A defining figure in Zimbabwe’s evolving financial sector, Margaret Chipunza exemplifies principle-driven financial leadership.
As Chief Finance Officer at NMB Bank Limited, she leverages over two decades of expertise across audit, commercial banking, and inclusive finance to champion sound governance, capital discipline, and sustainable economic growth.
A Foundation Built on Rigour
Chipunza began her professional journey as an Audit Senior at Deloitte & Touche, where she trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. That early grounding in audit and financial discipline has remained a hallmark of her approach. The experience instilled a rigorous attention to controls, transparency and accountability—qualities that have guided her through successive leadership roles in a sector often tested by economic volatility.
Depth Across Banking and Inclusive Finance
Over the years she has held senior positions at Metropolitan Bank, Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group (ZABG), the Agricultural Development Bank of Zimbabwe and Untu Microfinance. As Financial Director at ZABG and later as a microfinance practitioner at Untu, she developed a practical understanding of both traditional banking and the unique demands of serving underbanked communities. Her subsequent role as Chief Financial Officer at African Century Limited further sharpened her ability to balance growth ambitions with financial prudence across diverse business lines.
Advancing Inclusive Finance Leadership
Chipunza’s professional development has been deliberately oriented toward inclusive finance. She is an alumna of the Boulder Institute of Microfinance, the School of African Microfinance and the Harvard Business School–Accion programme on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance. These programmes equipped her with frameworks for designing sustainable financial models that expand access while safeguarding institutional health—an approach that continues to inform her work.
Steering Finance at NMB Bank
Since assuming the role of Chief Finance Officer at NMB Bank, Chipunza has focused on strengthening the bank’s financial architecture, supporting strategic decision-making and maintaining the confidence of stakeholders. Her leadership emphasises clear reporting, robust risk awareness and the alignment of financial resources with long-term institutional goals. In a market that rewards both resilience and adaptability, she has helped position the finance function as a partner in sustainable growth rather than a purely control-oriented unit.
Through successive roles, Margaret Chipunza has contributed to stronger financial institutions and broader conversations about inclusive finance in Zimbabwe. As CFO of NMB Bank, she continues to apply that experience in service of institutional stability and the wider financial ecosystem.
TheCFO Magazine’s CFO of the Week recognizes exceptional Chief Financial Officers across the globe, celebrating their outstanding leadership, impactful achievements, innovative solutions, extensive industry expertise, and invaluable contributions to their organizations.
