HARARE – ZESA Holdings has announced a major leadership shake-up following the sudden death of its long-serving Executive Chairman, Dr. Sydney Gata. The new appointments come at a time when the state-owned power utility is undergoing significant structural and governance reforms under the Mutapa Investment Fund umbrella.
In an internal circular seen by this publication, ZESA confirmed that Vice Chairman Albert Joel Nduna will take over as interim Board Chairman, while seasoned electrical engineer Cletus Nyachowe has been appointed Acting Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO). These interim positions will guide the utility through a transitional period as government pushes forward with a rebundling strategy to modernise the country’s energy sector.
The changes mark the end of ZESA’s Executive Chairman model—a legacy structure held by Dr. Gata—and pave the way for a new governance framework that separates the roles of Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in line with contemporary corporate best practices.
Engineer Nyachowe assumed the role of acting CEO effective July 17 and is expected to lead the organisation’s operational functions as the company stabilises following Gata’s passing. He brings with him over three decades of experience within the power sector, having joined ZESA in 1988 and held a range of strategic positions. His career spans grid asset management, international energy projects, and leadership of ZESA’s telecoms arm, Powertel Communications.
ZESA Appoints Interim Leaders Following Dr. Gata’s Passing Amid Ongoing Restructuring
In addition to his engineering background, Nyachowe holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Zimbabwe and has played a key role in various regional renewable energy consultancy initiatives across the SADC region. He also currently serves on the board of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), adding regulatory oversight experience to his already robust leadership profile.
Albert Joel Nduna, now interim Board Chair, is a respected corporate executive with over 35 years of leadership experience across Zimbabwe’s public and private sectors. He currently chairs the Insurance and Pensions Commission and sits on multiple boards as a non-executive director. His experience in corporate governance and regulatory institutions is expected to complement Nyachowe’s operational focus.
ZESA’s Executive Director for Human Capital, Fortune Sambo, welcomed the appointments in a formal message to staff, expressing optimism about the transitional leadership team.
“Both Mr. Nduna and Engineer Nyachowe bring a wealth of corporate and sectoral knowledge that will be instrumental in steering ZESA forward,” Sambo said. “Their stewardship will ensure continuity as we align our operations with government’s Vision 2030 goals, particularly the drive toward total electrification and universal access to power and data.”
The leadership reshuffle comes at a critical moment for ZESA, which has faced mounting pressure to improve service delivery amid ongoing load-shedding, aging infrastructure, and financial challenges. While the utility recorded notable progress under Dr. Gata’s leadership—particularly in increasing generation capacity and initiating key partnerships—electricity supply remains inconsistent, and public frustration is high.
The new team is expected to maintain momentum on key projects, including the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s transmission and distribution networks, regional energy integration, and engagement with independent power producers (IPPs). Among the high-priority initiatives is the continued rehabilitation and expansion of the national grid to support economic growth and rural electrification.
ZESA is currently operating under the Mutapa Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth vehicle designed to streamline the governance of state-owned enterprises. As part of this arrangement, several parastatals are being restructured to enhance efficiency, attract private investment, and reduce dependency on government subsidies.
The rebundling of ZESA is expected to re-establish distinct entities for generation, transmission, distribution, and ICT services—moving away from the vertically integrated structure of the past. These reforms are designed to introduce clearer accountability lines and foster a more competitive energy market.
While the appointments of Nduna and Nyachowe are interim, a formal search process for permanent replacements is already underway. According to sources within the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, the recruitment drive will seek leaders with proven ability to navigate Zimbabwe’s complex energy landscape and deliver measurable progress on national electrification goals.
Further announcements regarding the selection of permanent office bearers are expected in the coming months.
In the meantime, all eyes will be on the new interim leadership to stabilise operations, reassure stakeholders, and drive forward the ambitious energy reform agenda set out under Vision 2030.
Source- Bulawayo24
