ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Zimbabwean telecommunications mogul Strive Masiyiwa has donated US$100,000 to the Apostolic Faith Mission, AFM, to buy a church building in town, Zimgossip can report.
The hefty donation was announced recently at Mass in the city, which was attended by church leaders, as well as AFM congregants.
Masiyiwa, who owns Zimbabwe’s blue-chip cellphone company, Econet Wireless, conveyed the message through church structures. He said he decided to donate the US$100,000 to the church because of his faith.
“Although I have worked hard to have the wealth I have today, it was not because of me alone, but my Lord my God has supported me with blessings, and it is why I have decided to thank him through His church and other church fellows,” Masiyiwa said in a statement read in church
Masiyiwa urged other business people to donate to churches.
Thanking him for the donation, Bishop Oliver Chipunza said what Masiyiwa and his family have done for the church was unforgettable and that his family and business would be blessed.
The bishop also said that times were tough for churches at the moment because of the economic climate, globally and locally.
Econet Wireless International was founded in 1993 by the exiled Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Masiyiwa, and has, in a decade, grown to be one of the top telecommunications operators in Africa, and one of the few African businesses with a global reach. It is one of Zimbabwe’s rare success stories.
Masiyiwa has had a strained relationship with government, which accused him of bankrolling the then opposition MDC and the fiercely independent Daily News newspaper, which was subsequently banned by government.
Though founded in 1993, Econet only started to operate as a cell phone operator in 1998 because the Zimbabwean government refused to grant the company a licence. Masiyiwa took the government to court, and after a legal wrangle that lasted nearly five years, the company was eventually awarded a licence by the country’s highest court. Masiyiwa attributes his licence to daily prayers.
Since then, the company has rapidly expanded beyond Zimbabwe’s borders and he has maintained his faith.
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Zvake!
Comment by Sandra — October 19, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Its good corporate social responsibility zanu pf companies should emulate this rather than sponsor violence and beating of people
Comment by Cde Tichatonga — October 19, 2009 @ 10:05 am
what is USD100,000 to Econet & Mascom….they get that in minutes. If you drop a call they charge you USD1,00.
The bible says the left hand should not know what the right hand has done.
Comment by tpaaz — October 19, 2009 @ 10:30 am
Thank you very much for the donation Mr. Masiwa. God will reward you in a huge way. May you continue to bask in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Comment by Chamunorwa — October 19, 2009 @ 10:52 am
may god inlarge her territory
Comment by rose — October 19, 2009 @ 11:01 am
may the Good Lord grant you many more,may he add a thousand fold to your everyday needs
Comment by divine — October 19, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
Thank you Mr Masiiwa. May the good Lord bless you abundantly
Comment by joe — October 19, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
kana uchiti masiyiwa owms Econet unorevei? nyatsakutsanagura.
Comment by hapeno — October 19, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
It might be a drop but at least the man GIVES.
Comment by bb — October 19, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
no 3…wakamboitirao ani…..god bless u Masiiwa.
Comment by marian — October 19, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
A lesson to learn for those who have it in abundance. Giving for a good cause and to the glory of God the creator of the universe. Izvi zvinotiitisa manyukunyuku isu vechikristu. We are proud of you Strive. Kune vasvitswa mari ndeyebasa raJehova not for personal use, rangarirai Ananias na Safira, munokuvara.
Comment by Tarisai Muzondo — October 19, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
It is a very good thing that Mr. Masiwa has done. May the good Lord not forget him in all his business and family. Jolly Good…
Comment by V.F.J II — October 19, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
Some people don’t shout after giving donations.
Comment by isaac — October 19, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
Blessed is the hand that Giveth…God bless you Strive!!
Comment by simon stevenage — October 19, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Aitya kuti akaisa yakawandisa imwe inotorwa nembavha dzemuZimbabwe dzajaira kukohwa padzisina kurima sekutora kwavanoita macompany evanhu.
Comment by AG — October 20, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Success is not measured by the size of the body or number of properties one has but thorough services to the community. Mr Masiyiwa be blessed.
Comment by Vena — October 20, 2009 @ 10:14 am
mari dzaunotorera vanhu nezvitokoloshi wava kudzidzorera, 100thou hapana mari waddii kupa ka 1million chete. when i came to zim i gave my church $500 which is 50% of my income and that money to u is 0.0000007% of your income
bizimungu 50%
Masiwa 0.0000007%
saka ndiri muhombe pamberineni
bizimungu ( god is buzy)
Comment by bizimungu — October 20, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Thank you so much Strive, may God continue to bless you.
Comment by Gorden — October 20, 2009 @ 11:09 am
why not donate to hungry, homeless people????
Comment by veduwe — October 20, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
thank you very much its true faith wout action is dead so u showed it.may our good Lord bless you and your family
Comment by mimi — October 20, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
Thats an example of the funding that these churches should look for. Most of the time they are busy squeesing the last cent from poor people, twisting specially selected extracts from the Bible to the advantage of the church leadership. Applying peer pressure to vulnerable people whose only crime is to seek the Kingdom of God. They claim they are self funding. The right statement should be ‘They exploit their followers.’ Strive has given because he can afford and that is how it should be.
Well done Strive.
Comment by Mike — October 20, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
He is not a man that he should lie. God will continue to reward you Mr. Masiyiwa thank you so much.
Comment by violet — October 20, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
masiiwa well done God does not reward thieves,looters,rappers or dectators but punishes them severely
Comment by bango — October 20, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
God loves a chearful giver.Masiyiwa muchatendwa namwari
Comment by tindo — October 20, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
aiwa zvakanaka ngazvirumbidzwe.majerasi pasi nawo.iwe wakambopa kana dhora kuchechi here nhaiwe tpaaz.tendaiwo zvinoitwa navana vevamwe.
Comment by uri right — October 20, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
The LORD will truly bless you a thousand fold Mr. Masiiwa. Do not be discouraged by those bend on destroying GOD’s children. As sure as Lucifer was defeated at Calvary, the wicked shall also be destroyed on HIS second coming.
Comment by BaT — October 20, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
Hey, at least this man has done something… Half a loaf is better than nothing.. God bless you Mr Strive!
Comment by Cheeks International, Ferdinand — October 20, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Hey, at least this man has done something… Half a loaf is better than nothing.. God bless you Mr Strive!
Comment by Cheeks International, Ferdinand — October 20, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Iwe Tipaaz unopenga.Learn 2 appreciate, ibvapo!Pamberi namambo Masiiwa.
Comment by bvanyangu — October 20, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
Well done Steve.Your efforts will be duly rewarded, if the filthy rich in Zim could the same it would a better place. Greed has taken over these so-called revolutionaries and will not reliquish power because they have there empires to protect. They are all built on sand and it boggles their minds even if the door is wide open to leave.
It is just a matter of time, lets wait and see. Meanwhile God fearing Steve will march on and see his genuine empire grow, other poor people benefiting in the process!!!
Comment by George Timuri — October 20, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
Lets hope this money goes into right hands. Vamwe vafundisi vanoba mari yechurch. Thank you Masiiwa
‘God’ bless you!
Comment by Tariro — October 20, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
People of Zim you never stop to amaze me. You curse yourselves by your words. You think even if ukanyomba Masiiwa God will never stop to bless him. Look for God Guys. How long did Masiiwa pray to be where He is today. Zim repent and lift those who do good and God will bless you, seek God first and everything will be added to you.
Comment by Beulah — October 21, 2009 @ 5:16 am
Mwari vakuwedzerei makomborero Mr Masiiwa, continue being a humble servant of the Lord
Comment by mai tino — October 21, 2009 @ 10:32 am
thx Masiiwa coz its one thing to have and another thing to give.u’ve remembered the house of the Lord so the Lord will send u early and the latter rain.I am going to do the same in 3yrs’time. ya-a ngatidzivake kereke.
….dnt forget yo Lord when u are filled with wine in the land of Canaan…(this was Moses to Israel)
We see an example of a men who doesn’t forget his Maker even when it is well with him .Thumps up to Strive.I dnt have to bless u coz u are already blessed
Comment by ct — October 21, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
why only say god will bless u more kanamaphihwa, why not also bless vasativakupai?
Comment by stekete — October 22, 2009 @ 7:57 am
May God bless you Strive for giving unto his work. VaChipunza mari zvanzi ndeyebasa ramwari kuti rifambe kwete kuita zvatiri kuona zvichiitwa nemamwe mafundisi e AFM. remember Ananias and Safira. God Bless you Amen!
Comment by mai ku — October 22, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Why not build houses for those who need them instead a church for people who are well to do so they can come and pray shout and dance and go back home. of which they can still do under a tree. I wonder is this for status reconituion inturn pwer and influence.Rathe a heatful selfless gesture. Just saying.
Comment by pliz — October 22, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
GOD bless Masiiwa but l know AFM leaders the money will never be used in appropriate things of GOD…..AS USUAL nothing will come out of it…..same as the leadership of the country……we need deleverance…..dishonest is in the whole nation…..help!!!
Comment by pauline — October 22, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
Now, this is what im talking about. This is one likeable dude. Imagine if we had a President with such a big heart, committment,positive resilience and general good mannerisms, we will be a jewel, to borrow from Nyerere. Lets pray for this man,so that God blesses him more and more.
Comment by jacktheswede — October 22, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
may the dear lord bless you mr masiiwa iam a member of afm church here in uk and mwari ngavakuropafadzei mazvita matisimudzira chokwadi
Comment by cherry — October 22, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Masiiwa mwana wamwari. He also looks after Orphans in various orphanage Houses. May that be emulated even by ZANU PF politicians so that we have lasting peace in Zimbabwe.
Comment by Anonymous — October 23, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Minamato yedu ndeye kuti dai mugabe arega kutora makambani emuchinda uyu. Ndiye nyakutuma madzakutsaku akabhomba daily news gorero.
Comment by mafirasasi — October 26, 2009 @ 10:13 am
May the Good Lord bless you pressed down shaken together and running over!!!!
Comment by Mukudzeyi Ishe — October 26, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
ths is good.surely God is a very faithful God.strive u r surely a blessing to our community and country as a whole.may God add more to yo wealth and riches.ths is very rare frm bussinessman .ths is js one example of wat God does to thos who love Him .Glory to the most high Almighty God.i m so impressed by the standards tht u r introducin to zim in telecomunications.u r a good pacesetter-benchmarker.these r high stds.May the Glory of God continue to shyn in you.
Comment by clement — October 26, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
kana munhu akaita chakanaka hatifaniri kumutongesa sezvinoitwa munhu atadza.ko iye ndiye abudisa nyaya yacho here kana kuti vasingagoni kunyarara kana vanzwa ndivo vadaidzira. aita chakanaka azviitira uye aita chakaipa azviitira. Masiiwa wakaita chinhu chakanaka
Comment by mutendi — October 27, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Iko kuwana zvakawanda inyasha dzake iye Mwari. May his name be raised high. Amen
Comment by Daphne — October 28, 2009 @ 3:06 am
us100 000 donation to afm
rev chipunza has never recived usa 100 000 from mr masiiwa on behalf of afm as reported with you no attended such a city gathering as mentioned. make this record straight as this will tarnish our rev with his church fathers. he neither sits on any leadership structures of the church besides being the pastor or afm and does not speak on behalf of afm on such great matters for they are for the leadership i think there was a distortation in your reporting.again in afm there are no bishop
“Thanking him for the donation, Bishop Oliver Chipunza said what Masiyiwa and his family have done for the church was unforgettable and that his family and business would be blessed.”
Comment by rev chipunza — October 29, 2009 @ 10:45 am
Kana deno yakapiwa Wutawunashe yaiperera ku hure re botswana…….Masego…..hure ranetsa iroro……raputsa kereke napakati……Well meaning zimbabweans dont sponsor satanism in the form of Family of God church……i church yema satanist
Comment by CHNJEREI YA WUAWUNASHE — October 29, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
I thank Strive for this giving and God WILL bless him Mightily. However, I do not think this issue should be discussed AT ALL. Strive did it from his faith and did it secretly to his church and therefore for this WEBSITE to invite a discussion on this issue is MISCHIEF. Christian know it that it is GOD’s LAW to give to the less pivileged and whoever does it whether Christian of not gets blessings from God. I urge those without an understanding of this to PLEASE not make comments that are ANTI.Just READ what those who have this understanding of GIVING continue to praise these good works. James Chapter 3 says tame your tongue. STOP TO THINK BEFORE YOU SAY. Please. Strive please go ahead with your good works and the Lord will return to you. Luke 6 verses 37 and 38 are testimony to this. Please read this. It wont take one minute to read this but I am sure it will change your life forever.
Comment by Partson M Phiri — October 31, 2009 @ 11:56 am
What brother Masiiwa has done is greatly applausable.It is heart rendering to have such a rich man donate to churches when others only think of themselves as they go up the ladder.Mr Masiiwa, let me prophesy that you will reach hieghts that you have never dreamt of.Thank you so much . My God will continue to bless you.
Comment by Ndachengedzwa L.Z — January 26, 2010 @ 1:53 pm
God bless his business.
Comment by Mukara Misheck — April 1, 2010 @ 6:47 am