Zimbabwe has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) during the 25th Heads of State and Government Summit held in Harare. The significant administrative shift saw Kenyan President William Ruto hand over the leadership to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The summit, a crucial event for regional economic integration, brought together leaders from 21 member states to deliberate on trade, investment, industrialisation, and regional security.
President Mnangagwa addressed the accompanying COMESA Business Forum, urging greater collaboration among member states to deepen intra-regional trade and investment. He challenged delegates to engage in frank dialogue to identify practical solutions and forge partnerships that would enable businesses to thrive across the common market. Discussions at the summit are expected to focus on accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and unlocking Africa’s full economic potential through value addition.
Key Players Involved
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa: Incoming Chair of the COMESA Authority, President of Zimbabwe.
- President William Ruto: Outgoing Chair of the COMESA Authority, President of Kenya.
- COMESA Member States: 21 countries participating in discussions on regional integration.
Event Timeline
- October 19-21, 2026: 19th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition held in Harare.
- October 21, 2026: President William Ruto arrived in Harare for the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit.
- October 22, 2026 (expected): Formal handover of COMESA chairmanship to President Mnangagwa.
