Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is not a peripheral economy but a strategic gateway for continental trade integration and Government is taking bold steps to modernise infrastructure and enhance border efficiency, Vice-President Dr Kembo Mohadi has said.
Officiating at the 2026 Connect Africa Symposium on the sidelines of the 66th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on Friday, VP Mohadi emphasised that the country’s geographic position at the intersection of SADC and Comesa presents a unique advantage for anchoring regional value chains and logistics corridors across southern Africa.
“Zimbabwe plays a crucial role in the continent’s economic integration and in enhancing intra-African trade.
“Our geographic location at the intersection of SADC and Comesa positions Zimbabwe not as a peripheral economy, but as a gateway economy which can anchor regional value chains, logistics corridors, and trade facilitation across Southern Africa,” he said.
Government is cognisant of this strategic advantage and is taking bold steps to modernise and construct road and energy infrastructure, increase digital connectivity and enhance efficiency at the borders and airports to improve trade facilitation, VP Mohadi added.
He made reference to the recently completed upgrade and modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post at a cost of about US$300 million, an integral part of the North-South corridor, as evidence of Government’s commitment.
The Vice-President said the rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge Road is nearly complete, with over 540 kilometres of the 582 kilometres finished.
His remarks come as Africa grapples with persistently low intra-continental trade, which accounts for only 14 to 18 percent of the continent’s total trade, compared to nearly 60 percent in Asia and over 70 percent in Europe.
“The global shocks of geopolitical tensions and shifts in the multilateral trading system call for a strong African position within the global geopolitical economy.
“It is, therefore, a foregone conclusion that, in this zero-sum trading ecosystem, Africa should reflect, adapt and adopt, or risk being left behind,” said VP Mohadi.
He called for accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it not merely as an economic necessity but a strategic pathway for inclusive growth, resilience and sustainable development.
VP Mohadi said the AfCFTA transforms over 50 small and fragmented markets into one huge market of 1.4 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$2.4 trillion, with the potential to expand intra-African trade by more than 50 percent within the next decade.
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to continental integration, revealing that Zimbabwe is hosting the newly established Intra-Africa Trade Fair Company, an African union institution responsible for organising the continental premier trade expo.
President Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Bill establishing the company, with Zimbabwe providing financial and other resources to operationalise it over the next 10 years.
VP Mohadi has also urged the private sector to take advantage of AfCFTA to achieve ‘Agenda 2063, the Africa We Want’ through value addition, infrastructure development, and support for micro, small and medium enterprises.
“I thank the organisers for creating this complementary platform that enables dialogue on important economic issues affecting the continent. The outcome of these discussions will assist our Governments to make evidence-based policies that will spur economic growth,” he said.
