This Man Reginald Mengi! Achievements of the Late Business Tycoon

Death’s certainty is as indiscriminate as it is absolute. You are alive this second but the next one, only God knows. One of the richest and most famous Tanzanians, Reginald Mengi, has died.

News of the death of Mengi, the chairman of IPP media was announced by one of his stations, Radio ONE. He was the owner of ITV television, and Radio ONE station, among other outlets.

Mzee Mengi, as commonly known, was born in 1944 in Kilimanjaro region. He died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The station said that Mengi, 75, died in Dubai. The cause of his death has not been announced yet. Despite being born into extreme poverty, Dr Reginald Mengi managed to study accountancy in the UK and qualified as a chartered accountant.

In 1989 Dr Mengi left the prestigious audit firm of Cooper Brothers (later Coopers & Lybrand and now Price Waterhouse Coopers- PWC), where he had risen to the position of Managing Partner and Chairman, to concentrate on his own businesses.

Dr Reginald Mengi held the following positions:
Founding and current Chairman, Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), Dr. Reginald Mengi People with Disabilities Foundation, Economic Empowerment Working Group of the Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Patron,Trustee.

Over the course of his career Dr Reginald Mengi has held many public service positions including:

1. Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Tanzania Standard (Newspapers) Limited.
2. Commissioner, Salaries Review Commission.
3. Chairman of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors Tanzania (NBAA).
4. Chairman of the National Environment Management Council Tanzania (NEMC) for nine years from 1997 to 2006.
5. Chairman, Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) Tanzania Chapter from 1997 to 1999.
6. Board Director of LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development International) from May 2000 up to 2003.
7. Commissioner, Tanzania HIV/AIDS Commission (TACAIDS) from 2002 to 2009.
8. Chairman, Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) from 2005 to 2009.
9. Chairman, East African Business Council (EABC) for the year 2008.
10. Chairman, ICC Tanzania (a National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce) from 2000 to 2007.
11. Director, Board of the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) 1998 to 2013.
12. Chairman Tanzania Private Sector Foundation 2014.

AWARDS, TROPHIES, TOKENS AND CERTIFICATES GIVEN TO DR. REGINALD MENGI
In recognition of Dr Mengi’s philanthropic achievements, his unwavering commitment to the fight against social injustice and his public service, Dr Mengi has received several international and national awards over the years including:

• The Order of the United Republic of Tanzania in 1994.
• The Order of the Arusha Declaration of the First Class in 1995.
• The Business for Peace Award 2012.
• Global Leadership and Humanitarian Award and the 1st United Nations NGO Lifetime Achievement Award 2010.
• The 2008 Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice.
• The East Africa Environmental Network (EAEN) Leadership Award.
• The International Order of the Lions Award.
• Life Achievement in Philanthropy Award.
• East Africa’s Most Respected CEO 2nd position in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
• Certificate given to Dr Mengi 2017.
• Appreciation of Dr Mengi’s service as Chairman of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors of Tanzania
• The Environmental Conservation Award Grade One 2012.
• Award of ‘the Most Inspiring Entrepreneur’ 2015.
• Letter of Appreciation from the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) 2015
• All Africa Business Leaders Awards 2014

His death comes five months after he announced investments in IPP Automobile, a car assembly plant, and the mobile phone sector. In November, the billionaire signed a deal with a South Korean firm to establish a vehicle assembly plant in Dar es Salaam.

We have lost another Tanzania Legend, Father, Mogul and the 1st Billionaire that ALL Tanzanian’s aspired to be…Mzee Mengi, umetufundisha Mengi, tunajivunia kuwa wewe ulikuwa Baba Mlezi wa Wengi, Pumzika Baba. Rest In Peace Dr Abraham Reginald Mengi. 🙏🏾

— Babbie Kabae (@babbiekabae) May 2, 2019

The $10 million plant is a joint venture between with IPP Automobile Company Ltd and Youngsan Glonet Corporation.

In Summary, Mzee Mengi owned 15 companies, he had already initiated 30 projects, he had already been awarded 25 awards and he had over 8900 workers. He will be missed by many.

The passing on of Mzee Reginald Mengi is such a tragic thing. The philanthropist Mengi touched a lot lives and will remain an inspirational Tanzanian in many fronts. R.I.P ReginaldMengi

— Elishilia Daniel Kaaya (@ElishiliaK) May 2, 2019