Online Reporter
Nelson Gahadza
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s assumption of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa chairmanship next month presents an ideal opportunity to open wider regional markets for local businesses and strengthen its position as a regional trade and investment hub.
The 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on October 22, 2026, where Zimbabwe will assume the regional bloc’s chairmanship for 2026–2027.
Local economic think tank, African Economic Development Strategies (AEDS), executive director Professor Gift Mugano, said in an interview that the development was not only a political statement of confidence in Zimbabwe’s leadership but also a reflection of the country’s re-engagement efforts with the international community.
“It’s part of the outcome of regional and international engagement, which we are doing as a country, bearing fruit,” Professor Mugano said.
“But also, it’s a testament to the work which we are doing as a country. We have that ability to showcase what we can do.”
Zimbabwe will officially take over the COMESA chairmanship from Kenya during the 25th Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for October in Mount Hampden.
The chairmanship places Zimbabwe at the helm of one of Africa’s largest regional economic blocs, presenting local businesses with an opportunity to access a substantially larger market.
Established in 1994, COMESA comprises 21 member states, with a combined population of more than 600 million and a collective Gross Domestic Product of about US$1 trillion.
Professor Mugano said Zimbabwe should use the opportunity to ensure that local companies are positioned to benefit from the expanded market.
“Zimbabwe is bringing in about 22 member states to engage with our businesses, getting to a bigger market. So our market has gone beyond one country to 22 countries,” he said.
He identified pharmaceuticals, leather value chains and textiles among the sectors that could benefit from greater regional market access, while highlighting the food and beverage industry as another critical area of focus.
For small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the wider COMESA market, Professor Mugano said they needed to develop what he termed market languages that would allow them to achieve the scale required to compete effectively.
He said the establishment of anchor companies would be critical in aggregating products from SMEs, enabling smaller businesses to collectively access larger markets while overcoming some of the challenges associated with trade facilitation.
Zimbabwe is expected to prioritise food security, peace and greater trade cooperation during its tenure, while using the chairmanship to advance regional economic integration.
With its diversified economy and established agricultural base, the country could also use the platform to push for the removal of cross-border trade bottlenecks and support industrialisation across the region.
The COMESA rotational chairmanship presents Zimbabwe with a rare opportunity to drive industrial growth, boost exports and attract regional investment in several ways.
Harare can push for reduced trade barriers to increase regional uptake of Zimbabwean minerals (gold, lithium, chrome, platinum) and agro-industrial goods.
It can also utilise COMESA chairmanship platforms — such as the 19th COMESA Business Forum and Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition — to link local firms directly with regional buyers and financiers.
Similarly, Zimbabwe will be able to use its influential position to drive the ratification of the revised Common Investment Area Agreement to establish predictable rules that attract foreign direct investment while spearheading regional efforts to eliminate remaining non-tariff barriers that slow down cross-border trade.
The chairmanship role also accords the country the chance to advocate for better transport corridors and logistics to make moving goods across borders cheaper and faster, while positioning local manufacturers inside regional value chains so the country exports finished products rather than raw materials.
