By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has called on Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states to eliminate unnecessary tariff and non-tariff barriers to facilitate regional trade and strengthen industrial value chains.
Speaking at the Green Industry Connect meeting in Harare on Monday, Professor Murwira said greater regional cooperation was essential to unlocking economic opportunities and promoting sustainable industrial development across the bloc.
The event, which marked the beginning of activities ahead of the COMESA Summit later this week, focused on developing competitive, sustainable and circular value chains in the leather, textiles, plastics and electronic waste sectors across Eastern and Southern Africa.
“There is a need for COMESA member States to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to boost intra-African trade. We must also work collectively rather than individualistic sovereignty, and by so doing, we can grow some sectors as a regional value chain instead of a stand-alone value chain. This Green Industry Connect allows us to embrace green practices,” Professor Murwira said.
COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Kapwepwe called on member states to promote sustainable production practices, including resource-efficient manufacturing and environmentally responsible supply chain management.
She also encouraged participants to explore available financing mechanisms to mobilise investment in circular businesses across the targeted sectors.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive, Christopher Mugaga said the Green Industry Connect provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss sustainable business practices and strategies for advancing the green economy within the regional bloc.
“We should deliberate on areas around environmental changes, the green economy and seeing how we can sustainably grow our economies as we divorce from traditional sources of energy to drive economic growth.
“This event is anchored within a robust set of regional and global priorities, including the COMESA Industrialisation Strategy which focuses on value addition, agro-industrial upgrading, and green industrial development; the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on strengthening intra-African value chains in leather, textiles, plastics, and electronics; the SWITCH-2-CE Programme which is on translating circular economy objectives into private sector engagement and investment; the AU Agenda 2063 and the AU Circular Economy Action Plan,” he said.
The Green Industry Connect forms part of the preparatory activities leading up to the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, scheduled for October 22, 2026.
The gathering brought together government officials, industry representatives, investors, development partners and circular economy practitioners to examine opportunities and challenges in the targeted sectors, while exploring avenues for collaboration and investment in sustainable industrial development.
A business forum is scheduled for Tuesday, followed by a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on Wednesday. The programme will culminate in the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit on Thursday, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to assume the chairmanship of the regional economic bloc.
New Ziana
