NRZ ditches GM role, new CEO set to take over April 1

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is poised to appoint a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from April 1, marking a major departure from its long-standing general manager structure.

The move signals a significant shift in the governance model of the parastatal as it intensifies efforts to strengthen leadership, improve accountability, and accelerate ongoing reforms aimed at reviving the rail operator.

The transition follows the departure of former general manager Respina Zinyanduko, who stepped down on January 31, 2025, paving the way for interim leadership arrangements. Subsequently, the NRZ board appointed Ainah Dube-Kaguru as acting general manager pending the appointment of a substantive head.

Sources within the board have indicated that the shift to a CEO-led structure is now imminent, with Munyaradzi Charangwa tipped to take over the reins.

"We are soon to have a substantive CEO, a sharp departure from a GM by April 1," a source revealed. "Munyaradzi Charangwa, formerly an Investments Officer at Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), and with prior experience at Old Mutual, is set to join NRZ as CEO. A formal announcement will be made soon."

The source added that Charangwa has already begun engaging with key stakeholders, including the NRZ board chairperson, and is expected to meet the full board later this week in Harare.

However, NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura declined to comment on the developments, citing procedural limitations.

"I am not in a position to comment on those matters as they are well above my mandate," he said. "These are matters for the board and the shareholder, who reserve the right of disclosures. I plead for patience on the press' part."

NRZ is among nearly 30 State-owned enterprises whose assets were transferred to capitalise the Mutapa Investment Fund, as Government seeks to unlock value and enhance the performance of public entities.

The rail operator is currently undergoing a comprehensive recapitalisation programme aimed at restoring operational efficiency and improving service delivery. Key interventions include the procurement of locomotives, wagons and coaches to boost capacity, as well as the rehabilitation of track infrastructure, signalling systems, and electrical networks.

In addition, NRZ is upgrading its plant and equipment while modernising its information and communication technology systems—part of a broader strategy to reposition the entity as a reliable backbone of Zimbabwe's logistics and transport sector.

The anticipated appointment of a CEO is widely seen as a critical step in aligning NRZ with modern corporate governance practices and driving the turnaround of one of the country's most strategic State-owned enterprises.