Rostam Aziz

Rostam Abdulrasul Azizi
Born	(1960-08-21) August 21, 1960 Igunga District, Tabora Region, Tanzania
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, economist, former politician
Known for	First Tanzanian billionaire; former MP for Igunga constituency; business interests in telecommunications, energy, mining, agriculture, media, real estate

Rostam Abdulrasul Azizi (born 21 August 1960) is a Tanzanian entrepreneur, economist, former politician, and self-made billionaire. In 2013, Forbes recognized him as Tanzania’s first individual with a net worth surpassing $1 billion. According to the 2022 Henley & Partners Africa Wealth Report, he remains the sole East African holding dollar billionaire status.

Azizi served as the parliamentary representative for the Igunga constituency in Tabora Region from 1994 until his departure in 2011. Between 2005 and 2007, he held the position of National Treasurer for Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and was part of CCM’s Politburo/Central Committee from 2006 through 2011. During his tenure as an MP, he introduced community health insurance initiatives in East Africa, guaranteeing health coverage via the Community Health Fund to every household in his constituency. Additionally, he facilitated universal access to clean water, established medical dispensaries in all villages, and extended electricity infrastructure to every ward within Igunga.

Forbes reported that Azizi controlled close to an 18% stake in Vodacom Tanzania, the nation’s largest mobile network operator boasting 15 million users. Initially owning 35% through Cavalry Holdings, he divested 17.2% of this share to Vodacom Group of South Africa in May 2014 for roughly $250 million. Subsequently, in 2019, he sold his remaining Vodacom holdings through Mirambo Holdings for $220 million.

His portfolio also includes ownership of MIC Tanzania Plc (managing TIGO Tanzania and Zantel Ltd), Taifa Gas Group, Caspian Mining—a contract mining enterprise—and real estate investments located in Dubai and Oman. Azizi began his professional journey within his family’s trading business before branching out independently into multiple industries.

Background

Rostam was born in Igunga District, situated within Tabora Region, where he completed his early education prior to advancing his studies in the United Kingdom. He attained a Bachelor of Economics degree from Exeter.

During his political career, former Tanzanian president Benjamin William Mkapa acknowledged Rostam’s role in establishing the National Health Insurance system. Furthermore, Azizi enhanced water infrastructure in Igunga, making it the pioneering district with a dispensary available in every village and electrical power supplied to each ward.

Overview

Rostam’s business interests encompass telecommunications, energy, mining, agriculture, media, real estate development, and port operations.

Prominent assets include:

• Equity in Vodacom Tanzania, the foremost mobile network operator and a subsidiary of Vodafone.
• Caspian Limited, Tanzania’s leading contract mining firm serving clients such as DeBeers and Barrick Gold.
• MIC Tanzania Plc (TiGO Tanzania), operated in partnership with Axian-Telecoms.
• Taifa Gas Group, a major LPG supplier across East and Southern Africa.
• Ace Leather Tanzania.