Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ALL eyes in the region turn to Harare this week as Zimbabwe hosts more than 1 000 delegates for the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Heads of State and Government Summit, placing the capital at the centre of discussions on trade, investment and industrial development.
The summit gives the city a rare chance to turn regional visibility into lasting commercial relationships and stronger investor confidence.
The summit offers Zimbabwe a chance to showcase economic opportunities and help shape priorities for a bloc whose 21 members represent 640 million people and a combined gross domestic product of US$1,23 trillion.
The scale of the gathering is expected to bring a hive of activity to Harare. Policymakers, investors, business leaders, development partners, academics and media professionals will attend meetings and related events, creating opportunities for formal negotiations as well as the informal exchanges through which business relationships often begin.
Hotels, conference venues, restaurants, transport operators and other service providers are likely to experience increased demand, while local enterprises will have a chance to present products and services to a regional audience.
The programme began yesterday with the COMESA Green Industry Connect, followed by the COMESA Business Forum today.
The main summit is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, bringing together public and private sector representatives to explore ways of accelerating industrialisation, attracting investment and deepening regional integration.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and the COMESA Secretariat are finalising preparations and compiling confirmations from participants.
A population of 640 million creates considerable demand, while the combined economic output gives the region potential weight in investment and trade negotiations.
But size alone does not guarantee prosperity. Countries must be able to produce competitively, move goods across borders efficiently, meet standards and connect local firms to regional supply chains.
Without progress on these practical issues, the common market risks remaining more powerful on paper than in the daily experience of traders and manufacturers.
Zimbabwe’s hosting role is, especially significant because President Mnangagwa is due to assume the COMESA chairmanship for the 2026-2027 term.
The position provides a platform to help set the bloc’s agenda, build consensus among member states and advance cooperation on shared economic priorities.
It also places responsibility on Zimbabwe to encourage follow-through, since the value of regional leadership will ultimately be measured by implementation rather than declarations.
The summit’s agenda gives that responsibility substance. Leaders are expected to consider the state of regional integration and regional value chains in critical minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.
These sectors offer opportunities to move beyond exporting unprocessed commodities towards greater local production, processing and value addition.
Stronger regional links could help countries pool expertise, attract investment and create markets large enough to support industries that might struggle to grow within national borders alone.
The planned launch of the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026-2030 and presentation of the 2025 Annual Report will also be important.
The strategic plan can set direction for the next phase of integration, while the annual report should help leaders assess progress and identify areas where commitments require renewed attention. The challenge will be to ensure that regional goals are matched by clear priorities, realistic timelines and accountability.
The Business Forum is another key part of the programme. Investors are unlikely to make decisions on the strength of speeches alone.
They look for predictable policies, reliable infrastructure, access to finance, transparent regulations and the ability to reach customers across borders. Zimbabwe can use the forum to showcase its trade, tourism and investment opportunities, explain its industrialisation priorities and engage directly with companies seeking partnerships or new markets.
Hosting the summit also gives Harare a chance to present itself as a regional gateway for trade and investment.
The immediate benefits include demand for accommodation, catering, transport and services.
More significant, however, would be business contacts that lead to contracts, investment commitments or sustained cooperation after delegates have departed. Results require follow-up and a business environment that converts interest into activity.
Green Industry Connect brings an additional dimension to the discussions. Industrial growth must increasingly account for energy security, resource efficiency and cleaner production. For COMESA economies, green industry is not simply an environmental concern; it is linked to competitiveness, technology, skills and access to emerging markets.
Cooperation could help firms modernise production, develop new capabilities and create employment while responding to changing standards and investor expectations.
Yet the barriers to integration remain substantial. Border delays, high transport costs, inconsistent procedures and limited industrial capacity can make regional trade expensive and uncertain.
Smaller enterprises may find it difficult to finance expansion or meet export requirements.
Member states must, therefore, use the summit to identify practical ways of removing obstacles and strengthening links between producers, processors, logistics operators and consumers.
COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Kapwepwe and senior Secretariat officials are expected to support deliberations, alongside reports from ministerial bodies and the Business Forum. Four regional media professionals will also be recognised for journalism on regional integration, underlining the importance of public understanding of the bloc’s work.
For Zimbabwe, the months after the summit will be as important as the meetings.
The country will need to sustain engagement with partners, promote investment opportunities and support regional decisions that strengthen trade and productive capacity.
Its incoming Chairmanship will require diplomacy, consistency and an ability to accommodate different national interests while keeping shared objectives in view.
Regionally, all eyes are on Harare because the summit brings together immediate commercial opportunity and a broader test of integration. Harare will be busy, but success depends on workable priorities and stronger cooperation.
Zimbabwe has an opportunity to use the spotlight constructively, to welcome the region, make its economic case and help turn the promise of “One Market, One Future” into practical progress.
The task now is to ensure that the activity in Harare becomes more than a busy week, laying foundations for deeper trade, investment and inclusive industrial growth across COMESA.
