The following article is largely based on a speech orated by Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa. The full length speech was published for funeral guests and a copy can be found on the Lusaka Times Website.
Andrew Sardanis is a Greek born Zambian Author, Artist, Politician and Businessman. He moved to our country at the age of 19 and fell in love with the land. Before his passing Mr Sadanis was one of the wealthiest businessmen to have ever operated in the country. Known popularly as the owner of the vast and beautiful Chaminuka, the wildlife and game reserve. He was also the spearhead throughout the independence movement and guided the country’s industry through its most prosperous years as the head of the IDC. He was one of the founders of ITM International, the first and only Zambian company to operate in over 40 countries including a Meridian Bank branch in London, possibly the most successful company in Zambia’s history. Mr Sadanis was also a mentor to many, I will always remember the wise lessons about life and dedication to your purpose even in his older age. Above all he is a man who for hundreds of years will be one of the richest sources of Zambian history as detailed in his books. I will try to summarize the great life of the man in this article.
Sardanis the Immigrant Freedom Fighter
From his younger years Mr Sardanis was a strong and well respected man, notable for his determination. He arrived in the country at the age of 19 as part of a group of tens of thousands of migrants displaced by the end of World War 2. In his dedication statement Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa notes, ‘though he was not like many of the others, who only dedicated themselves to quite self enrichment making fortunes out of the country’s resources’. As soon as he arrived in the country he loved it. His early years were spent developing a taste for business, helping his brother expand his transporting company in Chingola into trading as he started his first stores in the Copperbelt and Kapambo. He opened his first business, North Western Trading and Mwaiseni stores, in partnership with the Zambian blacks who at that time could not own stores or even enter the same place as a white man. He never saw the black Zambians as inferior and instead chose to empower them by educating many to become businessmen and traders.
He became a key part of the independence struggle due to his affiliations with the young black population of the time. Along with fellow white anti-colonialists Simon Zukas and James Skinner (1923 -2008) he joined politics to fight injustice, running for Member of Parliament for Kabompo constituency for UNIP in 1958. This was the first election during which UNIP was established (as the ZANC of the time had been expelled from party politics). He was provided Zambian citizenship for his contributions and in 1965 he was appointed the CEO of INDENI, where Mr Sadanis became a key part of the economic policy of Kaunda’s government and eventually employed 13,000 people. Mr Sardanis was later appointed Permanent Secretary of Mines in 1969 where he is attributed with building the economic infrastructure for Zambia’s booming mining sector. Beyond what was a strong political partnership he found true companionship with our founder, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, with the former president highlighting his contribution:
“Andrew was truly a giant, a principled man with a genuine love and passion for Zambia. My association with Andrew began during our struggle for independence . We were both young men eager to end British colonial rule and attain emancipation of the Zambian people. Andrew became an important friend who gave himself totally to the liberation struggle, not only for Zambia, but the Southern African Region”
Sadanis the Business Magnate
Before leaving government Mr Sadanis got a taste for running big business. He became the first CEO of the consolidated mines, named ZIMCO (what is now ZCCM). The year he became CEO the company revenue surpassed $1.12 billion and possessed assets worth $840 million, making it one the top 100 largest companies in the world at the time. Though his time there was brief as he believed these positions should belong to Zambians. By late 1971 he formed Sardanis Associates and entered business full time. The company would later be known as ITM International, an conglomerate consisting of 150 companies spread between 40 different countries (with only 25 in Africa). 13 years later he decided to expand the group into commercial banking, a sector which was still dominated by large British firms like Barclays. He established the Meridian Bank, the largest bank in Zambian history.
The company was built on the premise of building a Pan-Afircan Bank “out of Africa for Africa”. Mr Sardanis knew that Africa could not develop fully without big banks with the capability of financing exports. The company gained prominence in 1991 when they purchased the liquidated Banque Internationale pour L’Afrique Occidentale (BIAO) which operated in Franco Africa (this was at the request of Alassane Outtara, President of Côte d’Ivoire. According to records Africa Development Bank capitalized their 10% share at $100 million that year valuing the bank at $1 billion and giving Sadanis an estimated net worth of $600 million at the time. The bank was also one of the most innovative having established the ‘digital purse’ system 15 years before mobile wallets became popularised. At its peak the bank held more than $1.5 billion in assets (which would make it the largest bank in Zambia till today) and had a turnover of almost $1.3 billion. At its peak the company employed 30,000 people. The company was sabotaged by the British establishment as it became the most powerful African bank. The Bank of England declared evidence of ‘illegal deposit taking’ with no further evidence and pushed every central bank where it operated to seize the bank assets. The bank was ripped apart and acquired by various smaller institutions like Stanbic in Tanzania, Ghana Reassurance in Ghana and FNB in Swaziland just to name a few. It is one of the greatest yet least talked about tragedies in Zambian history.
Sadanis the Author, Historian and Father
In his last years Mr Sadanis continued to strive in different sectors. Over the years he built the largest collection by an individual Zambian collector with over 1,000 plastered on the walls of Chaminuka. He sponsored some of Zambia’s most prominent artists such as Person Lombe, Henry Tayali, Remmie Sichalwe, Flinto Chandia. In 1999 he was awarded the Ngoma award for his contributions to the art ecosystem in the country. He built his home Chaminuka in 1970, located over Lake Chitoka and encompasses one of the largest game parks in Lusaka. Today he has over 7,000 animals with over 40 different species. After opening his home to the public in the early 2000’s they have since gained over 20,000 visitors annually.
Mr Sardanis always stressed the importance of keeping memoirs and maintaining history. He has written three books which detail the development of the Zambian economy over the first 50 years. His first book Africa: Another Side of the Coin (2003), covers in detail of the pre-independence Zambia and the final years of our struggle. A Venture in Africa (2007) details his business endeavors whilst being the head of one of the largest businesses in Africa. Lastly, a book in commemoration of our 50th independence, Zambia : The First 50 years. These books portray a strong history within our nation which is rarely if at all publicized. He chose to selflessly focus on preserving the truth, admitting to the downfalls of himself and those around him. He was an honest man driven by principle.
Conclusion
Mr Sardanis’ apparent genius accompanied with his love for Zambia has proven to be a combination that will go on to influence us for years to come. He was buried last week Friday at the first place he entered the country, Northern Province, showing his loyalty to his origins, even as a man who built an empire. His presence is likely to forever be missed and his legacy never to be forgotten. To one who was a mentor to many of the buisness leaders of today, and an inspiration to the leaders of tomorrow, it was truly an honour.
