Benjamin Yoram “BY” Mwila: When Business Met Politics

In 2001, when Mwila contested the presidential election under the Zambia Republican Party, he reportedly declared assets worth K27.5 billion. At the time, this was estimated at roughly US$6.5–7 million. His declaration reportedly included shares in about 41 companies valued at K22.4 billion, real estate worth approximately K3.8 billion, and 23 motor vehicles valued at about K1.2 billion, including six Mercedes-Benz cars.

That was serious wealth for Zambia at the time.

With the resources at his disposal, BY mounted a nationwide presidential campaign, travelling across the country and reportedly extending his campaign activities beyond Zambia to neighbouring countries such as Malawi and Angola.

He had the money. He had political experience. He had connections. He had already served in Cabinet.

But presidential politics proved to be a different game.

Mwila received about 4.84% of the vote in the 2001 presidential election, which was won by Levy Mwanawasa. His presidential ambitions did not end his political career, however. In 2006, his Zambia Republican Party became part of the National Democratic Focus, and he won the Nchelenge parliamentary seat under the NDF ticket. In 2011, he returned to the MMD but lost his parliamentary seat.

What makes BY’s story particularly fascinating is what happened to his fortunes after his political ambitions took centre stage.

In 2020 according to The Zambian Sky by James K Nsofwa accounts of his life, the business empire he had built over the years eventually went into decline. The once-wealthy businessman who had enjoyed considerable influence reportedly experienced difficult times towards the end of his life.

BY died in South Africa on 17 August 2013, aged 70.

His story has since become a powerful reminder of the complicated relationship between business and politics.

There is a lesson here for today’s entrepreneurs. Building a successful business requires focus, patience, discipline and years of consistent effort. Politics, on the other hand, can demand enormous amounts of money, time, energy and attention.

This is why some people argue that Africa could have produced even more large business empires if successful entrepreneurs had remained focused on building companies rather than entering active politics. We often admire the likes of Dangote and other industrialists for building businesses that have survived and expanded beyond them.

But we should also be careful not to oversimplify BY’s story. His decline cannot automatically be blamed on politics alone. Businesses face many challenges, and without detailed financial records, it is difficult to establish exactly what caused the decline of his wealth.

Nevertheless, his life raises an important question for young entrepreneurs:

Can you build a great business while simultaneously playing the political game?

Perhaps the biggest lesson from BY Mwila is not that businesspeople should stay away from politics. Rather, it is that focus is everything. You cannot always be everything at the same time. Sometimes, you have to choose your lane, stay disciplined and master it.

BY Mwila was a fascinating character because he experienced both worlds—business and politics—at a level few Zambians of his generation did.

His story is therefore worth remembering, not just as political history, but as a lesson in wealth, ambition, risk and the importance of knowing where to concentrate your energy.