Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
ZIMBABWE will this year host and take over as chair of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) with a number of events earmarked to increase trade within the economic bloc.
As he assumed the Vice-chairmanship of the bloc in Nairobi Kenya in October last year President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will strengthen its role in regional economic integration, ensuring tangible benefits for industry, trade growth and improved quality of life of the people.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, one of the top priorities when the country assumes the chairmanship is to advance regional market integration and accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Last year, we were elected as incoming chair or vice chair of COMESA, which means this year His Excellence the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa , will take the chairmanship of COMESA. Zimbabwe is a champion and advocate of regional and pan-African integration will be pushing this agenda because the issue is Africa has to be able to trade within itself.
“When we look at the average trade amongst Africa is less or equal to 20% or 21%, which means 80% of the trade happens between African countries.Therefore, our aim is Zimbabwe.
“Through His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, we are looking to deepen regional integration, under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, and as you know, Zimbabwe won the bid to host the Inter-Africa Trade Company, which is the implementation agency of the Africa Continental free trade area.
“And we are looking forward to become the nerve centre of Africa’s trade. Therefore, our movement is towards this integration, towards pan-African integration,”Professor Murwira said.
Now various events are lined up building towards the leaders’ summit, with the current chair, Kenya holding the COMESA Investment Forum in Nairobi next month as well as the 13th Annual Research Forum in September.
2026 will also see COMESA launching its next Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP), which acts as a roadmap for deepening regional integration and building resilient economies over the next five years.
The year will also see validation and adoption of the Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime (TSTR), which is a new framework between COMESA, the EAC and SADC to streamline cross-border trade for small-scale traders.
