FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, United Kingdom |8, July 2026
Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Mutapa Investment Fund, Zimbabwe, has been honoured with the African Sovereign Investment Leadership Excellence Award at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2026. The prestigious accolade recognises his strategic stewardship of Zimbabwe’s sovereign wealth fund and his distinguished career in economic management and national development.
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Presented during the African Leadership Magazine Africa Summit in London, the award celebrates Dr Mangudya’s exceptional leadership in transforming the Mutapa Investment Fund into a commercially disciplined, transparent, and high-performing institution that is catalysing infrastructure development and economic growth in Zimbabwe.
Dr Mangudya was appointed to lead the Mutapa Investment Fund on 1 May 2024, following a decade of service as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe from 2014 to 2024. With over 38 years of experience spanning banking, economic research, and corporate governance, including key roles as Chief Economist at the Reserve Bank, international banker at Afreximbank, and Group CEO of CBZ Bank, he has brought unparalleled expertise to the helm of Zimbabwe’s sovereign wealth vehicle.
Under his leadership, the Mutapa Investment Fund, which oversees more than 30 state-owned enterprises, has undergone a remarkable financial turnaround. The fund achieved a 503 percent surge in surplus after tax for the 2025 financial year, increasing profits to US$21.67 million, with total assets closing at US$16.5 billion. This performance was anchored by securing over US$1 billion in infrastructure financing deals during 2025, focused on energy grid rehabilitation, logistics upgrades, and national asset enhancement.
Demonstrating a commitment to long-term strategic growth and global best practices, Dr. Mangudya has established a further US$1.075 billion project pipeline for execution throughout 2026, leveraging public-private partnerships to unlock value. In January 2026, he formally committed the fund to the Santiago Principles, aligning Zimbabwe’s sovereign investment framework with international benchmarks for transparency, governance, and accountability.
The African Business Leadership Awards recognise outstanding individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence are shaping Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
Media Contact
King Richard Igimoh,
Group Editor,
African Leadership Magazine, United Kingdom | Africa
Email: editor@africanleadership.co.uk
Website: www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk
