Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Senior Zimpapers Reporter
ZIMBABWE will use its incoming chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to push for the removal of trade barriers and faster visa liberalisation, in a move aimed at opening up a regional market of more than 640 million people to local businesses and tourism operators.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the country would use its one-year chairmanship, which begins on October 22 when Zimbabwe hosts the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, to advance regional integration and create opportunities for economic growth.
Minister Murwira was addressing questions on the country’s preparedness to host the upcoming Summit during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said Zimbabwe stood to benefit from deeper access to the regional market through the movement of goods, services, investment and people across member states.
“Zimbabwe has 17 million people. COMESA has more than 640 million people. Just imagine that if we integrate fully and you make your chocolates, you can sell them across that market. That is the way we can make Zimbabwe an upper-middle-income economy. We have to look beyond our borders and make regional integration work for our businesses and our people,” he said
Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe would push for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers that restrict trade, as well as improvements in transport infrastructure, payment systems and visa arrangements to make it easier for businesses and citizens to operate across borders.
“We also have to commit to integrating the visible infrastructure, which includes roads, rail and air transport, and the invisible infrastructure that includes payment systems and visa regimes. These are the things that make regional integration work in practice. We must remove the barriers that prevent our people from trading freely and accessing opportunities in other African countries,” he added.
The Minister said regional integration should go beyond agreements on paper and translate into practical measures that allow businesses to reach new markets and African countries to trade more with one another.
He said Zimbabwe needed to redirect more of its trade towards African markets, rather than relying heavily on traditional overseas destinations, while investing in the infrastructure and systems needed to facilitate regional commerce.
“Our trade infrastructure was looking to the sea instead of looking to the next African country. This is the spirit we want to advance through COMESA, because a wealthy Africa is good for Zimbabwe and a wealthy Zimbabwe is good for Africa,” he said.
Prof Murwira said the push for integration was consistent with Zimbabwe’s constitutional commitment to Pan-Africanism and its broader economic development ambitions.
He said the country was also working towards a more open visa regime, arguing that easier movement across borders could boost tourism, trade and investment.
“Just imagine opening your tourism market to 640 million people, even if only 10 percent of them can afford to travel. That represents a huge potential market for Zimbabwe, and we are working towards liberalising our visa regime as quickly as possible while improving our systems to facilitate the movement of people,” he said.
Giving an update on the preparations for the Summit, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Government was confident that the necessary arrangements were progressing well.
“All the obligatory preparations are progressing well, including the requisite funding, training protocols and beautification of the City of Harare. The beautification programme is targeted to be sustained beyond the summit, as the whole nation looks forward to showcasing its rich and diverse heritage,” he said.
Dr Soda said hosting the summit presented Zimbabwe with an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic relations, promote trade and attract tourism and investment.
He said the summit would also provide a platform for Zimbabwe to contribute to decisions that shape the region’s economic and development agenda.
Zimbabwe will take over the one-year COMESA chairmanship from Kenya during the summit, which will be held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA”.
The summit will be preceded by the COMESA Green Industries Connect and Business Forum on October 19 and 20, followed by a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on October 21.
According to Minister Murwira, the business forum has attracted strong interest, with registrations exceeding the available capacity. The forum will bring together local and foreign businesses, exhibitors and potential investors.
It is also expected to provide opportunities for Zimbabwean companies to engage regional buyers, explore partnerships and access investment opportunities, with discussions focusing on regional value chains, financing, digital transformation and industrial competitiveness.
