Ruto in Zimbabwe for COMESA Summit, set to hand over chairmanship
The summit which is scheduled for tomorrow, October 22, 2026 brings together heads of state and government from COMESA’s 21 member countries to review progress on regional integration and chart a common path towards expanding trade, investment and industrial development.
President William Ruto has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit, where he is expected to hand over the regional bloc’s chairmanship to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The summit which is scheduled for tomorrow, October 22, 2026 brings together heads of state and government from COMESA’s 21 member countries to review progress on regional integration and chart a common path towards expanding trade, investment and industrial development.
In a post on X upon arrival, Ruto said the discussions would focus on deepening regional integration, strengthening peace and security, accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advancing industrialisation across the continent.
The leaders are also expected to explore strategies for maximising the economic benefits of Africa’s natural resources through local processing and value addition, measures aimed at boosting manufacturing, creating jobs and strengthening regional value chains.
The meeting is being held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
A key item on the agenda is the launch of COMESA’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, which will set out the bloc’s priorities over the next five years.
The plan is expected to provide a framework for deeper regional integration, increased trade among member states, industrialisation, improved infrastructure connectivity and digital transformation.
Kenya’s tenure at the helm of COMESA is expected to conclude with the handover to Zimbabwe, marking a transition in leadership as the bloc seeks to strengthen economic cooperation among its member countries.
The summit comes as African nations intensify efforts to implement the AfCFTA, which seeks to establish a single continental market for goods and services, reduce barriers to trade and expand commercial opportunities across Africa.
Through greater coordination of trade and industrial policies, COMESA member states aim to improve the competitiveness of their economies, attract investment and increase the contribution of regional trade to economic growth.
The discussions in Harare are expected to reinforce the bloc’s commitment to turning regional integration into practical economic gains, particularly through industrial development, expanded markets and greater value addition to Africa’s natural resources.
