Sugar Chagonda appointed ZBC Chief Executive Officer

Ivan Zhakata

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has appointed Mr Sugar Chagonda as its substantive Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2025.

Announcing the appointment, the ZBC Board said Mr Chagonda, a seasoned media strategist and corporate affairs executive, brings over two decades of experience and a track record of transformative leadership to the national broadcaster.

Mr Chagonda began his broadcasting career at ZBC in 2004, before moving to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) in 2009 as Head of Corporate Affairs, where he led campaigns positioning Zimbabwe as a global tourism destination.

In 2018, he joined the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) as Corporate Affairs Executive, driving corporate governance and strategic communications for the State-owned mining entity.

Beyond corporate leadership, he has been active in sports development, serving on the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board and as founding Secretary General of Manica Diamonds Football Club, where he focused on youth empowerment and athletic excellence.

Mr Chagonda holds a Social Studies Degree from the University of Zimbabwe, a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Governance from Africa University and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Midlands State University.

ZBC board chairperson Ms Helliate Rushwaya expressed confidence in his appointment and said the national broadcaster is poised for a new chapter of growth and improved content delivery.

“While we have made progress in terms of refurbishing our studios here at Pockets and Montrose studios, there is still much work to be done,” she said.

“With our current team in place, we are poised to focus on producing high-quality television content that showcases the Zimbabwean story. Historically, ZBC has lagged behind in terms of telling the Zimbabwean story.

“We are committed to changing the negative narrative about Zimbabwe and elevating our news bulletins to meet international standards in terms of aesthetics and delivery. I am confident that our capable team will soon bring about noticeable changes on our screens.”