Zimbabwe is set to take a leading role in regional economic integration as President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumes the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The official handover from Kenyan President William Ruto is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, at the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare.
President Ruto arrived in Harare on Wednesday evening, October 21, following Kenya’s 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations. He was received by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, and Kenya’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Gertrude Nyausi Angote.
Zimbabwe, having served as vice chair since the 24th Summit, will now lead COMESA for the 2026-2027 term. The summit, hosted at Zimbabwe’s new Parliament building, is centered around the theme “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
Key Players Involved
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa: Incoming COMESA Chairman.
- President William Ruto: Outgoing COMESA Chairman.
- Barbara Rwodzi: Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
- Gertrude Nyausi Angote: Kenya’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Event Timeline
- October 20, 2026: President Ruto presides over Kenya’s Mashujaa Day.
- October 21, 2026: President Ruto travels to and arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe.
- October 22, 2026: Official transfer of COMESA chairmanship to President Mnangagwa at the summit.
