Mohammed “Mo” Dewji – Owner, MeTL Group | Philanthropist & Former Politician
Mohammed “Mo” Gulamabbas Dewji (born 8 May 1975) is a Tanzanian billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and former politician. He is the Owner of MeTL Group, Tanzania’s largest privately owned conglomerate, and served as a Member of Parliament for Singida Urban under the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) from 2005 to 2015. As of October 2024, Dewji’s net worth is estimated at US$1.8 billion, making him Africa’s 17th richest person and its youngest billionaire. He was the first Tanzanian to appear on the cover of Forbes magazine (2013).
Early Life & Education
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Born in Singida, Tanzania, the second of six children of Gulamabbas and Zubeda Dewji.
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Family roots trace back to Gujarati traders who migrated to East Africa in the late 1800s.
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Attended Arusha Primary School and the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam.
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Studied in the United States:
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Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, Orlando, Florida.
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Trinity Preparatory School (11th grade).
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Saddle Brook High School, New Jersey (final year).
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Georgetown University, Washington D.C. – Graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business & Finance and a minor in Theology.
Business Career
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Returned to Tanzania after university to join MeTL Group, a commodities trading business founded by his grandmother and expanded by his father.
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Rose to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) within two years.
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Leveraged Tanzania’s privatization program in the early 2000s to acquire struggling companies, restructuring them into profitable ventures.
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Under his leadership, MeTL’s revenues grew from US$30 million (1999) to US$1.5 billion (2018).
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Today, MeTL operates in 11 countries, employs over 28,000 people, and contributes approximately 3.5% of Tanzania’s GDP.
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Business interests span manufacturing, agriculture, trading, finance, mobile telephony, insurance, real estate, transport, logistics, and food & beverages.
Political Career
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Contested for Parliament in 2000 at age 25 but was deemed too young despite winning preliminary votes.
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Successfully elected in 2005, winning 90% of the vote for Singida Urban Constituency.
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Served as Member of Parliament (2005–2015) before resigning to focus on business and philanthropy.
Personal Life
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Married his high school sweetheart, Saira, in 2001; they have three children.
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Resides in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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A practicing Shia Muslim from the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamat (Twelver branch).
Kidnapping Incident (2018)
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On 11 October 2018, Dewji was abducted by gunmen outside a gym in Dar es Salaam.
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Released unharmed on 20 October 2018 after nine days in captivity.
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No ransom was paid; Dewji attributed his release to intense media and political pressure.
Philanthropy
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Founded the Mo Dewji Foundation (2014) to support education, health, and community development.
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Joined the Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of his wealth to philanthropy.
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First Tanzanian and one of only three Africans to sign the pledge.
Honours & Awards
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2012 – Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum.
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2013 – First Tanzanian on the cover of Forbes.
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2014 – African Philanthropist of the Year (African Leadership Magazine).
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2015 – Forbes Africa’s Person of the Year.
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2015 – Business Leader of the Year (African Business Magazine).
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2016 – Choiseul 100 Africa: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow.
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2022 – Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, Georgetown University.
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Consistently ranked as East Africa’s richest individual since 2011.
Key Legacy
Mohammed Dewji is celebrated as a transformational entrepreneur and philanthropist. Through MeTL Group, he has reshaped Tanzania’s private sector, created tens of thousands of jobs, and contributed significantly to national GDP. His philanthropic commitments and global recognition position him as a symbol of modern African entrepreneurship
