Debra Matabvu-Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S assumption of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa chairmanship is a testament to the region’s trust and confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership and his capacity to steer the bloc over the next year.
In a congratulatory message yesterday, Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Dr Martin Rushwaya, said commitments made at the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit on Thursday resonate with Zimbabwe’s policies of beneficiation and industrialisation.
President Mnangagwa assumed the chairmanship of the regional bloc on Thursday, taking over from his Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, while Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema assumed the vice-chairmanship.
“On behalf of the two Vice Presidents, Advisors and Staff in the Office of the President and Cabinet, I heartily extend our profound congratulations to you, Your Excellency, on your historic assumption of the Chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA,” Dr Rushwaya said.
“This historic development is a clear testimony to the immense confidence, trust, and high regard that your regional peers have in your astute and visionary leadership, and in Zimbabwe’s capacity to steer the regional bloc for the 2026-2027 stretch.
“Today’s (Thursday) COMESA Summit was like no other. Far reaching decisions and commitments were made, the majority of which spoke eloquently to Zimbabwe’s own policies. All that put our nation in the driving seat for a new Africa which is founded on self-belief and a heritage-based economy with beneficiation, industrialisation and Intra-African trade at its core.”
In his acceptance speech on Thursday, President Mnangagwa affirmed Zimbabwe’s readiness to consolidate regional gains and build on achievements towards creating an integrated, competitive, and prosperous bloc.
Dr Rushwaya pledged that the OPC would provide the necessary support and administrative excellence to ensure a highly successful, transformative, and impactful tenure. He added that staff would continue working to translate the President’s call for beneficiation and industrialisation into tangible results.
“We take particular note of your clarion call to actualise the Summit’s theme, ‘One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.’
“The Office of the President and Cabinet stands firmly behind your commitment to ensuring that Africa’s God-given natural endowments undergo local value addition and to industrialise our economies, create meaningful jobs, and to uplift the livelihoods of our citizens. Additionally, we lend our weight as your bureaucrats to pushing for greater Intra-COMESA and Intra-Africa trade founded on sub-regional value chains.
“Guided by our foreign policy position that Zimbabwe is a ‘Friend to all and Enemy to None,’ and that Zimbabwe is Open for Business, we look forward to a successful tenure anchored on multilateralism, dialogue, and mutual respect,” Dr Rushwaya said.
