Calisto Radithipa, born in Marobela village in eastern Botswana near the Zimbabwean border, has transformed Kemcore into a leading supplier of chemicals for copper and cobalt mines in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His journey from humble beginnings to mining industry success is a testament to persistence, adaptability, and entrepreneurial vision.
In 2001, Radithipa received a government bursary to study finance at Bond University’s Johannesburg campus. During a holiday visit to Botswana, a friend working in the UK encouraged him to explore the country’s plentiful finance jobs, prompting Radithipa to pause his studies and pursue a two-year working-holiday visa in Britain. His initial job search was challenging, landing him entry-level work at a document-management company. He later returned to South Africa to complete his degree before securing a data-entry role at the Royal Bank of Scotland, a position that boosted his CV credentials.
When his UK visa expired, Radithipa moved to Shanghai with his girlfriend. Unable to find work in finance, he taught English part-time while starting a small eBay business selling jeans sourced from local markets. This entrepreneurial spark would eventually lead him to a scalable business opportunity in the mining chemicals industry.
By 2008, Radithipa recognized China’s booming demand for commodities such as chrome and manganese and sought to connect Chinese buyers with African suppliers. After initial setbacks, he registered 300cc Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong and finally secured his first steady income as an exclusive sourcing agent for a Zimbabwean gold mining company. This marked his official entry into the mining chemicals sector.
Mining operations depend heavily on chemicals to extract metals from ore. In gold, copper, and cobalt mining, substances like flotation agents, acids, and alkalis are used to separate valuable metals from rock and impurities. Radithipa identified a niche in providing reliable chemical supplies to mines across Africa and focused on building trust with clients through transparency and accessibility.
To expand beyond a single customer, Radithipa launched a comprehensive website detailing product specifications, technical data, applications, images, and pricing. This platform became Kemcore, the name under which his company now operates as a key supplier to major mining operations in Zambia and the DRC.
Calisto Radithipa’s journey from teaching English and selling jeans on eBay to building a multimillion-dollar mining chemicals enterprise highlights the power of determination, innovation, and seizing opportunities in Africa’s growing industrial sector.
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