The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has announced the appointment of Mr Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2026. NRZ Board Chairperson Dr Misheck Sibanda announced the appointment during a meeting with senior management in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Mr Charangwa brings over 20 years of global experience in multi-asset investment management, programme and project management, and business turnaround strategies. His expertise spans infrastructure development, capital resource mobilisation, and business performance optimisation, with a focus on emerging and frontier markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Previously, Mr Charangwa served as Head of Investments at ZIDA and Old Mutual, and as Government Investment Advisor to NRZ and other state-owned enterprises.
Mr Charangwa holds a BA (Hons.) in Management from Leeds University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Project Management from the University of Huddersfield, and an MSc in Investment Analysis (with Distinction) from the University of Stirling.
The NRZ Board Chairperson stated that Mr Charangwa is tasked with ensuring recapitalisation and resource mobilisation to secure modern infrastructure, rolling stock, and systems to improve reliability and customer service. He is expected to lead a comprehensive review of NRZ operations, including eliminating inefficiencies, implementing rigorous cost-cutting measures, and safeguarding service quality and safety.
The Board Chairperson further highlighted that the new Chief Executive Officer is expected to effect sound governance systems, uphold transparency, address corruption decisively, and strictly adhere to statutory frameworks.
Mutapa Investment Fund Deputy Chief Investment Officer Mr Ernest Denhere said Mr Charangwa is expected to turn around NRZ’s fortunes, noting that railway infrastructure is a strategic national and regional asset, central not only to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery but also to regional trade, promoting north–south corridors, transit, logistics and integration within Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ainah Dube-Kaguru, who has been acting as General Manager for the past year, has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She has served as NRZ’s substantive Chief Operations Officer since 2023.
NRZ stated that the combined expertise and experience of Mr Charangwa and Mrs Dube-Kaguru are expected to support the company’s growth and transformation.
