Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to assume the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) today, taking over from Kenya’s President William Ruto.

The handover will take place at the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden today.

President Ruto, the outgoing COMESA Chairperson, arrived in Harare to hand over leadership. Burundi Prime Minister Nestor Ntahontuye also arrived for the high-level meeting, while Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema arrived today for the event.

President Mnangagwa, host and incoming COMESA Chairperson, arrived at the New Parliament Building this morning, alongside Zimbabwe’s Vice Presidents General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi.

At least 18 Member States of the 21-member bloc have confirmed participation in the summit, which comes a day after the COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition concluded in Harare.

The summit is expected to focus on deepening intra-regional trade, advancing industrialisation and strengthening COMESA’s role as a building block of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

President Mnangagwa takes over the chairmanship at a time when COMESA – comprising more than 680 million people and an economy worth approximately US$1 trillion – is pushing for removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and greater private sector participation in regional integration.