[1] He was the SADC nominee for the Presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB)[2][3] Thomas Zondo Sakala holds a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

He also undertook research work on the anticipated challenges of land and agricultural transformation in post-independent Zimbabwe at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

In that capacity he was a member of the Senior Management Team of the Bank led by President Kaberuka, contributing to its overall strategic direction and institutional performance.

It also involved developing appropriate operational policies, inter alia, on integrity in procurement and fiduciary arrangements; the Bank's strategy for its work in fragile states; and overseeing the proper implementation of policies, strategies and guidelines on gender, environment, climate change, safeguards and transition to green economies.

He had shared responsibility for resource mobilization for the Bank's soft-window (the African Development Fund) and partnerships with donor countries.