Tanzanian media mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Reginald Mengi is no more. Not many in Africa would ask who is Mengi? He is known in many adjectives in Tanzania and beyond –media mogul, entrepreneur who symbolizes proverbial rags to riches cliché and a philanthropist to top it. In Africa, invariably there are two kinds of millionaires or billionaires. One set of rich people are known as millionaires or billionaires in local currency and those who made higher grades are known in dollar denominations.
Mengi was often referred as a dollar millionaire on the strength of his asset and possibly on account of the vast empire built around him through hard work, determination and an indomitable mind to succeed against all odds and eventualities. He did fight his way through to be in the reckoning amongst a very few dollar millionaires of Tanzania and one among the not many entrepreneurs, who have made a mark in the entire continent.
After his death on May 2, 2019 in Dubai, condolence messages poured from many quarters far and wide. Notable among them was from Tanzanian President John Magufuli, whose moving condolence message on Mengi to the bereaved family can be inscribed as an epitome in the grave yard he was interred. It said, “I will remember him (Mengi) for his immense contributions to the development of our country.”
Born into a poor family but managed to overcome the handicap from his non-descript background, Reginald Mengi’s left behind a difficult trail of entrepreneurial excellence for others to emulate. That he scripted in his book, a sort of autobiography “ I Can, I Must, I Will”. His tryst with industry is a saga of trials and tribulations, finally helping him to reach the position as one of the most venerated business men which Tanzania has ever produced.
A chartered accountant by profession-a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales- Mengi returned to his homeland rather than pursuing a lucrative professional career in London like most of his contemporaneous professionals had done. He returned to his homeland in 1971 to be employed by the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand Tanzania. He continued with the firm till 1989. The chartered accountant’s firm was later transformed into Pricewaterhouse Coopers to make his mark in media. Now his flagship IPPL Limited owns several TV channels and radio stations, apart from owning a powerful print media. He also owns a plant bottling Cocoa Cola, known as Bonite’s Bottlers. Recognitions have come to him at regular intervals including one by the Japan Bible Institute for Africa, which awarded Mengi an Honorary Doctorate.
