Harare — Zimbabwe has officially taken the helm of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) for the 2026-2027 period, with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) vowing to steer the regional bloc toward a new era of industrialization, local value addition, and enhanced intra-African trade.

In a press release issued on October 22, 2026, Dr. M. Rushwaya, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, extended profound congratulations to the President on the “historic assumption” of the COMESA Authority Chairmanship. Dr. Rushwaya noted that the development reflects the immense confidence and high regard that regional peers have in Zimbabwe’s capacity to lead the bloc.

The OPC highlighted that the recently concluded COMESA Summit produced far-reaching decisions that align closely with Zimbabwe’s domestic policies, placing the nation in the “driving seat for a new Africa.”

The government emphasized its commitment to a heritage-based economy focused on beneficiation, industrialization, and intra-African trade.

Aligning with the Summit’s theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA,” the OPC pledged to push for greater trade across the region founded on sub-regional value chains.

The government stressed the importance of ensuring that Africa’s natural resources undergo local value addition to create meaningful jobs and uplift citizens’ livelihoods.

Furthermore, the OPC reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and mutual respect, guided by the country’s foreign policy stance of being a “Friend to all and Enemy to None.” The office pledged its unyielding administrative support to ensure a transformative and impactful tenure.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a major regional economic community established in 1994, replacing the Preferential Trade Area (PTA). It comprises 21 member states stretching from Tunisia to Eswatini.

COMESA’s primary goals include promoting regional economic integration, fostering trade and investment, and creating a large, unified market to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, and people. By advancing cooperation and shared prosperity, the bloc aims to achieve sustainable economic development and elevate its member states in the global economy.