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
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.
Edward Galante
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. 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 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, Zimbabwe Mortgage Company (Private) Limited and is currently an Executive Director of Mangwana Capital (Private) Limited. 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!
Jeremy Hubert
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.
Nicholas Ncube
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
Phillip Dumont de Chassart
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.
Jack Randle
Raised in Matabeleland, with family roots in the Umguza Valley, Jack has returned to Zimbabwe with ten years’ experience farming apples and pears for the export market in South Africa. He has a Bachelors in Agriculture in Pomology and Viticulture from Stellenbosch University as well as Financial Management training from the University of Cape Town. Jack has come home to Matabeleland to undertake the role of General Manager of Balu Estate.
Ndodana Ncube
Ndodana was raised in Matabeleland South where he developed a passion for agriculture, which he pursued until achieving his tertiary education. Since then, he has worked to develop agricultural programmes both in the commercial sector and rural communities for ARDA. Ndodana is crucial to Kalimba Investments in guiding us with special reference to local authorities and community liason roles as well as human resources.
Mpumelelo Ncube
Mpumelelo is the accountant for Kalimba Investments, with a Commerce Honours degree in Finance and a Chartered Secretary (ICSAZ). He has an extensive knowledge in accounting and finance acquired over 15 years in the accounts departments of Treger Group – Kango, where he was the Cost and Management Accountant, as well as Ingewbu Breweries, Cold Storage Company and United Bulawayo Hospitals. He is married and a father of two girls. He has a keen interest in cattle breeding.
Joshua Van Leuween
Josh is a local; and has years of hands on farm management experience that belies his age. Josh’s skill sets are notable in his development abilities, plant and machinery R&M, general farm management. Josh has an important role as the Farm Manager to play to make sure Balu’s operations run smoothly with special reference to plant and machinery including all aspects of irrigation and power supply.
Simbarashe Gapara
Simba is managing the orchards at Valley Irrigation after some time at Balu Estate. Simba has a National Diploma in Horticulture and had commenced a BSc Agric before he became embroiled in farming; working for many years for ARDA on several estates around Zimbabwe. Simba provides excellent management skills on Valley in challenging and remote circumstances.
Robert Godfrey
Robert graduated from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Science majoring in Applied Plant and Soil Sciences. He has completed a Masters Degree also from Pretoria in the Environmental and Physiological Control of Pecan Trees. Robert has assumed the role of Orchard Manager and comes to Balu Estate with a wealth of technical knowledge of pecan trees and orchard management. Robert is a local boy and as an avid fisherman, he looks forward to restoring the fish population in the Pampoenpoort dam.
