Online Reporter
Business Reporter
An excellence and innovation awards event held at a local hotel last Friday night, under the theme “Innovate, Impact, Inspire”, set the tone for a new celebration of Zimbabwe’s young business leadership.
At the centre of the spotlight was ZIMCN Investments group chairman, Engineer Collins Takunda Mnangagwa, who was named among the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe (ICDZ) 40 Under 40 Innovative Business Leaders in the 2026 edition.
This was a recognition that points to leadership measured by values, ethics and regard for others, not just business numbers.
Speaking to The Herald Finance and Business, Eng Mnangagwa saluted the ICDZ for recognising his contribution to the local business space as well as to community development.
“It’s one thing investing your time in business development and another getting the recognition from industry stakeholders,” he said.
“We are grateful to ICDZ for this honour and we pledge to continue serving our nation with diligence.”
As chairman of ZIMCN, Eng Mnangagwa leads a diversified group with interests spanning mining, drilling and exploration, energy and logistics, sectors where governance and discipline determine whether opportunities translate into sustainable outcomes.
ICDZ’s acknowledgement of his professionalism, consistency, integrity and leadership reflects what stakeholders describe as steady stewardship across ZIMCN’s operational footprint.
Eng Mnangagwa intimated that his foundation was built on hard work, respect and responsibility.
“I am a firm believer in hard work, respect for others, giving back to the community and a never-say-die spirit that keeps me going even when everything looks blurred and bleak,” he said.
Even when public narratives try to simplify success into assumptions, his story speaks to competence earned through effort over time.
Eng Mnangagwa insists that influence cannot replace ability and that credibility is built through delivery.
“Even where family support exists, it is not a substitute for competence. I have never treated influence as a shortcut, or success as something that comes with the name,” he said, adding that his growth was shaped by operational discipline.
“My business and leadership reputation was built by showing up, working through operational challenges and making sure our ventures are run with discipline, accountability and care.”
Eng Mnangagwa’s leadership style is also human and relationship-driven, with the ability to work with different people without losing standards.
“I am one person who is at ease working with all and sundry, balancing firmness with respect and insisting that proper process matters as much as results,” he said.
“In community contexts, always value the need to engage with dignity, not entitlement, listening first and adapting to local ways of doing things.
“In the areas we work in, we do not approach community life as if it is a stage set; any meaningful engagement we undertake is anchored in respect.”
That ethic feeds into the way ZIMCN’s leadership is linked to community upliftment across Zimbabwe.
ICDZ’s award assessment highlighted Eng Mnangagwa’s regard for the less privileged through nationwide charitable and community interventions.
He framed corporate contribution as part of national development, describing giving as sustained responsibility rather than occasional spectacle.
“Our goal is not only profit, but positive transformation; we want to build social impact that can be felt in households,” he said. “I believe all support should be developmental.
“We don’t only focus on emergency interventions, but also invest in developmental support that ensures community-based and sustained solutions.”
Eng Mnangagwa’s community footprint includes food support programmes such as maize donations, youth empowerment through skills training, including first aid and ambulance technician training and support for alluvial miners through access to advanced mining equipment.
Peter Tanyanyiwa