We are proud to announce the appointment of Raymond Shoniwa as the new Executive Director of the Southern African Railways Association (SARA). With over 20 years of experience in the railway industry and a distinguished career in finance and operations, Shoniwa brings visionary leadership at a pivotal time for rail in Africa.
Raymond previously served as Chief Finance Officer, Company Secretary, and General Manager of Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (Pvt)—a successful public-private rail operation in Zimbabwe and a subsidiary of Grindrod Rail. His tenure was marked by bold expansion initiatives, including partnerships with the National Railways of Zimbabwe and cross-border operations into Zambia operating between Livingstone and Ndola. During his tenure as General Manager he also created a market for excess wagons held by Botswana Railways.
A Master of Business Administration graduate from the University of Suffolk, Raymond’s earlier career spanned senior accounting roles at Ernst & Young and KPMG, alongside serving as President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (Southern Region). His blend of finance acumen and operational insight will be instrumental in driving regional integration, market share growth, and access to capital for SARA members.
Join us at the 2025 SARA Rail Conference to hear directly from Shoniwa and engage with the renewed vision for rail in the SADC region.
