Business Reporter Zimbabwe’s leadership of regional trade bloc, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), presents a transformative opportunity to access a market of over 600 million consumers across…
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s leadership of regional trade bloc, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), presents a transformative opportunity to access a market of over 600 million consumers across Africa, Buy Zimbabwe chairman Munyaradzi Hwengwere has said.
Zimbabwe is set to host the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit on 22 October 2026 at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden. By hosting the event, the country will take over the rotational bloc chairmanship from Kenya for the 2026–2027 term.
In an interview, Mr Hwengwere emphasized that Zimbabwe’s domestic market of 16 million people represents less than five percent of the continent’s total population, making regional integration not merely beneficial but essential for sustained economic growth.
“You only succeed when you are given access to bigger markets,” Mr Hwengwere said. “COMESA is a significant market in Africa. It accelerates Zimbabwe selling its products, trading its products across the African region. It’s a really critical milestone for Zimbabwe.”
Mr Hwengwere pointed to significant progress in Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, noting that locally produced goods now account for over 60 percent of products on domestic shelves—a dramatic increase from just 10 percent a few years ago.
“Those goods are not only for Zimbabwe. They are goods that must go into the rest of the country,” Mr Hwengwere said, referring to the broader African continent.
He highlighted successes in agriculture and mining as key pillars that must now register across the African region, with COMESA serving as the platform to facilitate that expansion.
Mr Hwengwere described Zimbabwe’s chairmanship role as one that requires aligning regional trade objectives with Zimbabwe’s domestic capabilities, given the country’s recent economic progress.
“I think there can’t be anything better than that,” he said when asked about Zimbabwe’s position as a global player through the chairmanship.
The COMESA market encompasses 21 member states across Eastern and Southern Africa, representing a combined GDP of over $800 billion. Zimbabwe’s accession to the chairmanship position is expected to boost the country’s export capacity and attract foreign direct investment seeking gateway access to the region.
Zimbabwe’s chairmanship comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to expand its export base beyond traditional commodities and into value-added products manufactured locally.
Mr Hwengwere concluded the interview reaffirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to leveraging the position for tangible economic outcomes, stating: “The success in agriculture, in mining—that success must now register across the African region.”
