Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji who was kidnapped earlier this month was freed on Saturday (Oct. 20) after more than a week missing.

Dewji took to his Mo Dewji Foundation Twitter to confirm his release, “I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers.”

“I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the Police Force for working for my safe return,” he added.

Dar es Salaam Regional Police Chief Lazaro Mambosasa told reporters the young billionaire was dumped at a field near the exclusive Gymkhana sports club and they found him there in a healthy physical condition. The police said they “suspect the abductors are South Africans because they were communicating in one of the vernacular from that country.” The police had previously said two of the suspects were white men.

After dumping the billionaire, the abductors apparently tried to burn the car but it was later recovered by the police and they discovered an AK-47 assault riffle, two pistols and several rounds of ammunition.

Amid Dewji’s release there are allegations that the abductors demanded ransom but it was not clear if the money was paid or the amount.

Dewji, who was estimated to have a net worth of $1.5 billion in 2016, by Forbes, was kidnapped on the Oct. 11 just as he left gym at Colosseum Hotel in Dar es Salaam. Surveillance video showed that two masked men were involved in the abduction of Dewji and they fired shots in air before driving away.

Earlier this week his family had offered up to one billion Tanzanian shillings ($440,000) to anyone with information that would lead to his rescue.

A former Tanzanian lawmaker, Dewji is the chief executive officer of METL Group, a company founded by his father in the 1970s that is purportedly Tanzania’s largest home-grown company. With a presence in 12 African countries, METL has investments in sectors as diverse as manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, transport, and financial services. The company says its annual revenues of over $1.5 billion constitutes a little over 3.5% of Tanzania’s gross domestic product. At 43, and with a net worth of $1.5 billion, Dewji, a Georgetown University graduate, is listed by Forbes as Africa’s youngest and Tanzania’s only billionaire.

Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech and innovation in your inbox</s>(CNN) Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji, who was seized by gunmen outside a luxury hotel nine days ago, is home safe after his kidnappers freed him, police said.

Unknown gunmen snatched Dewji, 43, on October 11 as he left his early morning workout in the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam, police said.

He was found about 3:15 a.m. local time Saturday in the same city, regional police commissioner Lazaro Mambosasa told reporters. Dewji, who attended the news conference in a white T-shirt and pants, thanked police officers and shook their hands.

Police officials did not provide additional details on his release. It's unclear whether a ransom was paid.

Dewji's disappearance made international headlines, with his family offering a reward of one billion Tanzanian shillings (US $440,000) for information leading to his rescue. The business tycoon has previously served as member of the parliament, and is described as Africa's youngest billionaire.

Read More</s>Indian-origin Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji, who was captured by gunmen outside a gym here nine days ago, is back home safe after his kidnappers freed him, the police said.

Mr Dewji, 43-year-old CEO of the METL Group family conglomerate, was kidnapped by unknown men on October 11 while he was going for his early morning workout in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

"I have returned home safely," Mr Dewji said in a tweet from his company METL Group's account. The businessman thanked Tanzanian police "and everyone around the world for their prayers".

He was found about 3.15 am near a tennis court in the city, where his kidnappers left him in a car, regional police commissioner Lazaro Mambosasa was cited as saying by the news agency BBC.

Mr Dewji, who has previously served as member of the Parliament, is one of the nation's most prominent business tycoons. Financial magazine Forbes put his wealth at $1.5 billion, describing him as Africa's youngest billionaire.

His company METL operates in six African countries. The pan-African conglomerate has massive holdings in textiles and food and beverage manufacturing businesses in the continent.

Mr Dewji's disappearance made international headlines, with his family offering a reward of one billion Tanzanian shillings ($440,000) for information leading to his rescue.

Tanzanian Environment Minister January Makamba, a close friend of Mr Dewji, tweeted that he visited his home today morning. "He appears healthy except for rope marks where kidnappers tied his hands and legs," the minister said.

Mr Dewji served two terms in the Parliament before he resigned in 2015 to dedicate more time to the family business.</s>Kidnapped Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji has been released, 10 days after he was seized by armed men in the city of Dar Es Salaam.

“I have returned home safely,” he said in a tweet from his company METL Group’s account.

The businessman, known locally as Mo, thanked Tanzania’s police “and everyone around the world for their prayers”.

It is not clear how Mr Dewji, 43, was freed or whether a ransom was paid.

Mr Dewji was abducted by gunmen at the Colosseum Hotel early 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 his rescue.

Forbes places Mr Dewji’s net worth at around $1.5bn (£980m), which would make him Africa’s youngest billionaire.

Tanzania’s environment minister January Makamba, a close friend of the industrialist, tweeted on Saturday morning that he had spoken to Mr Dewji and his father.

He said the kidnappers had abandoned Mr Dewji at a field near the Gymkhana club in Dar es Salam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.

The billionaire is reported to be in good health, but with bruises on his hands and legs due to handcuffing.

Mr Dewji served as an MP in Tanzania’s ruling party for a decade until 2015.

He is credited with turning his family business from a wholesale and retail enterprise into a pan-African conglomerate.

His company, MeTL, has interests in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils in at least six African states.

In 2016, the tycoon had promised to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes.</s>Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji who was kidnapped last week has returned back home, his family announced on Saturday.

Dewji, 43, was abducted by unidentified gunmen on Thursday, the 11th of October, when he went for his routine workout session at the Colosseum Hotel in Oyster Bay, Dar es Salaam. The Dewji family recently offered a $440,000 reward for any information regarding his capture, and the Government of Tanzania recently hired foreign investigators to look into the case.

A spokesperson confirmed to this writer that the billionaire tycoon is safely at home. Details of how he was found are still sketchy, but Mohammed Dewji is expected to address the media later today.

“I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers. I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the police force for working for my safe return, ” METL Group quoted him as saying on its Twitter feed, without providing more details about how he was freed or got away from his captors.

Mohammed Dewji, 43, is Africa's youngest billionaire and has a fortune of $1.5 billion according to FORBES. He is the CEO of Tanzania's MeTL group which has interests in textiles, oil milling and food production.

Contact me via email at mfon.nsehe @ gmail.com or on Twitter @MfonobongNsehe</s>Tanzanian tycoon Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped earlier this month, said Saturday he had been released and had returned home safely. “I thank Allah that I have returned home safe and sound,” Dewji told a press conference in Dar es Salaam where he was abducted on October 11 as he entered a hotel gym. Clearly strained and appearing exhausted, he thanked the “Tanzanian authorities, including the police, who worked for my return.” “I thank all my fellow Tanzanians and everyone around the world for their prayers,” he added.

Tanzanian police said Friday they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping and were making progress in their investigation. The family had offered a reward of half a million dollars (435,000 euros) for information that would help police find him. Mohammed Dewji earlier tweeted that he had been released and his father Gullam Dewji confirmed his son’s release in comments to the Tanzanian daily Mwanachi.

His uncle, Azim Dewji told Mwanachi in a video that “his abductors abandoned him and he was able to phone his father,” adding that his nephew was in good health. The footage also showed a tired-looking Mohammed Dewji, in a T-shirt and jogging trousers, thanking the police.</s>Kidnapped Tanzanian billionaire, Mohammed Dewji, has been released and is safe and well in his home.

In a message on his Twitter, Africa's youngest billionaire confirmed the news to his followers after he was abducted by 'white gunmen' nine days ago in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's capital.

Mohammed Dewji, 43, who has an estimated wealth of $1.5billion (£980 million), was kidnapped on his way to the gym outside a luxury hotel in the city on October 11th.

'I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers,' he said in the tweeted message.

'I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the Police Force for working for my safe return.'

His father Gullam Dewji confirmed his son's release in comments to the Tanzanian daily Mwanachi. His uncle, Azim Dewji said the kidnappers had released him early Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's economic capital.

The family had offered a reward of half a million dollars (£382,497) for information that would help police find him.

Tanzanian police said Friday they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping and were making progress in their investigation.

Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told journalists that the assailants had 'shot into the air' before bustling Dewji into their car.

Mohammed Dewji heads the MeTL Group which operates in about 10 countries with interests in agriculture to insurance, transport, logistics and the food industry.

He was born in Tanzania and studied at Georgetown University in the United States. He also served as a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015.

In 2013, he became the first Tanzanian to grace the cover of Forbes magazine and was named Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2015.

Dewji is also the main shareholder in Tanzania's Simba FC football club.

According to Forbes he is 17th on the list of Africa's billionaires, and worth $1.5 billion (£1.14 billion).

Dewji is married with three children. In 2016 he signed a pledge to donate at least half of his fortune to philanthropic causes, according to Forbes.</s>Tanzanian police said Friday they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping of Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji, who was snatched over a week ago.

 

 Dewji, 43, who is considered Africa’s youngest billionaire, was seized by gunmen as he entered a hotel gym in Tanzania’s economic capital Dar es Salaam Thursday morning last week.

His family is offering a reward of half a million dollars (435,000 euros) for information that would help police find him.

Police chief Simon Sirro told a press conference that surveillance videos at the hotel had captured images of the vehicle used by the kidnappers, a dark blue 4X4.

“We have been able to identify the vehicle. So we have advanced a lot in our investigation, we will publish these photos,” he said.

“On top of that we know this car entered the country on September 1 from a neighbouring country,” Sirro added, refusing to name the country.

“We already have the names of the vehicle’s owner and the driver.”

Sirro said he would send Tanzanian police to the neighbouring country in question, without giving any details.

He said that of 27 people arrested eight were still in custody.

The opposition has called for independent international investigators to take over the probe, citing an increase in kidnappings and attacks in which no one is ever brought to book.

Dewji is chief executive of the MeTL Group, which operates in a dozen countries and has interests in agriculture, insurance, transport, logistics and the food industry.

According to Forbes, he is worth $1.5 billion (1.29 billion euros) and ranks 17th on the list of African billionaires.

He was a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015, and in 2013 became the first Tanzanian to feature on the cover of Forbes magazine. Two years later, he was named Forbes’ Africa Person of the Year.



 Dewji is also the main shareholder in Tanzania’s Simba FC football club.</s>Tanzanian tycoon Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped earlier this month, said Saturday he had been released and had returned home safely.

 

 “I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers,” he said in a tweeted message.

“I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the Police Force for working for my safe return.”

His father Gullam Dewji confirmed his son’s release in comments to the Tanzanian daily Mwanachi.

His uncle, Azim Dewji told Mwanachi the kidnappers had released him early Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s economic capital.

“His abductors abandoned him and he was able to phone his father,” he said in a video posted at the Mwanachi website, adding that his nephew was in good health.

The footage also showed a tired-looking Mohammed Dewji, in a tee-shirt and jogging trousers, thanking the police.

Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told Mwanachi that he had already spoken with Dewji, who had told him that his abductors spoke an African language.

The family had offered a reward of half a million dollars (435,000 euros) for information that would help police find him.

Tanzanian police said Friday they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping and were making progress in their investigation.

Africa’s youngest billionaire was kidnapped on October 11 by gunmen — said to have been white — as he entered the gym of a hotel in Dar es Salaam.

Mohammed Dewji, 43, heads the MeTL Group which operates in about 10 countries with interests in agriculture to insurance, transport, logistics and the food industry.

Police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told journalists that the assailants had “shot into the air” before bustling Dewji into their car.

Dewji was born in Tanzania and studied at Georgetown University in the United States. He also served as a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015.

In 2013, he became the first Tanzanian to grace the cover of Forbes magazine and was named Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2015.

Dewji is also the main shareholder in Tanzania’s Simba FC football club.

According to Forbes he is 17th on the list of Africa’s billionaires, and worth $1.5 billion (1.29 billion euros).

Dewji is married with three children. In 2016 he signed a pledge to donate at least half of his fortune to philanthropic causes, according to Forbes.</s>NAIROBI (AFP): Tanzanian tycoon Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped earlier this month, said Saturday he had been released and had returned home safely.

“I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians, and everyone around the world for their prayers,” he said in a tweeted message.

“I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the Police Force for working for my safe return.”

His father Gullam Dewji confirmed his son´s release in comments to the Tanzanian daily Mwanachi. His uncle, Azim Dewji said the kidnappers had released him early Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania´s economic capital.

The family had offered a reward of half a million dollars (435,000 euros) for information that would help police find him.

Tanzanian police said Friday they had identified the driver of a vehicle used in the kidnapping and were making progress in their investigation.

Africa´s youngest billionaire was kidnapped on October 11 by gunmen — said to have been white — as he entered the gym of a hotel in Dar es Salaam.

Mohammed Dewji, 43, heads the MeTL Group which operates in about 10 countries with interests in agriculture to insurance, transport, logistics and the food industry.

Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told journalists that the assailants had “shot into the air” before bustling Dewji into their car.

Dewji was born in Tanzania and studied at Georgetown University in the United States. He also served as a member of parliament from 2005 to 2015.

In 2013, he became the first Tanzanian to grace the cover of Forbes magazine and was named Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2015.

Dewji is also the main shareholder in Tanzania´s Simba FC football club.

According to Forbes he is 17th on the list of Africa´s billionaires, and worth $1.5 billion (1.29 billion euros).

Dewji is married with three children. In 2016 he signed a pledge to donate at least half of his fortune to philanthropic causes, according to Forbes.
Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji is freed by his captors nine days after being seized by unknown gunmen.