji took over, water access was at 27-28 percent, but by the time he stepped down, it had reached 86-88 percent.
MDF has also been active in supporting healthcare, particularly through eye care camps that restore sight to Tanzanians.
In 2024, the foundation provided screenings, cataract surgeries, eye glasses, and eye drop medications to those in need, helping thousands regain their vision and economic independence.
MDF also addresses the challenges of spina bifida and hydrocephalus, conditions that often lead to severe disability or death if untreated.
In 2024, MDF funded surgeries and post-operative care for affected children, ensuring life-changing treatment for many.
“These are game-changers,” Dewji stresses. “We’re saving lives that might otherwise be cut short or severely impaired. My mission is to show that targeted, well-funded interventions can transform entire communities over time.”
In 2016, Dewji joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of his fortune to charitable causes during his lifetime.
For him, this commitment is a duty, deeply rooted in his faith and family values. “My parents instilled in me the ethos of philanthropy, especially my responsibility as a Muslim to care for those less fortunate.”
ENDS
