This is what inspired Mengi’s success

Dar es Salaam. Reginald Mengi was, arguably, one of the most successful businessmen in Tanzania. Forbes estimates Mr Mengi’s wealth to be $560 million as of 2014. What is unique about the man is that he ventured in business at the time when doing so was considered some sort of a crime in the 1970s and early 1980s. This gave him the tag of a ‘pioneer’ or even visionary. In his autobiography: I can I must I will: The Spirit of Success, Mr Mengi himself reveals the source of inspiration in his business undertakings; his elder brother Mr Elitira. The brother’s business acumen was the source of inspiration to Mr Mengi from childhood. Mr Elitira continued to serve as a mentor later in Mr Mengi’s life. In addition to serving as the source of inspiration Mr Elitira, who is now deceased, also played a big part in financing Mr Mengi’s studies in Scotland.

“My brother Mr Elitira was a huge influence and a mentor to me especially during my teenage and early adult years. From and early age, Mr Elitira displayed impressive entrepreneurial traits,” Mr Mengi writes in the book that was published in 2018.

Mr Mengi continues to narrate, in the book, how Mr Elitira as a young boy started selling eggs at school. Soon the eggs business had expanded to include soldiers at a nearby garrison as customers. One night while on his way to the garrison he was chased by a lion and only survived after he climbed a tree. He lost his eggs business but picked himself up immediately and rebuilt the business. After primary school Mr Elitira continued with his business ventures to the extent he became one of the most businessmen in the Kilimanjaro Region in 1960s and was one of the first indigenous entrepreneurs to build a multi-storey building in Moshi Town. In 1971, however, Mr Elitira’s two large buildings were nationalised.

“To my surprise, however, Mr Elitira was very philosophical about the whole thing and was not bitter at all… he proceeded to determine how else he could lift himself up once again. He had new ideas about re-building his business and he continued to work hard,” Mr Mengi says adding;

“Indeed I witnessed in my elder brother the strength of character in the face of severe adversity.”