Zimbabwe To Deepen African Trade As COMESA Chair Under Mnangagwa

By Advent Shoko

Zimbabwe is set to become the chair of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) later this year, marking a new chapter in the country’s continental diplomacy. President Mnangagwa, building on his recent tenure as SADC Chair, is expected to prioritise deeper intra-African trade, industrialisation, and accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

COMESA, with a market of nearly 700 million people, represents a critical platform for boosting African economic self-reliance. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira emphasised that Zimbabwe’s agenda will focus on reducing dependency on external markets, expanding trade among member states, and leveraging newly established institutions such as the Intra-African Trade Free Company and the Harare Afreximbank Africa Trade Centre (HAATC).

COMESA is more than just a regional club, it is a vital platform for Africa to reclaim economic agency. Too often, African countries trading with developed nations face unfair terms: raw materials leave the continent cheaply, prices and value are set elsewhere, and debts pile up, leaving nations dependent on international financial institutions. By trading among themselves and crafting policies that protect and cushion member states, COMESA members can avoid this trap, much like the European Union safeguards its internal market. For Africa, deepening COMESA integration is a step toward fairer trade, shared prosperity, and long-term economic sovereignty.

• 25 000 People Cross Beitbridge Border Into South Africa Daily As Post-festive Migration Surges
• US$700m Magunje Cement Project Signals Zimbabwe’s Industrial Reboot

Experts say Zimbabwe’s chairmanship comes at a crucial moment as African nations seek to transform historical trade patterns, which currently see 80 percent of commerce conducted outside the continent. By promoting regional value chains, digital transformation, and agricultural modernisation, Zimbabwe aims to position itself as a continental trade hub while championing “African solutions to African problems.”

In addition, Zimbabwe will host the 25th COMESA summit in October, a move that signals both leadership continuity and ambition. The country’s proactive engagement in SADC, COMESA, and the tripartite SADC‑COMESA‑EAC framework highlights a broader strategy of regional peace, economic growth, and political stability. Analysts note that Zimbabwe’s COMESA tenure could also bolster its international profile ahead of its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, combining trade diplomacy with global governance influence.

Zimbabwe’s chairmanship is more than ceremonial, it is a litmus test of the nation’s ability to transform diplomatic ambition into tangible economic integration and regional prosperity.