Entrepreneurship demands sacrifice and personal commitment – Lupenga Chisala

&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Zambian entrepreneur Lupenga Chisala has highlighted the sacrifices and personal commitment required to build a successful business&comma; saying entrepreneurship has significantly changed his lifestyle&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Chisala&comma; who left his employment with SGS in 2017 after eight years as a chemist&comma; has since built a diversified business portfolio spanning mechanical engineering&comma; agrochemicals&comma; environmental chemicals and the meat industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">His entrepreneurial journey began with the establishment of a mechanical engineering company that provides services to mining companies in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province and the southern Democratic Republic of Congo&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">According to Chisala&comma; Zambia’s mineral resources presented significant opportunities for business&comma; while the desire for greater financial independence also influenced his decision to leave formal employment&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">In 2019&comma; he expanded his business interests by acquiring Vinco Limited&comma; a company involved in agro and environmental chemicals&comma; including herbicides&comma; insecticides and industrial chemicals&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Chisala&comma; however&comma; says building businesses in Zambia and across Africa comes with major challenges&comma; particularly access to capital&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">He revealed that he started his first business without capital&comma; making it difficult to secure financing for projects that required substantial upfront funding&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The COVID-19 pandemic further tested his entrepreneurial strategy and forced him to explore other opportunities&period; This led him into the meat business&comma; where he established a butchery that later expanded to two outlets&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Despite building businesses across different sectors&comma; Chisala says entrepreneurship has come with significant personal sacrifices&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">He noted that running multiple businesses requires considerable time and commitment&comma; leaving little room for the social life he enjoyed before becoming an entrepreneur&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Chisala believes perseverance and maintaining a positive mental attitude have been crucial to navigating the challenges associated with entrepreneurship&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs not to give up when they encounter difficulties&comma; stressing that setbacks are an inevitable part of the business journey&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">For Chisala&comma; the willingness to persevere through difficult periods remains essential for anyone seeking to build a sustainable business&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">His experience demonstrates how entrepreneurs can adapt to changing circumstances&comma; diversify their investments and continue pursuing opportunities despite financial and operational challenges&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><&sol;p>&NewLine;