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The NetOne board has resolved not to renew Chief Executive Officer Eng. Raphael Mushanawani’s five-year contract when it expires in September, TechnoMag can exclusively
By Toneo Toneo
The decision was made during a special board meeting held today, Friday, ending weeks of speculation over Mushanawani’s future at Zimbabwe’s state-owned mobile network operator.
Mushanawani, who was appointed CEO in 2021, began annual leave on July 13 and had been expected to return to work on August 13. However, sources close to the developments said he is not expected to resume his duties ahead of the expiry of his current contract.
The board has not yet issued an official statement confirming the decision or outlining the reasons for not extending his tenure.
The leadership decision follows months of speculation surrounding the company’s executive succession. While various explanations have circulated, including governance, operational and political considerations, none has been officially confirmed.
Mushanawani’s departure marks the end of one of the longest uninterrupted chief executive tenures at NetOne in recent years. He is the first CEO since Reward Kangai to complete a full five-year contract.
Before becoming CEO, Mushanawani joined NetOne in 2015 as Chief Information Officer and rose through the executive ranks before taking over the top position in 2021. His tenure focused on network expansion, digital transformation and strengthening the operator’s competitiveness in Zimbabwe’s telecommunications market.
History of Leadership Changes
NetOne has experienced frequent changes in executive leadership over the past decade.
Reward Kangai, the company’s founding Managing Director since 1996 , led the operator for approximately two decades following the separation of the former Posts and Telecommunications Corporation into NetOne, TelOne and Zimpost. His tenure ended amid governance disputes and corruption investigations that culminated in his dismissal in 2026,
In December 2017 Kangai wrote a report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa alleging that Supa Mandiwanzira had captured NetOne and POTRAZ.[2] The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commissioncommissioner Goodson Nguniannounced in January 2018 that Mandiwanzira had been cleared by the ZACC investigations and that instead, they wanted to arrest Kangai himself. Kangai was subsequently arrested
He was fired by the Alex Marufu led board
Brian Mutandiro took over in 2016 as the shortest living CEO before him and 9 other executives were fired by the board and Chipo Jaisontook over its interim
In April 2018 Lazarus Muchenje was appointed substantive Chief Executive, he however was on a collision path with former minister Supa Mandiwanzira forcing him to be arrested again under frivolous charges forcing him to be arrested in 2018 before being subsequently fired in 2020.
He was reinstated by minister Kazembe Kazembe after he took over as the new minister for Supa.
NetOne Ex CEO Muchenje Finally Acquitted
After spending 4 years in and out of courts, the embattled former NetOne chief executive officer Mr Lazarus Muchenje and seven top executives have been acquitted by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe after being found not guilty on numerous charges levelled against them.
He was ruffling feathers with the Susan Mutangadura board
The others acquitted on the same case are former NetOne board member, Chakona, interconnection and roaming manager Tawanda Sibanda, acting chief finance officer Tinashe Severa, chief technology officer Darlinton Gutu, chief operating officer Spencer Manguwa, Acting chief legal officer Tanyaradzwa Chingombe, and Charmaine Kadenhe who was an intern.
Mushanawani then came as the substantive CEO in 2021. He joined NetOne in 2015 as the chief information technology officer and rose through the ranks to become the chief executive officer.
He was subsequently fired by Eng. T. Maurikira led board
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