Be like Strive

This is Billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, the richest self-made Zimbabwean and one of Africa's most generous humanitarians. He started his own company - Econet Global - with the equivalent of US$75 back in 1984 and fought off Dictator Mugabe in his push for monopolization of the Zimbabwean economy on numerous occasions. Today Econet's annual revenues account for 3 Billion USD.

 In July he took the lead of the newly found Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP). AMSP lets member states buy certified medical equipment – such as diagnostic kits and personal protective equipment – with increased cost-effectiveness, through bulk purchasing and improved logistics. This also increases transparency and equity between members, lowering competition for crucial supplies.

Strive pulled together the expertise needed to quickly develop a well-functioning platform, drawing on his contacts and businesses across the digital and telecoms sectors, and most importantly he handled it without bureaucracy and as a private entity. 

Although the AMSP was not unique, surprise surprise the EU has a similar platform – the Joint Procurement Agreement, which, surprise surprise, is slow and its overly bureaucratic processes led to some countries set up parallel alliances in an attempt to secure access to future vaccines.

Many sources from Africa state that the AMSP was responsible for the low impact the Covid19 had on the African continent.

There is much we, the European countries, can learn from the Less developed Africa. While our richest fled to their private islands and yachts, the African richest united and fought on the first lines. If you are rich be like Strive.

P.s. He served a similar role during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa 2014-2015.