An awards event themed “Innovate, Impact, Inspire” took place Friday night at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare. The event honoured Zimbabwe’s top young business leaders, recognising ZIM-CHINA (ZIMCN) Investments Chairman Engineer Collins Takunda Mnangagwa among the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe (ICDZ) 40 Under 40 Innovative Business Leaders for 2026.
Organisers said the recognition highlights professionalism, consistency, and values-driven leadership. It underlines business performance guided by ethics and community concerns, aligning with Africa’s demand for accountable, credible, and conscious leadership.
Engineer Collins leads a diversified group spanning mining, drilling, exploration, energy, and logistics sectors, where effective leadership means discipline, governance, and innovation. ICDZ’s recognition highlighted his integrity, consistency, and leadership, qualities that have driven ZIMCN’s steady success.
When elaborating on what sustains his business leadership, Mnangagwa emphasised a philosophy anchored in hard work, respect and service. “I am a firm believer in hard work, respect for others, giving back to the community and a never-say-die spirit. Running a business is no stroll in the park, but I am glad that my strength of character, coupled with a shared unit of purpose, has helped us attain measurable success,” he said.
Engineer Collins maintains that success is earned through competence and operational focus, not influence or privilege, despite public assumptions.
“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 credibility is built through delivery and care.
“My business and leadership reputation were built by showing up, working through operational challenges, and making sure ventures are run with discipline, accountability, and care.”
As Board Chairman at ZIMCHINA Investments (ZimCn), which includes KGK Energy and other ventures, Engineer Collins oversees sustainable mining operations and compliance. As CEO of KGK, which focuses on logistics, he views as crucial to infrastructure foundations for Africa’s growth.
He views innovation not as a slogan but as a practice built over time. “I didn’t just wake up with oversight over a diverse business portfolio. Everything that we are now managing and running took years of training, mentorship, and business discipline,” he said.
Mnangagwa noted that despite ongoing progress, the group’s current results reflect perseverance and long-term thinking. “We haven’t arrived yet, but the results to date are encouraging. We have continued to innovate and reinvent in sync with the dynamic trends of our various areas of interest,” he said.
The award also recognised his commitment to communities and the less privileged through charitable projects. Engineer Collins says business success must create social impact; giving is a responsibility, not a publicity act.
“Our goal is not only profit, but positive transformation, to build social impact that can be felt in households,” he said, adding that support must be developmental and sustained, not random. “We don’t only focus on emergency interventions but also invest in developmental support that ensures community-based and sustained solutions.”
Mnangagwa’s community work includes food support programmes such as maize donations, youth skills training in first aid and ambulance technology, and backing alluvial miners with advanced equipment. He has also aided disadvantaged families through TAZ co-patronage and mentored young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams confidently.
“Some of our community-related initiatives include maize donations, funding skills training for the less privileged, helping alluvial miners, co-patronage and mentorship programmes,” he said.
Beyond business and charity, Engineer Collins’ leadership reflects humility, discipline, and respect for people, including cultural norms where he operates. In his business dealings, he leads from the front.
“My leadership style is that of leading from the front, getting actively involved in the operations of the business, and meaningful engagement begins with understanding 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 must be anchored in respect,” he said.
The ICDZ recognition builds on previous awards for mining, board leadership, and operational excellence: Mining Project of the Year (2022), Board Chairperson of the Year (2022, 2025), Young Corporate Director of the Year (2022), and Outstanding Gold Producer (2024).
For Engineer Collins, however, awards remain secondary to outcomes and purpose. “The truth is I have not been able to move forward on reputation alone; I have also earned credibility through recognised outcomes, awards, and operational performance,” he said.
Within the “Innovate, Impact, Inspire” framework, Engineer Collins embodies Pan-African ethical leadership by founding credible enterprises through disciplined innovation, supporting communities, and motivating others with respect and accountability. His core message: act with integrity, pursue legitimate business, and uplift the marginalised.
“My overall goal is to leave a lasting difference while simultaneously empowering the marginalised and advancing community development across Zimbabwe. I believe this is just the beginning, the best chapters are yet to come,” he said.
