Online Reporter
At a time when reproductive health, gender equity and demographic resilience sit at the heart of Zimbabwe’s development agenda, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFP) is undergoing a strategic renewal driven by seasoned professionals drawn from health, finance, law, governance, communications and public service.
This dynamic board and executive leadership team brings together decades of cumulative experience from frontline medical practice and military health services to corporate governance, banking, academia and public health programming.
Anchored by board chairperson Colonel (Dr) Lioba Tendai Gunduza, an accomplished scholar and former director of nursing services in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the board blends ethical scholarship, gender expertise and disciplined leadership.
Supporting her is vice chairperson Mr Saul Chin’anga, a veteran banker whose nearly three decades in financial services add strong fiscal oversight and strategic governance depth to the institution.
At the executive level, the chief executive officer Mr Farai Machinga brings more than a decade of public health programme leadership, particularly in reproductive health; adolescent sexual and reproductive health; HIV and AIDS; and gender-based violence prevention.
His operational acumen and inclusive leadership style align implementation with national priorities and global best practice.
The board is further reinforced by distinguished members, including medical practitioners with specialised expertise in women’s health and reproductive medicine, seasoned legal and compliance professionals and accomplished communications and stakeholder engagement strategists.
Together, they provide the policy direction, risk management oversight and strategic stewardship required to navigate today’s evolving health and governance landscape.
What follows are profiles of the individuals steering this strategic renewal and shaping the future of reproductive health governance in Zimbabwe.
Colonel (Dr) Lioba Gunduza
Board chairperson
She is a qualified general nurse, midwife, and community nurse. Prior to her transition to academia, she served as the director of nursing services in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, where her expertise and leadership left a lasting impact. Col (Dr) Gunduza embodies the qualities of an accomplished scholar and an esteemed professional, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her students and peers alike.
Mr Saul Chin’anga
Vice chairperson
Mr Saul Chin’anga holds a Master’s in Administration Business from the Zimbabwe Open University. He is also a certified electronic banking specialist as well as a holder of a Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers Zimbabwe.
Mr Saul Chin’anga is a seasoned career banker with over 28 years of experience in the financial services sector. He possesses a strong professional foundation in finance, accounting, and corporate governance, developed through senior leadership roles and extensive board-level exposure.
His expertise spans financial management, risk oversight, regulatory compliance, and strategic decision-making, enabling him to provide sound financial leadership and governance across complex institutions. He brings a well-rounded, practical, and disciplined financial perspective that supports sustainable growth, accountability, and institutional stability.
Mr Farai Machinga
Chief executive officer
Mr Farai Machinga, a holder of Master’s degree in Public Health, Bachelor of Science Special Honours degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, and Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Sociology, among other professional qualifications, has over 13 years of experience in managing, implementing and monitoring programmes in the areas of reproductive health, adolescent sexual reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence and family planning.
His leadership style combines operational precision with inclusive stakeholder engagement, safeguarding reproductive health rights, advancing gender equity, and supporting Zimbabwe’s broader socio-economic development agenda.
Dr Chipo Priscilla Maenzanise
Board member
Dr Chipo Priscilla Maenzanise is a medical practitioner with 29 years working experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
Dr Maenzanise has worked as a general medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, senior medical officer for the Zimbabwe National Army, and is now a general practitioner in private practice. Her area of interest is women’s health.
She has vast experience in family planning in the private sector, having been part of the ProFam network of service providers in the early 2000s, and more recently, part of the Blue Star network of service providers.
Ms Nyengeterai Mangidza
Board member
Ms Nyengeterai Mangidza, is a legal practitioner by profession with over 15 years’ experience. She worked in private practice before moving to the corporate world, where most of her experience has been in the public sector.
Ms Mangidza is also a certified governance, risk and compliance practitioner as well as a certified data protection practitioner. She brings varied experience, which provides valuable perspectives to the legal, compliance and governance arenas.
She is passionate about fostering a culture of excellence in good corporate governance within organisations through nurturing positive relationships among employees and subsequently with their various stakeholders.
Dr Lucia Gondongwe
Board member
Dr Lucia Gondongwe holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Zimbabwe, FCOG (SA), Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (UZ), and an MPH (AU).
Dr Gondongwe practiced as a general practitioner for more than eight years. She has more than nine years work experience as a specialist obstetrics and gynaecologist with a successful private practice. She is the deputy director (Reproductive Health) in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, where she has been for the past five years.
Ms Paidamwoyo Chipunza
Board member
Ms Paidamwoyo Clover Chipunza is an accomplished communications and stakeholder relations professional with over 15 years’ experience spanning public relations, strategic communications, brand management and stakeholder engagement.
Her career includes an extensive journalism background, having served as a senior health journalist for more than a decade, earning multiple national awards for excellence in reporting.
Ms Chipunza has also contributed to national health communication efforts through her leadership in Health Journalists Association of Zimbabwe, where she served as secretary general for five years.
She holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Corporate Governance, and a Master’s in International Relations, complemented by professional training in media management, strategic public relations, and leadership development.
Known for her creativity, strategic insight, and strong interpersonal skills, Ms Chipunza brings deep expertise in communication for development, organisational reputation management, and multi‑sector stakeholder
relations.
