Bona Mugabe Lands Top Post As EmpowerBank Deputy Board Chair

Bona Mugabe Returns To EmpowerBank Leadership With Deputy Chair Appointment

Mrs Bona Chikore, daughter of the late former President Robert Mugabe, has landed a top post after being appointed Deputy Chairperson of the board of EmpowerBank. The appointment comes after a newly constituted seven-member board was approved by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire.

The development was formally announced on 6 March 2026 through Statutory Instrument 132 of 2026, issued by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Solomon Mhlanga.

The appointments will run for four years.

According to The Herald, the new board will be led by Mr William Chaitezvi, with Mrs Chikore serving as his deputy.

“Mrs Bona Chikore, daughter of the late former President Robert Mugabe, has been appointed deputy chairperson of the newly constituted EmpowerBank board,” the publication reported.

New EmpowerBank Board Announced

The board was appointed under the provisions of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act.

The appointments were made by Minister Machakaire as part of the process to constitute a new leadership structure for the youth-focused financial institution.

“The appointments, which carry a four-year tenure, were announced in Statutory Instrument 132 of 2026 by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Solomon Mhlanga,” the publication stated.

The board will be chaired by Mr William Chaitezvi.

Other members named to the board include Mrs Margaret Mupfiga, Mr Patience Matshe, Mr Ebrahim Ali Makunganya, Mr Marcos Nyaruwanga and Mr Peter Makotsi.

“The new board will be chaired by Mr William Chaitezvi, with Mrs Chikore serving as deputy chairperson,” the publication said.

Familiar Face At EmpowerBank

Mrs Chikore is not new to the institution.

She previously served on the board of EmpowerBank when it was approved by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in May 2017.

Reports at the time indicated that the bank’s board included Mr Raymond Njanike as chairperson alongside several other members, including Mrs Chikore.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe approved the Empower Bank board which was chaired by Mr Raymond Njanike,” a report published on 30 May 2017 stated.

The same report indicated that the government had provided initial funding to support the bank’s operations.

“The bank has already received seed money of US$2.5 million (approximately R46.25 million) from Government, with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development committing an additional US$10 million (approximately R185 million).”

EmpowerBank was established to support youth entrepreneurs through access to financing and development programmes.

Mrs Chikore’s appointment to the deputy chairperson role places her among the key figures responsible for guiding the institution over the next four years.