Tanzania’s richest man dies, leaves fortune for 39yr wife

Reginald Mengi with wife Jacqueline Ntuyabaliwe

Tanzanian second richest man and self-made media magnate and philanthropist Reginald Mengi died today in Dubai aged 75.

Mengi, made his fortune from diverse sectors ranging from manufacturing, mining, the media. In 2014, Forbes estimated his wealth at $560m (£430m).

He was born into a poor family close to Mount Kilimanjaro and finished his education in Scotland.

In 2015 Mengi married Jacqueline Ntuyabaliwe Miss Tanzania 2000, 36 years younger, in a lavish wedding in Mauritius. Although he 5 children from an earlier relationship, it is believed Ntuyabaliwe will have considerable influence over a big part of the Estate. It is also true that his son Abdiel Mengi is on the boards of nearly all his companies.

Mengi initially worked as an accountant when he returned to Tanzania. He ventured into business starting with a ball-point pen assembly plant.

Around early 1980s he turned the IPP Group into one of the largest private conglomerates in East Africa, employing more than 3,000 people, according to the company website.

It owns over 11 media outlets including prominent local English and Swahili TV stations, ITV and Capital TV, as well as the English-language daily Guardian newspaper.

As a media mogul, Mengi was accused by some, including cabinet ministers, of using his influence against them.

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