Hello Africa.
Today we are coming to you live from Mt Hampden, Zimbabwe, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to take over the chairmanship of COMESA from Kenya’s President William Ruto at the 25th Heads of State and Government Summit.
The one-year tenure comes on the back of his recent leadership of SADC and is expected to focus on boosting intra-African trade, accelerating industrialisation and strengthening regional economic integration across the bloc’s 21 member states.
Our team is at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hamden and will keep you updated.
What COMESA stands for
The history of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) began in December 1994 when it was formed to replace the former Preferential Trade Area (PTA), which had existed from the earlier days of 1981.
COMESA (as defined by its Treaty) was established ‘as an organisation of free independent sovereign states which have agreed to co-operate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people,’ and as such it has a wide-ranging series of objectives which necessarily include in its priorities the
promotion of peace and security in the region.
However, due to COMESA’s economic history and background, its main focus is on the formation of a large economic and trading unit that is capable of overcoming some of the barriers that are faced by individual states.
COMESA’s current strategy can thus be summed up in the phrase ‘economic prosperity through regional integration’. – comesa.int
COMESA’s membership
With its 21 Member States, population of over 640 million, a Gross Domestic Product of $1.0 trillion and a global export/import trade in goods worth US$ 383 billion, COMESA forms a major marketplace for both internal and external trading.
Geographically, COMESA covers almost two-thirds of the African Continent with an area of 12 million sq km.
COMESA’s membership
With its 21 Member States, a population of over 640 million, a Gross Domestic Product of $1.0 trillion, and global export/import trade in goods worth US$ 383 billion, COMESA forms a major marketplace for both internal and external trade.
Geographically, COMESA covers almost two-thirds of the African Continent with an area of 12 million sq km.
Members include:
Burundi
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Kenya
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
Sudan
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
What COMESA offers
COMESA offers its members and partners a wide range of benefits, which include:
A wider, harmonised and more competitive market
Greater industrial productivity and competitiveness
Increased agricultural production and food security
A more rational exploitation of natural resources
More harmonised monetary, banking and financial policies
More reliable transport and communications infrastructure
Delegates converge at Parliament Building
Delegates have started arriving at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden for the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, which is expected to bring together regional leaders and senior government officials to deliberate on trade, investment, industrialisation and economic integration.
The summit is a significant moment for Zimbabwe, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to take over the COMESA chairmanship from Kenya’s President William Ruto, placing Zimbabwe at the helm of the 21-member regional bloc for the next year.
VPs now at Parliament for Summit
Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Dr Kembo Mohadi have arrived at the Parliament Building in Mt Hampden for the 25th COMESA Authority of Heads of State and Government Summit.
The Summit is running under the theme “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA”.
Zambian President joins regional leaders at COMESA Summit
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has arrived at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden for the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit.
President Hichilema joins other regional leaders and delegates gathering for the high-level meeting, which focuses on advancing economic integration, boosting intra-regional trade, attracting investment, and promoting inclusive industrialisation across the 21-member Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
President Ruto arrives at Parliament Building
Outgoing COMESA Chairperson and Kenyan President Dr William Ruto has arrived at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden for the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit.
President Ruto is expected to hand over the chairmanship of the 21-member regional bloc to President Mnangagwa, marking the beginning of Zimbabwe’s tenure at the helm of the regional economic community.
The summit is being held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA,” with regional leaders expected to deliberate on strengthening intra-African trade, attracting investment and accelerating industrial development.
