Africa’s youngest billionaireMohammed Dewji has been freed, 10 days after he was kidnapped by armed men in Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar Es Salaam.
The 43-year-old tycoon, who made his fortune in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils, revealed that he was “home safely” in a tweet posted to his company METL Group's account.
“I thank Allah that I have returned home safely,” the message read. “I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers.”
Mr Dewji, known as Mo, also praised Tanzania’s Police force for “working for my safe return.”
The businessman, who is worth an estimated $1.5billion (£980m) was abducted by a gunman as the Colosseum Hotel on 11 October as he arrived for a morning workout.
His family had offered a 1bn Tanzania shilling ($440,000; £330,000) reward for information leading to arrests and his release.
January Makamba, Tanzania’s minister of environment and Mr Dewji’s former colleague in parliament, confirmed that he was unarmed albeit a few bruises on his hands and legs due to handcuffing.
The kidnappers had freed married father of three by dumping him in a field in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is not clear whether a ransom was paid.
“I have just spoken to him and his father 20 minutes ago” said Mr Makamba. “He’s the usual Mo. So he is okay. Thank you all for your prayers. God is really great. Going to see him now.”
Investigators said on Friday that they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping.
Mr Dewji , who was born in Tanzania and studied at Georgetown University in the United States, is credited with turning his family business from a wholesale and retail enterprise into a pan-African conglomerate.
He also served as a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015.
He made history in 2013 when he became the first Tanzanian to grace the cover of Forbes magazine and was named Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2015.
The following year he signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes.
