Costain chilala biography of donald
Chairman and Managing Director of the Chimsoro Group of Agribusiness Companies
Zambia
What most impressed the professional colleagues who nominated this role model?
Costain Chilala is without a doubt Zambia’s most successful black farmer. He has launched a series of highly profitable agribusiness companies under the umbrella of the Chimsoro Group, engaging in a range of commercial farming, milling, transport and related agribusinesses, including a glass factory. Consistently forward looking, he became the first black commercial farmer to introduce centre pivots in Zambia in 1990. Currently, he operates over 30 centre pivots on his farms. He is widely recognized for his highly disciplined, well organized management skills.
As chairman of Zambia’s Food Reserve Agency, from 2002 to 2009, he insisted on strict standards of business management. During his tenure as chairman, the FRA succeeded for the first time in attracting and repaying commercial bank loans. Across Southern Africa, Mr. Chilala serves as a powerful role model for young Africans aiming to build successful careers in agribusiness.
What motivated you to pursue a career in agriculture?
Agriculture is a business. Anyone who wants to do business must choose a business that he/she likes to do. I happen to like agriculture and so I naturally chose to engage in agriculture as a business.
My father was a commercial farmer who grew about 750 acres of maize. I went to a secondary school that was growing crops to feed itself. After I stopped university studies, I was engaged as a farm manager at my father’s farm for six years, from 1975 to 1981. This early exposure to commercial agriculture inspired me to enter agriculture as a business.
How can agricultural education institutions more effectively prepare African students for successful agribusiness careers?
Universities and higher learning institutions need to prepare individuals to become productive members of society. To do that, the individuals have
Costern Chilala was Levy’s preferred candidate
Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka district has argued that the late President Levy Mwanawasa did not prefer Finance Minister, N’gandu Magande to succeed him but a prominent Mkushi farmer, Costern Chilala
The chief told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that the truth of the matter was that the late President preferred prominent Mr. Chilala to be take over from him.
He claimed that Mr. Magande was also aware of this fact.
Chief Mwanachingwala argued that Mr. Magande was far from being preferred by the President, adding that the late Dr. Mwanawasa, who he regarded as a friend, confided in him.
The traditional ruler said Mr. Chilala could attest to his statement.
The traditional leader also disclosed that the late President Mwanawasa had appointed Mr. Chilala as Vice President but the latter turned down the appointment, saying he was comfortable with his business.
Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has maintained that most chiefs in the province have thrown their weight behind Vice President and Acting President Rupiah Banda as MMD presidential candidate in the bye-election.
The chief however felt betrayed by his counterpart, Chief Nalubamba whom he said was one of those who earlier declared his support for Mr. Banda.
” He wanted me to make an appointment for him to meet the Vice President in Lusaka so why did he deny that most chiefs, including him are in support of RB,” asked chief Mwanachingwala.
Chief Mwanachingwala said the endorsement of Mr. Banda by the MMD Southern province executive committee was enough testimony of the overwhelming support the acting President has in the province.
He challenged Chief Mukuni to state his position and publicly announce the candidate he was supporting.
He said certain political decisions have negative impact on the living conditions of people especially those in rural areas.
Chief Mwanachingwala added that it was the duty of chiefs to h COSTAIN CHILALA, HANTUBA EVICT SMALLHOLDER FARMER'S FAMILIES FROM KALEYA SMALLHOLDERS LAND, THE LAND THEY OCCUPIED FOR OVER 37 YEARS. A victim who requested to remain anonymous narrated to South Power FM that Kaleya Smallholders Company Limited (KASCOL) was established in the 1980s as a Government grower initiative scheme to empower small-scale sugar cane growers and alleviate poverty among the poor in Mazabuka. The selection of the farmers when the project started comprised Mazabuka District Governor, Chief Mwanachingwala, Chief Hanjalika, Chief Naluwama, Chief Mwenda, and Zambia Sugar officers. At the moment there are 160 Smallholders farmers at KASCOL with six (6) who were leaders standing expelled for challenging the illegalities in the share purchase transactions involving Mr. Costain Chilala a commercial farmer and his business partner Mr. Munakupya Hantuba. The land for the Kaleya smallholders Company was provided by Government. On 13th March 1981, a caveated and notice to acquire farms 233a, 234a, and 235a from Zambezi Ranching Corporation (ZRC) limited was issued by the Minister of Lands to the president. This is how the Government compulsorily acquired the land for the sole purpose of promoting and economically empowering small-scale sugar cane growers in Mazabuka but selfish people have come to take over the scheme for personal benefits, he narrated. The other victim narrated to South Power Fm that the brief background of the conflict involve four principal financiers who put money to start smallholder projects at KASCOL after the land was provided by the Government. These were Zambia Sugar (ZS) [25%], Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) [25%], Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) [25%], and Barclays Bank of Zambia (BBZ) [25%]. Each of the financiers was going to leave Kaleya after the loans and interests were paid off by the farmers by the year 2000. To clear the loans fast, the farmers were made to sacrifice 60% of Chilala denies having presidential ambitions
Chilala denies having presidential ambitions
By Lambwe Kachali
Monday January 28, 2008 [03:00]
RENOWNED Mkushi farmer and businessman Costain Chilala has said he has no presidential ambitions and he is not interested in joining politics. Commenting on speculations that he had ambitions to succeed President Levy Mwanawasa in 2011, Chilala said he enjoyed business life bettter than being a politician.
Chilala said many people had approached him to get into active politics but he is not interested because he enjoys being in business. He said he was scared of getting into politics because of the nature of the profession.
He said although he was a successful businessman and farmer and could manage to run the affairs of the nation, he did not want to disturb enjoying the fruits of his private life.
"For now I have no plans of getting into politics. I am busy enjoying what I am doing as a businessman. I don't dream of becoming a politician one day. I actually love being in private life," Chilala said.
He said business life was far much better than politics.
He said politics required a lot of psychological preparation.
"Entering politics is another step. You don't just wake up one morning and say 'I want to become a politician and become Republican president'. You first need to be prepared both psychologically and otherwise.
Being a politician demands a combination of different factors for which I am not ready at all. I am a businessman and I think I have to continue with what I am doing," he said.
Chilala said Zambia was not short of people to succeed President Mwanawasa.
He said if he had presidential ambitions as most MMD members and Zambians at large thought, he would have already announced his candidature.
"Why waste time to inform the people. In fact, when time comes for me to get into politics, I will tell the whole nation. You will not even ask me. I will inform the nation myself. But this is not to say