Zimbabwe ready to host COMESA Summit

PREPARATIONS for the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit, which Zimbabwe will host next month, are at an advanced stage, with a dedicated committee already working to coordinate the high-profile regional gathering.

More than 1 000 delegates are expected to attend the summit, which is set to place Zimbabwe at the centre of regional economic and diplomatic discussions.

Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the organising committee is overseeing key aspects of the preparations, including the identification, assessment and upgrading of infrastructure that will be used during the event.

Much of the infrastructure required for the summit is already in place following Zimbabwe’s successful hosting of the SADC Summit in 2024. Current efforts are therefore focused on enhancements and adjustments needed to accommodate the larger COMESA delegation.

Additional improvements will be carried out at hotels, conference venues and access roads to ensure they meet the standards and logistical demands associated with the expected influx of delegates.

Zimbabwe currently serves as COMESA vice-chair and is scheduled to assume the Chairmanship of the 21-member regional bloc for a 12-month term beginning in October.

The transition follows the 24th COMESA Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in October last year.

At that summit, Kenya assumed the rotating chairmanship from Burundi, while Zimbabwe was elected vice-chair, positioning the country to take over leadership of the bloc at this year’s summit.

In an interview, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said preparations were progressing smoothly, with Zimbabwe drawing on the infrastructure and experience gained from hosting the 2024 SADC Summit.

“We have a committee that is looking at that and the Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) and his team are busy with the preparations. You know the summit is going to be preceded by the meeting of officials and then the Council of Ministers and then the summit. In addition, we are also going to have a business conference and preparations are at an advanced stage.”

Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe’s recent diplomatic and regional achievements, including securing a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, had further strengthened the country’s capacity to host major international events.

“We are on course. We are very excited by the fact that, just coming out of SADC, having won the UN Security Council seat, having also won the rights to host the Intra-Africa Trade Fair and hosting Expo 2029, we are really ready.

“Surely, COMESA is coming after SADC, which means the infrastructure was already prepared and we only have to improve and make sure that we are ready. We are looking forward to His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, taking over as Chairperson of COMESA,” he said.

Prof Murwira said President Mnangagwa’s tenure as COMESA Chairperson would prioritise efforts aimed at accelerating Africa’s economic integration and strengthening regional co-operation.

“We are Pan-African and our issue is to integrate Africa and make sure that COMESA becomes a vehicle for integrating Africa economically and therefore enhance the integrity, dignity and prosperity of the people of Zimbabwe and the people of Africa.

“We are really prepared and we are looking forward to the summit. Normally, COMESA has a lot of delegates (and) we are expecting well over a thousand people coming because, as I said, there are several stages. And we are planning with this in mind.”

The COMESA Chairmanship follows President Mnangagwa’s recent tenure as Chairperson of SADC, further highlighting Zimbabwe’s growing influence in regional and continental affairs.

Established more than three decades ago, COMESA is one of Africa’s largest regional economic communities, bringing together 21 member states to promote free trade, regional integration, economic co-operation and sustainable development across Eastern and Southern Africa.