President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the new chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the 21-nation trade bloc. Kenya's President William Ruto handed over the chairmanship on Thursday at the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, held at the New Parliament Building in Harare.

Announcing the new bureau for 2026–2027, Ruto named Mnangagwa as chairperson and Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema as vice-chairperson, Dawan Africa reported. "Allow me now to hand over the instruments of power to the new Chairperson," he said. The Herald also reported Hichilema as vice-chair.

The summit's theme was "One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA".

What Mnangagwa said

In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would work with member states to speed up industrial production, strengthen regional value chains and make sure African countries benefit more from their natural resources, 263Chat reported.

"The message to the region is that the natural endowments of Africa must industrialise our economies, create jobs and broad-based empowerment which improve the quality of lives of our peoples," he said.

He called for action on trade barriers and for long-term money for roads, rail, power and digital networks. "Persistent non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps and policy mis-alignments require bold decisions," he said, adding that simpler border procedures and digital trade systems should make it easier for business people to move between countries. He also called for better access to finance for women, young people and small businesses.

What Ruto said

"When we trade with one another, we grow together," Ruto told the summit, according to Dawan Africa. Handing over, he said he trusted that under Mnangagwa's chairmanship "we will turn the ambition of one market, one future into progress our people can see and feel" (263Chat).

"Africa does not come to sit at the edge of the table; it comes to set up the table as an equal partner," he added.

Why it matters

COMESA's members stretch from Egypt and Tunisia to Eswatini and include Zimbabwe's neighbours Zambia and Malawi. As chair for the coming year, Zimbabwe will lead the bloc's work on regional trade and industrialisation. Ruto had held the chair since the 24th summit in Nairobi in October 2025.

What we don't know yet

Which specific programmes Zimbabwe will push during its year as chair.

The full list of decisions adopted at the summit; the final communiqué had not been published when we checked.

Sources: 263Chat, "Mnangagwa Takes Over COMESA Chairmanship, Calls for Industrialisation", 22 Oct 2026: https://www.263chat.com/mnangagwa-takes-over-comesa-chairmanship-calls-for-industrialisation/ · Dawan Africa (Hassan Wekesa), "Trading Together Means Growing Together, Ruto Tells COMESA Leaders", 22 Oct 2026: https://www.dawan.africa/news/trading-together-means-growing-together-ruto-tells-comesa-leaders · The Herald (Wallace Ruzvidzo), "President Mnangagwa takes over as COMESA Chairperson", 22 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/president-mnangagwa-takes-over-as-comesa-chairperson/