about

Balu Estate was originally established in the late 1960’s as a conglomeration of Seaborough, Balu, Pampoenpoort and Kennebec properties. Originally owned by the Norvall brothers, the properties were sold to government in the early 1980s.

The estate is situated 34 km from Bulawayo’s city centre on the Victoria Falls road and 15km from Bulawayo International Airport. The estate has 4 management houses, 50 staff houses, a fully operative workshop as well as a functional airstrip. There is adequate energy & electricity infrastructure in place.

ARDA (Agriculture and Rural Development Authority) owns 4556 ha Balu Estate. The farm has arable, irrigable potential of 2000 hectares and contains a dam in the North East section with a capacity of approximately 13.5 million cubic meters of water. There is potential to raise the spill way and increase the water holding capacity of the dam to close to 17 million cubic meters. The dam, known as Pampoenpoort Dam, was commissioned in 1970.

Average annual rainfall is 600mm, with minimum winter temperatures reaching -4C and maximum summer temperatures reaching 35C. The farms soils consist of a combination of black cotton, red clay/loam and sandy loams with lesser clay content. The well drained soils along with the cold winters and hot summer days and abundant stored water are ideal fundamental attributes for a large-scale pecan agri-business.

the team

Balu initial capital raising was fully subscribed and paid in July 2019. We are delighted to have Mangwana Opportunities Fund on Board as shareholders. The Mangwana interests are represented on the Kalimba Board by Mr Ben Mbanga. https://www.mangwanacapital.com We are also delighted to have appointed Mr Nic Ncube as executive chairman for Kalimba Investments in Dec 2019.

 

executive

Phillip Dumont de Chassart

CEO

view bio

Phillip is a fourth generation Zimbabwean with a strong background in pecan production. Phillip’s grandfather pioneered pecan nuts in Zimbabwe establishing the first commercial pecan orchard in 1969. The root stock from these orchards has become the backbone of the Zimbabwean nursery plantings. Phillip has extensive experience in the agro-industries with development of four individual concerns thus far. Prior to this Phillip spent much of his working life in the finance and banking sector. He joined the family agricultural business (M D de Chassart & Son P/L T/A Surrey) in February 2000 as Managing Director. Surrey is an integrated and leading player in Zimbabwe’s beef and poultry space. Phillip has business interests in mining and construction.

Nicholas Ncube

Executive Chair

view bio

Mr. N. Ncube is an Economist and Executive whose working life spans over 37 years. He has served in different capacities and at senior level in both public and private sectors:

  • Secretary for Finance and Economic Development
  • Founding executive Director of Zimbabwe Investment Centre(ZIC)
  • Interim Managing Director of National Oil Company of Zimbabwe ( NOCZIM)
  • Deputy Governor- Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe
  • Businessman with interest in Tourism, Agriculture and Mining
  • Currently serving in various Boards both as Executive and non-Executive Director.

Jeremy Hubert

Managing Director

view bio

Jeremy is a local boy who has come home. Also a fourth generation Zimbabwean he grew up on the neighbouring cattle ranch and followed a career in Veterinary Medicine culminating a successful academic period in the USA where he was a tenured professor of equine surgery.

Using his practical abilities, professional critique and local knowledge he has established the first 100ha of pecans. The second phase of Balus’ project will see a revival of his veterinary medical skills as he establishes a livestock breeding centre to enhance the genetic potential of local and national livestock

Edward Galante

Member

view bio

Ted Galante is the Chairman of the Board of Kalimba Investments. He was born in San Francisco, California and has been residing permanently in Zimbabwe for the past 26 years.

Over the past twenty-six years he has worked closely with The United States Agency for International Development, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the FMO Bank, various Building Societies, the Zimbabwe Ministries of Finance, Local Government and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, local and regional merchant and commercial bankers, to structure and deliver financing for high and medium density housing in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ted is the founder of Houses For Africa (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited, Mortgage Management Services (Private) Limited and Zimbabwe Mortgage Company (Private) Limited and is currently an Executive Director of Mangwana Capital (Private) Limited.

He also has various private interests in agriculture, mining, and real estate.

Ted is the Chapter Champion and founding Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization chapter in Harare and immediate past Chairman of the YPO Gold – Africa Region (2016-2018).

Ted is looking forward to developing Balu Estates and ensuring that the sporting bird life on the property is well tended to for years to come!

Michael Manyaya Zihumo

Financial Director

view bio

Mike is a Chartered Secretary a Holder of an MBA with extensive experience in managing Agro-Industry businesses. Currently executive director for the Surrey Group incorporating Kalimba Investments and other Surrey Group businesses with the role of Financial Director. Before joining the Surrey Group in 2012 Mike held several positions with CFI Holdings for 7 years. CFI Holdings was an agricultural conglomerate listed on the Zimbabwe stock exchange. He was Financial Director for the Poultry Group at CFI Holdings for four years thereafter he was Managing Director for Crest Breeders and Glenara Estates for the remainder of his time there. Mike also worked for William Bain & Co Holdings which is a manufacturer and wholesaler of tractors and agricultural equipment for 10 years. He is married with 3 children and is a keen golfer during his spare time.

Benedict Mbanga

Member

view bio

21 years in professional services with Deloitte Africa. Formerly CEO of Deloitte Central Africa, Head of Advisory services and member of the Africa Executive with Experience in investment advisory

management

Jeremy Hubert

Managing Director

view bio

Jeremy is a local boy who has come home. Also a fourth generation Zimbabwean he grew up on the neighbouring cattle ranch and followed a career in Veterinary Medicine culminating a successful academic period in the USA where he was a tenured professor of equine surgery.

Using his practical abilities, professional critique and local knowledge he has established the first 100ha of pecans. The second phase of Balus’ project will see a revival of his veterinary medical skills as he establishes a livestock breeding centre to enhance the genetic potential of local and national livestock

Joshua Van Leuween

Farm manager

view bio

Edison Warikandiwa

Orchard Supervisor

view bio

Edison is a holder of a certificate in agriculture with extensive experience in managing field crops such as wheat, commercial maize, soya beans, horticultural crops etc.  Before he joined Kalimba Investments Edison held several positions which includes field supervisor for 10 years and a section manager for 15 years with Agricultural and Rural development Authority ARDA. He has assumed a similar role for with Balu Pecan and Livestock and supervises daily activities in the pecan plantations and nursery .He is married with four children and he loves reading during his free time.

Allen Mazambara

Cattle Supervisor

view bio

the role of arda

Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is a Zimbabwean parastatal whose primary focus is National food security, as well as being a driver of Zimbabwean agriculture-lead economic growth and development.

The Authority is divided into two main categories, namely Commercial/Business Operations and Rural Development. Commercial Operations involve production of various crops and livestock at 21 different ARDA Estates (measuring 124254 hectares). The Estates operate as Strategic Business Units (SBU). This arrangement allows Estates to access loans individually on the strength on their respective Balance Sheets.

Since 2009 ARDA adopted a strategy of PPP (Private, Public, Partnerships) with the intention of unlocking asset values and maximising output on the estates. This strategy was further consolidated in 2015 with Governments ZIMASSET policy.

ARDA have signed a long-term arrangement of use with Kalimba Investments PVT Ltd to develop and maximise the full potential of the asset. In the post-Mugabe era, there is a focus on investor-driven initiatives that will deliver to all parties involved working closely with the Zimbabwean Investment Centre.

See ARDA web page: www.arda.co.zw

corporate social responsibility

The Balu Project is poised to offer extensive employment to the local community.

The Pecan project will include an out-grower program whereby small holders with water will be assisted to enable small scale pecan plantations.

A Cattle Business Centre (CBC) project has been initiated. This project has been funded by the EU through ZAGP-BEST. (website) We have installed a 50ha and will plant grass species for cattle grazing. Local farmers will have access to this initiative that will be managed by Balu Pecan and Livestock Company. The CBC will include cattle management assistance, farmer training as well as a center for marketing their cattle.