Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa arrives in Nairobi for 24th COMESA Summit
The Summit will be held in Nairobi under the theme "Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa arrived in Nairobi on yesterday evening ahead of the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit.
The Summit will be held in Nairobi under the theme “Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
President Mnangagwa was warmly received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, who welcomed him on behalf of President Dr. William Ruto.
The Zimbabwean leader’s visit comes as regional heads of state converge in Nairobi for the high-level COMESA summit, which seeks to strengthen economic integration, boost trade, and enhance cooperation among the 21-member states.
“Kenya is honoured to host President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other distinguished Heads of State for the 24th COMESA Summit. This meeting underscores the region’s commitment to deepening economic ties and collective prosperity,” Prime CS Mudavadi said during the reception at JKIA.
Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by senior Zimbabwean government officials, is expected to join other regional leaders in deliberations focusing on intra-African trade, industrialization, digital transformation, and climate resilience within the COMESA bloc.
The summit, themed “Deepening Regional Integration for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization”, aims to assess progress made in implementing the COMESA regional integration agenda and address key challenges facing member states.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, several bilateral engagements and side meetings are scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the summit, including discussions on infrastructure development, agro-processing, and regional peace and security.
President Mnangagwa’s arrival marks Zimbabwe’s continued participation in shaping the economic policies and cooperative frameworks that underpin the bloc’s long-term growth strategy.
“Our countries share a strong history of solidarity and partnership. Zimbabwe remains a key partner in advancing COMESA’s mission of regional integration and economic development,” Mudavadi added.
Last evening, President William Ruto hosted Presidents Azali Assoumani (Comoros) and Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Prime Ministers Russell Mmiso Dlamini (Eswatini), and Mustafa Madbouly (Egypt) for the COMESA leaders’ dinner, State House Nairobi,
Others were African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Youssouf and COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe.
“We celebrate 30 years of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a transformative regional bloc that has powered integration across our region. We take pride in our journey of resilience and partnership, which has expanded markets, created opportunities, and strengthened our unity in confronting challenges. At the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State, we will deliberate on the need to drive change to shape the next phase of Africa’s transformation through digital technology,” Ruto said.
