Management Team

Thomas Zondo Sakala is an experienced Development Banker. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and an M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He was appointed the CEO of the IDBZ in September 2015. He has worked in, and with, African Countries all through his professional career. He left the African Development Bank (AfDB) in October 2014 after a career spanning 31 years and acquired a broad network of contacts, which aspect is invaluable in the Bank`s resource mobilization initiatives. His last official position was Vice President, Country and Regional Programmes. As Vice-President for Programmes in the AfDB, he had broad oversight of the dialogue between the Bank and all African countries. His responsibilities included coordination of the preparation and approval of the country and regional strategies and programmes in Africa.

Previously he had held such positions as Manager, Social Sector & Microfinance Projects in East Africa; Manager, Education Projects for North, East and Southern Africa; Resident Representative in Nigeria; Director, Reforms Implementation; Director, Programming, Budget and Strategy; and, Acting Vice President, Corporate Services.

Cassius Gambinga holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons.) Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors of Zimbabwe. As the Finance Director Cassius Gambinga is responsible for the financial strategy of the Bank which includes management of lines of credit, external audit assurance services and the treasury operations.

Reggie Dangarembwa is an experienced banker who has been in the financial services sector for more than 25 years. He is a holder of a Doctorate in Business Administration, Masters in Business Administration, Masters in Business Intelligence and a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Economics. In addition, Reggie has several development finance, corporate banking and trade finance certificates obtained from various international institutions.

Reggie commenced his banking career with Zimbabwe Banking Corporation as a trainee graduate and later moved to Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe where he worked as a Credit and Advances Manager in the Corporate Banking Department. In year 2000, he joined Afra- Asia Bank as a Relationship Manager in Corporate Banking and Business Development Department. He was elevated to the position of Divisional Director in the same Department in 2004 until he left in 2008 and joined Tetrad Investment Bank as General Manager responsible for Corporate Banking & Trade Finance. In 2011 he joined the Infrastructure and Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) as Head of Corporate Banking Department and moved to head the Bank’s Credit and Policies Department in 2020. In October 2023, he was promoted to Director responsible for the Bank’s Infrastructure Projects Department.

Engineer Nicodimus Chidhakwa is a holder of Master of Science Degree in Renewable Energy, Masters Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering. He has experience, skills and competence in Electrical Power Systems Planning, Design and Project Management which he gained while working for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and its subsidiaries in various Regions and in diverse capacities as follows; Postgraduate Trainee Engineer, ZESA Corporate Affairs, Harare (July 2000 to December 2001); Planning, Design and Projects Engineer, ZETDC Southern Region, Gweru (January 2002 to June 2005); Senior/Principal Engineer Projects, ZETDC Western Region, Bulawayo (July 2005 to November 2006); and Section Engineer/Network Development Engineer Planning, Design and Construction, ZETDC Eastern Region, Mutare (December 2006 to October 2009). He was Team Leader for the Development of Albert Luthuli Municipality Electrical Distribution, Operations and Maintenance Master Plan (March 2010 to September 2010) in South Africa on part time consultancy while doing his Masters Degree studies as well as a fixed term contract with Rousant International in Tanzania as Senior Projects & Resident Engineer for a turnkey project (March 2011 to April 2012), then moved to Namibia as Senior Electrical Engineer for Kavango East and West Regional Councils, Directorate of Planning and Development Services, Technical Division (May 2014 to December 2017). 

In the Renewable Energy Sector through research, consultancy and work, Engineer Nicodimus Chidhakwa gained skills and competence in Feasibility, Design, Installation, Supervision, Commissioning, Evaluation/Review, Maintenance & Repair of Solar PV Systems, Solar Water Pumping, Solar Water Heating, Biomass, Biogas and Hydro Power. As Network Development Engineer for ZETDC Eastern Region (December 2006 to October 2009), he was responsible for Renewable Energy Projects Power System Studies and Coordination, that is Power Purchase Agreements, Grid Impact & Interconnection Technical, Economic, Social, Environmental, Legal, Institutional and Administrative Frameworks in the Region. He was contracted as an Individual Consultant for Mass Dissemination of Biogas Feasibility Studies by SNV Zimbabwe and was part of the technical team to recommend the adoption of some technical specifications for biogas plants from Tanzania (November 2012 to April 2013).  He was also involved in Project Management for several off-grid renewable energy energisation for the Namibian Government infrastructure as Senior Electrical Engineer (May 2013 to December 2017).

Engineer Nicodimus Chidhakwa expanded his Building Services Infrastructure skills in feasibility, technical documentation, tendering, contract and project quality assurances, commissioning, operations, maintenance, review and evaluation while working for the Namibian Government’s Ministry of Works and Transport, Project Coordinator for Ministry of Defence Projects in Windhoek (June 2013 to May 2014), and Regional Projects Coordinator for Line Ministries/Organs and Agents for Kavango East and West Regions, Rundu (June 2014 to December 2017). He was then appointed as Deputy Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Kavango East Regional Council, Rundu, Namibia (June 2019 to June 2021) where he superintended in creating a new Division comprising of Regional and Town Planning, Public Works Inspectorate and Maintenance, Engineering Services, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Education and Health Regional Infrastructure Building and Maintenance. 

As the IDBZ Director for Infrastructure Projects 2.0. (Transport, Water & Sanitation, ICT, Public Sector Investment Programme, Projects Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation),  he brings a wealth of expertise in Project Documentation, Project Management, Contract Administration, Procurement of Works and Services, Strategic Planning & Management, Corporate Governance and Ethics, Financial and Economic Analysis of Developmental Projects.

Willing is a holder of a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons.) Degree from the University of Zimbabwe and a qualified Chartered Accountant with diverse professional experience covering audit, accounting, investment banking, lending and structured finance. He has worked in middle and senior managerial positions for KPMG Corporate Finance, NMB Bank Limited and Sagit Finance House Limited; and then as Partner at AMG Global Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe) in charge of the firm’s Corporate Finance practice. Prior to joining the IDBZ, Willing was in the Cayman Islands where he gained 7 years of alternative investments experience whilst working for the Citco Group, the world’s largest hedge funds administrator. He brings strong insights into alternative investment platforms, including knowledge of fund structures, investment strategies and complex financial products.

He is responsible for driving the Bank’s Resource Mobilisation Strategy, which includes initiatives to scale up and broaden the Bank’s capital base; establishing and nurturing strategic partnerships with other DFIs and Multilateral Institutions; debt issuances; Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Climate Finance initiatives.

Phillip Tadiwa is a registered Legal Practitioner, Conveyancer and Notary Public with the High Court of Zimbabwe. He is a holder of a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree (LLBS), a Bachelor of a Science Honours Degree in Sociology (BScHSO), a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a post graduate Diploma in Law “Conciliation and Arbitration” all from the University of Zimbabwe. Mr. Tadiwa has over 20 years’ experience in Strategic Management, Strategic Human Resources Management, Industrial Relations practice, Change Management, legal advisory services, and labour law advisory services.  He previously worked for Delta Beverages and the Agricultural Finance Corporation of Zimbabwe (AFC) (former Agribank). He joined the IDBZ as its Head of Human Resources & Capacity Building in June 2008 and was appointed Director Corporate Services and Human Resources in 2016 before assuming his current role as Director Compliance, Review and Mediation.

Simbarashe Makombera is a holder of a Master of Commerce in Management Degree from the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa). He also holds a Bachelor of Social Science Honours Degree in Human Resources Management (University of KwaZulu Natal) and a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Human Resources and Psychology (University of Natal).

Simba is a qualified Human Resources Practitioner with diverse professional experience spanning over 15years. He has solid skills in strategy formulation and implementation; performance management; labour relations as well as policy development and implementation.

He is responsible for translating business vision into Human Resources and Administration Policies, Guidelines & Initiatives in order to improve employee engagement & performance; as well as Bank growth and profitability.

Mr. Makombera previously worked for the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC, former Agribank). He joined the IDBZ in October 2019 as Manager, Human Resources Division. He was promoted to the position of Director, Corporate Services and Human Resources in 2023.

He is a member of the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ).