Rostam Azizi
رستم عزیز
Member of Parliament (MP) for Igunga Constituency
In office
1994 – 13 July 2011
Succeeded byDalaly Kafumu
Personal details
Born21 August 1964 (1964-08-21) (age 59)
Tabora Region, Tanzania
Political partyChama Cha Mapinduzi
Children4
Residence(s)Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
OccupationBusinessman, Investor, Politician

Rostam Abdulrasul Azizi (born 21 August 1964) is a self-made Tanzanian billionaire, business magnate, economist and former politician. In 2013, according to Forbes Magazine he was the first Tanzanian dollar billionaire with a net worth of over 1 billion dollars, in 2023 he had amassed a net worth of 1.2 billion dollars. [1] and according to Henley & Partners Africa wealth report 2022, and was only dollar billionaire in East Africa.[2][3]

He represented the Igunga constituency in Tabora Region from 1994 until his resignation in 2011.[4] He was the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Treasurer from 2005 to 2007 and member of the Politburo/Central Committee of CCM from 2006 to 2011. Some of the key as an MP he pioneered community health insurance in East Africa and every household in his constituency was provided with health insurance from the Community Health Fund.[5] He also achieved access to water for every resident in his constituency and Igunga Constituency became the first district to have a dispensary in every village and electricity in every ward.

According to Forbes magazine[6] Rostam Aziz of Tanzania owns nearly 18% of Vodacom Tanzania, the country's largest mobile phone company, with 15 million subscribers.[7] Rostam, via Cavalry Holdings, previously owned 35% of the company, but, in May 2014 he sold 17.2% of Vodacom Tanzania to Vodacom Group of South Africa for an estimated $250 million.[8] In 2019 he sold his remaining stake in Vodacom Tanzania through his investment vehicle Mirambo Holdings for USD$ 220 million.[9]

He also owns MIC Tanzania Plc (TIGO Tanzania and Zantel Ltd),[10] Taifa Gas Group,[11] Caspian mining, a contract mining firm in Tanzania, and real estate in Dubai and Oman. Aziz got his start in his family's trading business and then branched out on his own.

Background

Rostam was born in Igunga District of Tabora Region, where he completed his schooling before proceeding to the United Kingdom for higher education. He completed his Bachelor in Economics from Exeter.

During his political career Rostam was appreciated by former Tanzanian president Benjamin William Mkapa in his memoir, for the formation of the National Health Insurance.[12] He worked on improving the water supply in his constituency Igunga, which became the first district to have a dispensary in every village and electricity connection in every ward.[12]

Overview

Rostam investments range from telecoms, energy, mining, agriculture, media, real estate, port facilities and services.

His holdings include:

  • Shareholding in Vodacom Tanzania, the leading mobile telephone network in the country, a subsidiary of Vodafone.[13]
  • Caspian Limited, the largest contract mining company in Tanzania. Mining contractor to DeBeers, Barrick Gold and others.[14]
  • MIC Tanzania Plc( TiGO Tanzania) together with Axian-Telecoms.[10]
  • Taifa Gas Group the leading LPG energy supplier in East and Southern Africa.[11]
  • Ace Leather Tanzania[3]

References

  1. ↑ "50 RICHEST PEOPLE IN AFRICA #26Rostam Azizi". Forbes. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2015. Rostam Azizi, Tanzania's first billionaire.
  2. ↑ "Africa Wealth Report 2022". www.henleyglobal.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Tanzania has the only dollar billionaire in East Africa: report". The East African. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Guardian, Reporter (13 July 2011). "Rostam Resigns As MP, NEC Member". IPP Media (Dar es Salaam). Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Mande, Mike (17 July 2011). "Tanzania's opposition welcomes Rostam Aziz's quitting". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Rostam Azizi". Forbes. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Vodacom Group Wraps Up Stake Acquisition From Rostam Aziz". WealthX. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Tanzania's Richest Man Concludes Sale Of Vodacom Stake". Forbes. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Tanzanian Tycoon Rostam Aziz Sells Last Tranche Of Vodacom Shares For $220 Million". Forbes. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 "AXIAN TELECOM AND ROSTAM AZIZI CONSORTIUM CLOSES ACQUISITION OF MILLICOM'S ENTIRE TELECOM OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA". www.tigo.co.tz. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Tanzanian Tycoon Rostam Aziz Builds $65 Million LPG Plant In Kigamboni". Forbes. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  12. 1 2 "How Rostam Aziz's Igunga model helped the formation of NHIF". The Citizen. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  13. ↑ The Citizen, Reporter (28 November 2013). "Rostam Offloads Vodacom Equity for A Cool TSh387 Billion (US$242 Million)". The Citizen. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Masare, Alawi. "Rostam, Dewji, Mengi in 50 richest Africans list". The Citizen.
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