Harare, (New Ziana) – The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has appointed seasoned investment and infrastructure expert Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, in a move aimed at revitalizing the country’s rail transport system.
NRZ Board Chairperson Dr. Misheck Sibanda announced the appointment during a meeting with senior management in Bulawayo, underscoring the strategic importance of strong leadership in steering the parastatal towards recovery and growth.
Charangwa brings more than two decades of international experience spanning multi-asset investment management, infrastructure development, and business turnaround strategies.
His professional footprint covers emerging and frontier markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, positioning him as a key figure in NRZ’s transformation agenda.
Before his appointment, Charangwa held senior roles including Head of Investments at the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and Old Mutual, and also served as a Government Investment Advisor to NRZ and other state enterprises.
Dr Sibanda said Charangwa’s immediate mandate includes mobilizing capital for recapitalization, modernizing infrastructure, and improving rolling stock and operational systems to enhance service reliability and customer satisfaction.
He is also expected to undertake a comprehensive operational review targeting inefficiencies, cost containment, and strengthened safety standards.
“The expectation is for decisive leadership that enforces sound corporate governance, promotes transparency, and tackles corruption while ensuring full compliance with statutory frameworks,” said Dr Sibanda.
Echoing these sentiments, Ernest Denhere, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Mutapa Investment Fund, described railway infrastructure as a critical national and regional asset. He emphasized its central role in Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and in facilitating regional trade through key north-south logistics corridors.
Meanwhile, Ainah Dube-Kaguru has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer after serving as Acting General Manager for the past year. She previously held the position of Chief Operations Officer since 2023.
NRZ expressed confidence that the combined expertise of Charangwa and Dube-Kaguru will accelerate the organization’s turnaround, strengthen operational performance, and reposition the railway company as a backbone of Zimbabwe’s transport and logistics sector.
The appointment comes at a critical time as NRZ seeks to reclaim its status as a vital enabler of industrial growth, trade connectivity, and regional integration.
New Ziana
