East Africa's richest man invests $680M for 2026 expansion

"+e[p]);return}}g(k,c)}):d(9,f)},requireModules:g,requireOne:m,define:function(a,b){var c=D();if(!0!==l)null===c?w(49,""):w(49,D().getAttribute("src"));else{if(null!==c&&(c=c.getAttribute("src"),c in e)){e[c].setDefine(a,b);return}c=s.getActialLoading();u(c)?c in e?e[c].setDefine(a,b):d(46,c):q.push({deps:a,define:b})}}}}(),s=null,z=[],I=(new Date).getTime();t(window,"require",r,!1,27);t(window,"define",F,!1,28);t(r,"runnerBox",function(a){function b(a){x in a||(a[x]=m()); return a[x]}function g(){function a(){if(!0===b)for(;0 10s");g()},1E4)});"complete"===document.readyState&&(v(48,"isComplete"),g());"loaded"===document.readyState&&(v(48,"isLoaded"),k());l(document,"DOMContentLoaded",function(){v(48,"DOMContentLoaded");k();l(document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0],"pageshow",function(){v(48,"body pageshow");g()})});l(document,"readystatechange",function(){var a= "readystatechange - "+document.readyState;"complete"===document.readyState||"loaded"===document.readyState?(v(48,a+" - exec"),k()):v(48,a+" - noexec")})}function h(a){function b(a){var c=/^[\s\uFEFF\xA0]+|[\s\uFEFF\xA0]+$/g;return"function"===typeof a.trim?a.trim():null===a?"":(a+"").replace(c,"")}var c=a.getAttribute("data-static-amd-map");if("string"===typeof c){if(""===c)return{}}else return null;if("undefined"!==typeof JSON&&"function"===typeof JSON.parse)return JSON.parse(c);a=/(,)|(\[|{)|(}|])|"(?:[^"\\\r\n]|\\["\\\/bfnrt]|\\u[\da-fA-F]{4})*"\s*:?|true|false|null|-?(?!0\d)\d+(?:\.\d+|)(?:[eE][+-]?\d+|)/g; var d,e=null;return(c=b(c+""))&&!b(c.replace(a,function(a,b,c,f){d&&b&&(e=0);if(0===e)return a;d=c||b;e+=!f-!c;return""}))?Function("return "+c)():null}function l(a,b,c){a.addEventListener?a.addEventListener(b,c,!1):a.attachEvent("on"+b,c)}var e=D();if(null===e||!0!==d(e))for(var e=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),q=0;q const schemaOrgItemList = { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [] }; .image-wrapper{position:relative;display:inline-flex}.image-wrapper::after,.image-wrapper::before{background-image:var(--noscript-src);content:'';position:absolute;left:0;top:0;bottom:0;right:0;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center} window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({ content_id: "qbvl8ls", content_type: "article", author: "Olamilekan Okebiorun", content_accessibility: "free", content_category: "local", content_category2: "lifestyle", lifetime: "time limited", publication_reason: "editorial", publication_date: "2026.08.29", source_type: "original", page_brand: "Business Insider Africa", page_country_code: "BI", page_language: "en", ai_written: "false", title: "East Africa’s richest man Mo Dewji has put nearly $680 million behind aggressive African expansion in 2026 as he targets a $10 billion empire", wordCount: "695", pubdateTime: "2026-08-29T09:23:21", }); window.onappinstalled = function () { window.dataLayer.push({ event: "add-to-homescreen" }); }; window.addEventListener('message', message => { if (message.data.radpGA4Event) { window.dataLayer.push(message.data.radpGA4Event); } }); window.addEventListener("load", () => { document.querySelectorAll(".ring-detail-social-share").forEach((socialShareWidget) => { socialShareWidget.addEventListener('click', (event) => { if (event.target.tagName === 'A') { window.dataLayer.push({ event: "share", method: event.target.getAttribute("title").toLowerCase(), link_url: window.location.href }) } }) }) }) var pulse2EmbedConfig = { "pulsevideo": { "player": "flowplayer", "params": { "autoplayNext": true, "enableAds": false }, "plugins": [ { "script": "https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js" }, { "script": "https://embed.videos.ringpublishing.com/flowplayer/plugins/ads.min.js", "config": { "ima": { "ads": [ { "adTag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/Pulsegh_video_new_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "time": 0 } ] } } }, { "script": "https://ocdn.eu/radp/js/radpGA4VideoEmbeds.js" } ] }, "OnettvVideo": { "MAIN_ELEMENT": { "preset": "mainVideoRADPGh", "enableGoogleAnalytics": 2, "volume": 0, "enableEndScreen": 1, "autoplayRelated": 1, "enableAds": 1, "adserverUrl": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/Pulsegh_video_new_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "floatingControls": 1, "embedType": "inTextVideo", "showAdvertComment": 1 }, "INTEXT": { "preset": "mainVideoRADPGh", "enableGoogleAnalytics": 2, "volume": 0, "enableEndScreen": 1, "autoplayRelated": 1, "enableAds": 1, "adserverUrl": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/Pulsegh_video_new_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "floatingControls": 1, "embedType": "inTextVideo", "showAdvertComment": 1 } }} var OneSignal = window.OneSignal || []; OneSignal.push(function() { OneSignal.SERVICE_WORKER_PARAM = { scope: '/push/onesignal/' }; OneSignal.SERVICE_WORKER_PATH = 'OneSignalSDKWorker.js' OneSignal.SERVICE_WORKER_UPDATER_PATH = 'OneSignalSDKUpdaterWorker.js' OneSignal.init({ requiresUserPrivacyConsent: !!(window.__tcfapi), appId: '07419cb6-42f8-45d3-a1e2-77a6ea5cf4b8', promptOptions: { slidedown: { prompts: [ { type: 'push', autoPrompt: true, text: { actionMessage: 'Don’t miss a thing! Get notifications for important news & events right in your browser', acceptButton: 'Allow', cancelButton: 'Cancel', }, delay: { pageViews: 3, timeDelay: 120, } } ] }, customlink: { enabled: true, style: 'button', size: 'medium', color: { button: '', text: '', }, text: { subscribe: 'ACTIVATE NOTIFICATION', unsubscribe: 'DEACTIVATE', explanation: 'Don’t miss a thing! Get notifications for important news & events right in your browser', }, unsubscribeEnabled: true, }, }, notifyButton: { enable: true, }, }); OneSignal.on('subscriptionChange', function(isSubscribed) { if (isSubscribed === true) { OneSignal.sendTags({ sub_cat: 'lifestyle', }) } }); }); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; OneSignal.push(() => { OneSignal.on('notificationPermissionChange', permissionChange => { let push_action = 'close'; if (permissionChange.to === 'granted') { push_action = 'allow' } else if (permissionChange.to === 'block') { push_action = 'block' } window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'native prompt', push_action }) }); OneSignal.on('popoverAllowClick', () => { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'slide prompt', push_action: 'allow', }) }); OneSignal.on('popoverCancelClick', () => { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'slide prompt', push_action: 'block', }) }); OneSignal.on('popoverClosed', () => { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'slide prompt', push_action: 'close', }) }); const pushBox = document.querySelector('#pushBox'); if (pushBox) { pushBox.addEventListener('click', async (e) => { if (e.target.nodeName === 'BUTTON') { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'push subscription form', push_action: !await OneSignal.getSubscription() ? 'activate' : 'deactivate', }) } }) } document.querySelector('body').addEventListener('click', async (e) => { if (['subscribe-button', 'unsubscribe-button'].includes(e.target.id)) { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'manage_push', method: 'bell prompt', push_action: !await OneSignal.getSubscription() ? 'activate' : 'deactivate', }) } }) }); // Extra configuration for articles & category pages let osTagsForPage = {"local":0,"lifestyle":0}; function osUpdateTags(osTags) { OneSignal.push(function() { OneSignal.isPushNotificationsEnabled(function(isEnabled) { if (isEnabled) { OneSignal.sendTags(osTags).then(function(tagsSent) {}); } }); }); } if (typeof localStorage !== "undefined") { let osTags = {}; let localTags = getOSTags(); let tagsUpdated = false; for (key in osTagsForPage) { if (key in localTags) { if (!isNaN(localTags[key])) { localTags[key] = (localTags[key] + 1 || 1); osTags[key] = localTags[key]; tagsUpdated = true; } } else { osTags[key] = 1; tagsUpdated = true; } } localStorage.setItem('osTags', JSON.stringify(osTags)); if (tagsUpdated) { osUpdateTags(osTags); } function getOSTags() { return localStorage.getItem('osTags') ? JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('osTags')) : []; } } (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'}); var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true; j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KWW8L9R'); (function () { var PUBLISHER_ID = 'businessinsiderafrica-businessinsiderafrica'; var PAGE_TYPE = 'article'; var LOADER_URL = '//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/' + PUBLISHER_ID + '/loader.js'; var LOADER_PRIVACY_URL = '//static.tblcontent.com/libtrc/' + PUBLISHER_ID + '/loader.privacy.js'; var PIXEL_URL = 'https://static.qovani.com/libtrc/tr5?type=pixel&publisher=' + PUBLISHER_ID; var SCRIPT_ID = 'tb_loader_script'; window._taboola = window._taboola || []; var pageTypePush = {}; pageTypePush[PAGE_TYPE] = 'auto'; _taboola.push(pageTypePush); new Image().src = PIXEL_URL; var firstScript = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; function injectLoader(id, src, fallbackSrc) { if (document.getElementById(id)) return; var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.src = src; s.id = id; if (fallbackSrc) { s.onerror = function () { if (s.parentNode) s.parentNode.removeChild(s); injectLoader(SCRIPT_ID + '_fb', fallbackSrc, null); }; } firstScript.parentNode.insertBefore(s, firstScript); } injectLoader(SCRIPT_ID, LOADER_URL, LOADER_PRIVACY_URL); if (window.performance && typeof window.performance.mark === 'function') { window.performance.mark('tbl_ic'); } })(); Markets Leaders Careers Lifestyle Markets Leaders Careers Lifestyle facebook twitter instagram linkedIn googleNews O World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options." Business Insider Edition

East Africa’s richest man, Mohammed “Mo” Dewji, is expanding aggressively across the continent, with disclosed projects and commitments worth as much as $680 million in 2026 across Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique, while Botswana could become his next destination.

East Africa’s richest man Mo Dewji puts nearly $680 million behind aggressive 2026 African expansion in push for $10 billion empire Through his conglomerate MeTL, Dewji is investing in sectors such as beverages, minerals, tourism, energy, and manufacturing, reflecting his strategy of innovation and change. Mohammed Dewji, East Africa's richest man, is pursuing aggressive expansion across Africa with disclosed projects worth up to $680 million by 2026 in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique. Recent commitments include $250 million to Mozambique and up to $150 million in Kenya, alongside $277 million in Tanzania, especially targeting graphite mining and grain storage. Dewji, with a net worth of $2.1 billion, aims to turn MeTL into a $10 billion company by 2035, emphasizing pan-African growth through intra-continental investments. ADVERTISEMENT Read Also lifestyle U.S. makes fresh moves with Africa’s 2nd-largest economy as China and Russia deepen North African ties in different ways lifestyle World’s largest international airline upgrades flights to Africa’s second-richest country with Premium Economy lifestyle Africa’s richest island nation forges deeper fisheries and blue economy ties with India after €23 million tuna deal with EU window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-mid-n', container: 'taboola-thumbnails-mid-1', placement: 'Thumbnails Mid 1', target_type: 'mix' }); The Tanzanian billionaire is pursuing the expansion through Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL), the diversified conglomerate he leads, with interests ranging from beverages and critical minerals to tourism, energy and manufacturing.

The strategy reflects Dewji’s long-standing approach to business growth.

“Business as usual will never lead to growth and development. Only through innovation and change will you see real progress!” Dewji once said.

DON'T MISS: Tanzania’s billionaire-led MeTL plans $250 million Mozambique expansion targeting 20,000 jobs

Dewji spent this week in Gaborone meeting Botswana President Duma Boko and senior economic officials as he explored investment opportunities in the diamond-dependent economy.

He also held discussions with Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe, Bank of Botswana Governor Cornelius Dekop and Botswana Stock Exchange chairman Neo Mooki.

The meetings covered private-sector participation, capital markets and possible investments in renewable energy and financial services.

Botswana is trying to reduce its dependence on diamond revenues and attract more regional and international capital into new industries.

No investment has yet been signed or valued, so Botswana is not included in Dewji’s disclosed 2026 investment total.

DON'T MISS: Tanzania’s richest man makes $275m bet on battery minerals as EV race accelerates

Mohammed Dewji, East Africa's richest man, is pursuing aggressive expansion across Africa with disclosed projects worth up to $680 million by 2026 in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique. Africa’s youngest billionaire, Mohammed Dewji, blends luxury, business, and philanthropy, showcasing a new model of purposeful African wealth. [Mohammed Dewji/Facebook] BI Africa Mozambique secures $250 million commitment ADVERTISEMENT The Botswana visit came days after Dewji pledged more than $250 million in Mozambique following talks with President Daniel Chapo, with the proposed investment expected to create about 20,000 jobs.

MeTL has not yet disclosed how the money will be divided among individual projects, but the group already operates across manufacturing, agriculture, energy, logistics, trade and financial services.

The pledge gives Dewji another potential foothold in southern Africa and adds to a growing wave of intra-African investment led by large regional business groups.

DON'T MISS: Tanzania’s sole billionaire seeks a $100 million role in Africa's richest man's $17 billion project

In May, MeTL announced plans to invest $50 million in a soft drinks factory in Mombasa, targeting Kenya’s large and growing consumer market.

Dewji has also offered to invest $100 million in Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s proposed $17 billion oil refinery project in Kenya.