Masiyiwa warns youth against 'mbinga culture'

Billionaire businessman Strive Masiyiwa has cautioned young people in Zimbabwe against idolising what has popularly become known as "Mbinga culture" – a lifestyle defined by flashy cars, designer clothes, expensive holidays and constant display of wealth on social media.

In a detailed Facebook reflection, the Econet and Cassava Technologies founder said many young people were misled by the idea that luxury brands and extravagant possessions are proof of success. He stressed that such displays often mask a lack of real financial stability and create a false benchmark for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Masiyiwa said he does not seek to dictate how people should spend their earnings, but warned that judging success by outward appearances "means nothing at all" and could distract young people from building long-term wealth. To illustrate the point, he shared personal encounters with some of the world's richest business figures.

He recounted a visit to a family behind a global diamond empire, where the billionaire host wore a jersey with a hole in the elbow while his wife kept only a simple wedding ring. Despite their understated appearance, Masiyiwa said there was no doubt about the scale of their wealth due to their investments and business impact.

In another anecdote, he described accompanying one of the world’s richest individuals in South America, noting that the man arrived for a high-profile public event dressed in a shirt bought minutes earlier from a supermarket. Luxury fashion, he said, was irrelevant to people of that calibre.

His remarks come amid growing debate in Zimbabwe over the culture of conspicuous consumption, where displays of affluence are sometimes linked to corruption, political patronage and unexplained enrichment. Although Masiyiwa did not mention names, his tone made clear that wealth measured through consumerism is neither authentic nor sustainable.

He further urged adults to prioritise investment in their children’s education before indulging in personal luxury. Many parents, he noted, cannot afford to educate their children without assistance - a sign, in his view, that living extravagantly is premature.

Masiyiwa’s reflections add to a broader national conversation on wealth, accountability and aspiration, questioning whether social media glamour reflects progress or merely fuels illusion.