President Mnangagwa together with other heads of State poses for a commemorative photo at the COMESA Heads of State Summit in Mt Hampden, Zimbabwe
By Dickson Bandera
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to prioritise value addition, industrialisation, agricultural modernisation and regional trade facilitation during Zimbabwe’s tenure as chair of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
In his address at the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, after taking over Chairmanship from President Ruto, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would work with member states to accelerate economic growth, strengthen regional integration and ensure that the benefits of cooperation reach ordinary citizens.
Zimbabwe assumes the chairmanship under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
President Mnangagwa said the summit had underscored the importance of interconnected markets in driving modernisation, industrial development and increased access to regional and international markets.
“The theme of our summit brings to the fore the urgent need for the interconnectivity of our markets to accelerate modernization and industrialization,” he said.
He noted that the growth of intra-COMESA projects demonstrated the value of regional cooperation, adding that member states needed to expand trade opportunities and strengthen collective efforts to improve the livelihoods of their people.
The President identified transport bottlenecks, limited access to finance for young people, women and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as the need for wider adoption of digital trade systems, as key issues requiring urgent attention.
He said Zimbabwe would use its chairmanship to work closely with other member states to fast-track value addition and beneficiation, enabling countries to derive greater economic returns from their natural resources.
Zimbabwe will also champion the development of agro-processing industrial parks and climate-proofing of agriculture as part of efforts to strengthen regional food security and build resilience against climate-related challenges.
The President emphasised that industrialisation required reliable transport infrastructure, particularly roads and railways, supported by sustainable, long-term financing arrangements.
He called for innovative funding models and stronger partnerships with development partners to support infrastructure development and improve the movement of goods across the region.
“Integration is only a success when it benefits the ordinary citizen,” President Mnangagwa said.
He added that education and skills development systems across the region needed to be aligned with the production of goods and services that respond directly to the needs of economies and communities.
The President also commended the private sector for participating in discussions on regional economic development, describing its involvement as crucial to advancing industrialisation, investment and trade.
Zimbabwe’s chairmanship follows the tenure of Kenyan President William Ruto, whom President Mnangagwa commended for providing leadership to the regional bloc, particularly in advancing digitalisation and the development of robust value chains.
He also congratulated Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on his appointment as COMESA Vice-Chairperson, expressing confidence that Zimbabwe and Zambia would work together to advance the bloc’s economic ambitions.
COMESA remains an important regional platform for promoting trade and economic cooperation among its member states. Its integration agenda seeks to expand market access, encourage investment and strengthen the competitiveness of regional economies.
President Mnangagwa said the success of the regional bloc would depend on the collective commitment of member states to implement policies that stimulate production, improve infrastructure and create opportunities for their citizens.
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to international cooperation, stating that the country remained “a friend to all and an enemy to none”.
The President called on African countries to unite behind a common development agenda capable of delivering sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.
“With unity of purpose, let us deliver a better, more prosperous future for the people of Africa,” he said.