HARARE – National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) Chief Executive Officer Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa has resigned on medical grounds, barely two months after taki...
HARARE – National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) Chief Executive Officer Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa has resigned on medical grounds, barely two months after taking over the leadership of the state-owned railway operator. The resignation was confirmed by the NRZ board, which announced that Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ainah Dube-Kaguru will serve as acting CEO while a substantive replacement is sought.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NRZ board said Charangwa had stepped down from his position with immediate effect due to ill health. The board said it had accepted his resignation and wished him a speedy recovery.
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“The board of directors of NRZ wishes to inform the nation and valued stakeholders that Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa has stepped down from his role as chief executive officer on medical grounds, effective immediately,” the board said.
To ensure continuity of operations at the railway company, the board appointed Dube-Kaguru as acting chief executive officer. She will lead the organisation while the recruitment process for a substantive CEO is undertaken. Dube-Kaguru is also the substantive chief operations officer and has previously served in acting leadership positions within the organisation.
Charangwa assumed office on April 1, 2026, becoming the first executive appointed under NRZ’s new chief executive officer structure, which replaced the long-standing general manager model. His appointment was viewed as part of efforts to strengthen corporate governance and improve accountability within the railway operator.
Before his appointment, Charangwa held senior positions in investment management and public-sector advisory services. He previously served at the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), Old Mutual, and also worked as a government investment adviser to NRZ and other state-owned enterprises.
During his brief tenure, Charangwa was expected to spearhead the recapitalisation and turnaround of the railway company. His mandate included mobilising resources for modern infrastructure, locomotives, wagons and other railway systems to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.
Soon after taking office, he outlined plans to conduct a diagnostic review of the organisation and develop a revised turnaround strategy. Among his priorities was increasing the movement of bulk cargo by rail and improving the company’s financial performance amid growing demand from the mining and agricultural sectors.
His departure comes as NRZ continues to pursue a turnaround programme aimed at restoring the railway operator’s capacity and competitiveness. Current plans include the rehabilitation of railway infrastructure, signalling systems, communication networks and the acquisition of additional rolling stock. The company is also pursuing recapitalisation initiatives to improve service delivery and freight volumes.
NRZ board chairperson Misheck Sibanda said the leadership transition would not affect the organisation’s strategic direction. According to the board, efforts to modernise rail infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and implement approved turnaround plans will continue despite the change in leadership.
The railway company remains one of the state-owned enterprises under the Mutapa Investment Fund and is regarded as an important part of Zimbabwe’s transport and logistics sector. NRZ has been working to increase freight traffic, improve railway operations and strengthen its role in supporting trade and economic activity.
The board did not indicate when a substantive chief executive officer would be appointed. However, Dube-Kaguru is expected to oversee operations and continue implementing the company’s turnaround strategy during the transition period.
