Billionaire Strive Masiyiwa criticises “mbinga culture”, says cars and watches are not proof of success

Zimbabwean-born billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has criticised social media “influencers” who showcase their cars, watches, holidays, and homes as symbols of success, describing the practice as “conspicuous consumption.”

In Zimbabwe, this trend is referred to as “Mbinga Culture,” which denotes a flashy, wealth-driven lifestyle characterised by social media displays and, in some cases, controversial sources of income.

Reports suggest that some individuals engaging in this culture may be connected to elite looting or patronage networks, particularly linked to Zanu PF circles.

Posting on his Facebook page, Masiyiwa stressed that while he does not dictate how people spend money they have earned honestly, such displays of wealth should not be taken as proof that someone is truly “doing well.” Said Masiyiwa:

“Whilst I will never be one to tell someone else how to spend money they have honestly earned, I do need to point out one thing to those who look at such displays of wealth as proof that someone is actually ‘doing well’… let alone to use it as a benchmark of what is expected of you as an entrepreneur to “show” that you are ”doing well”.

“It actually means nothing at all, and it only fools those with little understanding of what real success looks like.

“One of the first dollar billionaires I met personally once invited my wife and me to visit his home for a weekend. They owned a global diamond business.

“When we went for dinner, my wife noticed that his wife wore no jewellery except her wedding ring, a simple gold band. She did not even have a watch.

“As for her husband, I noticed that he always wore the same jersey, which had a hole in one elbow! When it came to the meal, they chose the simplest dish.”

Masiyiwa shared another incident from his travels in South America with one of the world’s wealthiest businessmen.

He recounted that, just before one of the businessman’s speaking engagements, his assistant arrived with a new shirt she had purchased from a local supermarket. Said Masiyiwa:

“To the truly wealthy, luxury brands and all that stuff don’t really matter. Just remember that.

“Conspicuous consumption, or the need for it, will destroy your capacity to build a truly successful business that will contribute to your country’s development.”

Masiyiwa advises parents to ask themselves before spending money on themselves whether they will be able to fund their children’s education on their own or if they are relying on someone else to do so. He added:

“There is a long road ahead for a lot of you, so avoid ‘conspicuous consumption’.” *_-Pindula_*