Massive shake-up at BAT Zimbabwe
SAMANTHA MADE
British American Tobacco Zimbabwe has overhauled its top leadership in a strategic reset aimed at accelerating the company’s transformation programme, restoring resilience in a fast-changing market, and delivering long-term value for shareholders.
The corporate shake-up was revealed by company secretary Takudzwa Mashanda ,who confirmed the departure of Managing Director Kenneth Gitoriga and Finance Director Lucy Irungu.
Their exits mark the end of a brief but intense period of executive stewardship that coincided with mounting regulatory pressures, declining formal-sector cigarette sales, and a surge in illicit trade that has complicated the operating landscape.
Gitoriga and Irungu , both appointed on 26 March 2024, were central to BAT Zimbabwe’s attempt to stabilise the business following years of volume volatility, tightening fiscal measures, and shifting consumer behaviour.
In announcing their departure, the Board expressed gratitude for what it described as their “significant and exemplary contribution to the Company.”
Mashanda noted that ‘ Gitoriga, who was appointed as a director on 26 March 2024, also served as the General Manager, South African Markets. He brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to BAT Zimbabwe, owing to the breadth of experience having worked in various roles across multiple markets.”
Irungu’s tenure focused on rebuilding the financial backbone of the company at a time when Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic environment demanded heightened risk management and sharper discipline in capital allocation.
” Irungu joined the Board on 26 March 2024 as Finance Director,” Mashanda said. “She has played a pivotal role in building financial leadership, strengthening organisational and risk management, and securing the company’s fundamentals and long-term sustainability.”
In a move designed to inject fresh strategic momentum, BAT Zimbabwe announced the appointment of Rumbidzai Hondora as Managing Director and Tumisang Lebogang (FCCA) as Finance Director, both effective 1 January 2026. The appointments mark a significant milestone in the company’s multi-year push to modernise operations and reposition its product portfolio.
According to the company, ” Hondora brings demonstrated leadership, sound business acumen and deep commercial and brand technical expertise to drive the next phase of BAT Zimbabwe’s transformation.”
Hondora is a seasoned BAT executive with deep roots across the group’s regional operations. Prior to her promotion, she served as Head of Marketing Deployment for BAT East and Southern Africa Markets, based in Kenya. Her previous roles include Regional Manager for BAT South Africa, Head of Trade and Marketing for BAT Zimbabwe, and Head of Business Development and Marketing for Southern African Markets in Mozambique, giving her exposure to diverse regulatory and commercial environments.
Lebogang, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), brings strong financial stewardship credentials at a time when multinational corporations operating in Zimbabwe face increased scrutiny, currency volatility, and rising compliance costs.
The leadership overhaul forms part of BAT Zimbabwe’s broader effort to reconfigure its structure, sharpen operational efficiencies, and align with BAT plc’s global ambition to transition toward a more diversified, sustainability-driven tobacco and nicotine business.
The company said it is implementing “structural optimisation initiatives” to strengthen its strategic execution and accelerate its evolution into what it calls a “future-fit enterprise” capable of withstanding regulatory shocks and competitive disruptions.
