By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
COMESA and the Republic of Zimbabwe took an important step towards the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, with the signing of the Hosting Agreement in Harare.
The Agreement was jointly signed by Hon. Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and H.E. Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, Secretary General of COMESA, formally marking a key milestone in preparations for the Summit, which will be held in Harare from 19 to 22 October 2026.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary General Kapwepwe conveyed her sincere appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Government and people of Zimbabwe, for graciously accepting to host the Summit. She also thanked the National Organizing Committee and Government officials for their excellent collaboration with the COMESA Secretariat in facilitating preparations, noting that a Secretariat delegation had met with Zimbabwean officials in July 2026 and was satisfied with the good progress made.
The 25th COMESA Summit will be held under the theme:
“ONE MARKET, ONE FUTURE: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
The Summit will provide a platform for COMESA Heads of State and Government to shape the next chapter of regional integration — strengthening trade, investment, industrialisation and opportunities across the region. Deliberations are expected to include the launch of the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2026–2030, the launch of the 2025 Annual Report, the state of regional integration, industrialisation and regional value chains in critical minerals, agriculture and manufacturing, as well as reports from the Council of Ministers, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Business Forum.
Ahead of the Summit, the COMESA Green Connect Forum and the COMESA Business Forum will take place on 19 and 20 October 2026 respectively, bringing together policymakers, investors, business leaders, development partners and academia to discuss measures to accelerate industrialisation, catalyse investment and deepen regional integration.
For Zimbabwe, hosting the Summit offers an opportunity to strengthen its position as a strategic gateway for regional trade and investment, advance its industrialisation agenda, boost intra-COMESA trade and cross-border investment, showcase its trade, tourism and investment opportunities, and reinforce its leadership role within the COMESA region.
Following the signing ceremony, COMESA and the Government of Zimbabwe visited the New Parliament of Zimbabwe, the designated venue for the forthcoming Summit.
From commitments to implementation, the 25th Summit will be an opportunity to turn regional ambition into greater economic opportunity, stronger value chains, increased investment and a more integrated COMESA market.
