By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s assumption of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) chairmanship is expected to give local businesses greater access to regional markets while strengthening the country’s role in shaping policies on trade and investment.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to take over the leadership of the 21-member regional bloc from Kenyan President William Ruto during the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, to be held in Harare next month.
The one-year tenure, running from 2026 to 2027, comes at a time when COMESA is seeking to strengthen economic integration among member states and advance initiatives aimed at creating a larger and more competitive African market.
The bloc brings together a market of more than 640 million people, with a combined gross domestic product of about US$1,2 trillion and significant trading links extending beyond its borders.
For Zimbabwe, the chairmanship presents an opportunity to push for greater regional market access for locally manufactured products, particularly as the country seeks to expand exports, promote value addition and strengthen domestic industrial capacity.
National SMEs Advisory Council, chairperson Dumisani Ncube said Zimbabwean small and medium enterprises could benefit from increased interaction with businesses and investors from across the region.
“Now that we are the leadership of COMESA, and we are chairing as a country, we as SMEs are very happy to hear that,” Ncube said.
He said Zimbabwe should use the position to promote coordinated policies among member states while addressing obstacles that continue to constrain cross-border commerce.
“We need to coordinate our policies across the 21 member states to address our…infrastructure deficiencies, and market access,” he said.
Ncube said regional meetings and business platforms associated with the COMESA programme could also provide SMEs with opportunities to establish direct relationships with potential investors and customers.
He said stronger institutional involvement could help protect entrepreneurs from fraudulent investment schemes, which have resulted in some businesspeople losing money.
“Most of our SMEs have been scammed when trying to get investors. Some investors say ‘put so much into my account so that I become your partner,’ and in the process people lose money,” he said.
According to Ncube, bringing investors and businesses together through recognized platforms would improve confidence and reduce the risks associated with dealing with dubious intermediaries.
“Now with these summits, they will be talking directly to the right investors and Government will be involved. That builds confidence,” he said.
He said the summit would also provide Zimbabwe with an opportunity to showcase its economic reforms and improve its image among potential investors.
The chairmanship comes as African countries pursue deeper integration through initiatives including the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Zimbabwean companies, improved implementation of these frameworks could create opportunities to participate in regional supply chains, increase exports and access new markets.
The Government has also identified industrialization, investment mobilization, value addition and job creation as key components of its broader economic development agenda.
With Zimbabwe hosting the COMESA summit, the country will have an opportunity not only to influence the bloc’s policy direction but also to use the regional spotlight to position itself as a destination for trade, investment and industrial partnerships.
New Ziana
