BULAWAYO – Misheck Sibanda, the former chief secretary to the president and cabinet, has been appointed chairman of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), marking his return to public service after retirement.
He replaces Mike Madiro, who was at the helm for two years following his appointment in September 2023.
Sibanda, who served under the late President Robert Mugabe and briefly as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chief secretary, was unveiled at the NRZ headquarters in Bulawayo on Thursday before holding a closed-door meeting with management.
He revealed that he was in the middle of writing his memoirs when he was asked to take up the role by Mnangagwa.
“I thought I had left government after working for so many years. I was starting to write my books, but I was told, ‘you can write later, go and help,’” Sibanda said.
He pledged to rally the workforce around a shared vision, describing NRZ as an institution with deep expertise and untapped potential.
“Let’s work in unity as a team to bring NRZ back to where it should be. The team is composed of very knowledgeable people and this will be shown very soon,” he said.
Sibanda also acknowledged the support of the Mutapa Investment Fund, which now oversees NRZ, and its head John Mangudya, in efforts to stabilise and revive the parastatal.
He further urged the media to keep highlighting the challenges and progress at NRZ, saying public scrutiny was vital to the success of its turnaround programme.
NRZ, once a backbone of Zimbabwe’s transport system, has struggled for decades with ageing infrastructure, a depleted fleet, mounting debts and declining freight volumes. Attempts at recapitalisation, including partnerships with private investors, have repeatedly stalled.
The government has since placed NRZ under the Mutapa Investment Fund, a state-owned sovereign wealth vehicle, in a bid to inject fresh oversight and attract investment.
In parallel, Zimbabwe is engaged in ongoing talks with China Railway Group over a proposed US$600 million package to modernise infrastructure and procure new locomotives and wagons.
The deal, if concluded, would be one of the largest investments in the parastatal in decades, and is expected to form a cornerstone of its long-term turnaround strategy.
The appointment of Sibanda, known for his long administrative experience, comes as the parastatal seeks to reposition itself as a viable player in regional rail transport.
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