The CEO

Dr. Shepherd Murebwa is the Chief Executive Officer of ImbaHub Empowerment Institute (IHEI), a pioneering institution driving entrepreneurship, innovation, and community empowerment in Zimbabwe and beyond. A visionary leader, educationist, and pragmatist, Dr. Murebwa brings over two decades of experience in entrepreneurship education, research, and enterprise development.

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Entrepreneurship, a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance, a Bachelor of Technology (Honours) Degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, and a Diploma in Education. His academic and professional journey reflects a lifelong commitment to promoting entrepreneurship as a vehicle for sustainable socio-economic transformation through lifelong learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship training and capacity-building programs and platforms.

At ImbaHub, Dr. Murebwa spearheads the Institute’s strategic direction, ensuring that its programs, research, and capacity-building initiatives align with National Development Goals (NDS 1 & 2) and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His leadership is rooted in the belief that entrepreneurship and innovation are the engines for inclusive growth and community empowerment.

Before joining ImbaHub Empowerment Institute, Dr. Murebwa played a transformative role in entrepreneurship education and incubation in Zimbabwe. As an educationist and pragmatist, he has trained and built capacity for entrepreneurship and innovation among youths in higher education institutions. He promoted the creation of several student enterprises and championed the establishment of the Chinhoyi University of Technology Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation Centre in 2015, a foundation that evolved into one of Zimbabwe’s leading innovation hubs.

He also championed the creation of WealthGold Investments, a mining enterprise owned by students and lecturers, where he served as Founding Director and Board Chairperson (2015–2021). Through his initiatives, he fostered collaborations with the Ministry of Mines in Chinhoyi, developing induction and training programs for mining entrepreneurship.

Dr. Murebwa has trained and mentored youths, women entrepreneurs, and community cooperatives, advancing their business acumen and leadership capacity. His impact extends to baseline, midline, and end-line research, action research proposals, and entrepreneurship policy design.

A former National Chairperson of the Professional SMEs Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PSCCI) Innovation Hub (2017–2019), Dr. Murebwa continues to influence entrepreneurship ecosystems, supporting innovation-driven start-ups, family enterprises, and cooperatives through ImbaHub’s national network of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centres and Communities of Practice.

Under his leadership, ImbaHub Empowerment Institute stands as a leading centre of excellence, empowering individuals, families, enterprises, and communities through entrepreneurship education, incubation, research, and digital transformation initiatives in Zimbabwe and beyond.