Calls grow for engineers to take leading role in Zimbabwe's economic leadership

Debate is intensifying over Zimbabwe's leadership model, with growing calls for engineers and other technically trained professionals to play a more prominent role in government, state enterprises and corporate boardrooms as the country seeks a path to re-industrialisation.

Proponents of the shift argue that Zimbabwe's leadership space has long been dominated by chartered accountants, lawyers and political scientists, a trend they say has encouraged risk-averse decision-making and prioritised low-risk investments such as property development over productive industrial activity.

Advocates point to globally respected Zimbabwean business leaders Ralph Mupita, the MTN Group chief executive officer, and telecoms billionaire Strive Masiyiwa as examples of how engineering backgrounds can translate into transformative leadership. Both men are trained engineers and are widely credited with building and managing complex, large-scale enterprises in challenging environments.

Supporters of greater technical leadership argue that engineers are trained to solve problems, manage complex systems and take calculated risks — qualities they believe are essential for rebuilding Zimbabwe's manufacturing base and reviving industrial capacity.

"If Zimbabwe were to move away from the dominance of chartered accountants and lawyers in executive management and boardrooms, we might see less capital being channelled into low-risk property development," said one industry analyst. "With more engineers in leadership, there could be a stronger appetite for innovation, productive risk-taking and enterprise."

Critics of the current leadership culture say an overemphasis on financial control and legal compliance has resulted in cautious decision-making that preserves existing value rather than creating new industries. They argue that this approach has limited investment in sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, energy and technology, which are seen as critical to long-term economic growth.

The debate has also extended to government, with particular criticism directed at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Analysts say the ministry has fallen short in driving a coherent industrial strategy capable of restoring Zimbabwe's productive base, despite repeated policy pronouncements.

"There is a growing sense that industrial policy is being designed without sufficient technical input from people who understand production systems, supply chains and industrial processes," said another observer.

Supporters of reform emphasise that the push for engineers in leadership is not a rejection of accountants or lawyers, but rather a call for balance and diversity in decision-making. They argue that while financial and legal expertise remains important, it should be complemented by technical and engineering perspectives to drive innovation-led growth.

As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with deindustrialisation, unemployment and low productivity, the debate over who should lead its economic recovery is likely to intensify, with increasing attention on whether a more technically driven leadership culture could help steer the country toward sustainable industrial development.