National Railways of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Munyaradzi Stephen Charangwa has resigned on medical grounds just two months after assuming leadership of the state-owned rail operator.
The resignation was confirmed by the NRZ board on Tuesday, which also announced the appointment of deputy chief executive officer Ainah Dube-Kaguru as acting CEO while the process of recruiting a substantive replacement gets underway.
Charangwa took 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 system.
In a statement, the board expressed appreciation for Charangwa's contribution during his brief tenure and wished him a speedy recovery.
"The board thanks Mr Charangwa for his contribution to the National Railways of Zimbabwe and wishes him a full and speedy recovery," the statement said.
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His departure comes at a critical time for NRZ as the parastatal pushes ahead with an ambitious recapitalisation programme aimed at restoring rail transport capacity through the acquisition of locomotives, wagons and passenger coaches, as well as the rehabilitation of rail infrastructure, signalling systems and communication networks.
Before joining NRZ, Charangwa built a career in investment management and public sector advisory services, holding senior positions at the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, Old Mutual and several state-owned enterprises.
Upon taking office, he outlined plans to spend his first 100 days conducting a comprehensive assessment of the organisation to inform a revised turnaround strategy.
Among his priorities was repositioning rail transport as the preferred mode for bulk cargo movement, particularly for the mining and agricultural sectors, which continue to drive demand for freight services.
Taking over in an acting capacity, Dube-Kaguru brings extensive experience within the organisation. She previously served as acting general manager before being appointed deputy chief executive officer and remains the substantive chief operations officer, a position she has held since 2023.
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