By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has called on African countries to dismantle barriers to regional trade, and economic cooperation, and warned that conflict and insecurity threatened the continent’s quest for industrialization, investment and shared prosperity.
He was officially opening the 21st Meeting of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, which will chart the bloc’s strategic direction on regional integration.
“Let our borders be administrative borders, not trade borders. One market, one future,” he said, urging countries to deepen regional integration and ensure that their people benefit from expanded markets, investment and economic opportunities.
His remarks come as COMESA, a regional economic bloc of 21 member states, seeks to advance inclusive industrialization, investment and regional trade through stronger economic cooperation.
Professor Murwira said regional integration should not be measured merely by the growth of markets and trade volumes, but by improvements in people’s living standards, particularly those of young people.
However, he warned that these economic ambitions would remain difficult to achieve without peace and security, calling on African leaders to address conflicts that disrupt livelihoods, undermine development and threaten regional stability.
“We don’t need guns, but ploughs,” he said, questioning the origins of weapons fuelling conflicts across Africa and the interests sustaining their supply.
“Whose guns are blazing in Africa? Whose factories are making the guns that are killing the Africans? Who is aiding these conflicts? Do our people deserve it?” he asked.
He urged African countries to prioritize dialogue, preventive diplomacy and mediation while addressing the underlying political, social and economic causes of conflict.
“We already fought our wars of liberation. That was it. That must be the end. Now it’s time for peace, not to turn against each other,” he said.
Professor Murwira said regional security was inseparable from economic development, urging COMESA member states to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, organized crime, human and drug trafficking, cyber threats, illicit financial flows and climate-related insecurity.
He said countries should improve intelligence-sharing and coordinated responses while addressing the socio-economic vulnerabilities that fuel instability.
Murwira also cautioned against allowing Africa to remain trapped in a cycle of crises, calling for stronger intra-African trade, regional value chains, infrastructure connectivity, energy cooperation and food security to build resilient economies.
“People want Africa to remain in crisis mode. We should stop that one,” he said, urging countries to move beyond reacting to emergencies towards building economies capable of withstanding global shocks.
He said no country could effectively insulate itself from international economic and geopolitical disruptions without cooperation with its neighbours.
“Our strength lies in our shared markets, our heritage, our productive capacities, our human capital and infrastructure,” he said.
Murwira urged African countries to pursue solutions to continental challenges through African institutions rather than becoming entangled in geopolitical rivalries.
He said Zimbabwe’s election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, with African support, presented an opportunity to amplify the voices of Africa and the wider Global South on international peace and security.
“Zimbabwe will champion dialogue. Zimbabwe is a bridge builder and will continue being a bridge builder. We are friends to all, we are enemies to none,” he said.
Murwira called for a more representative and effective United Nations Security Council, while emphasizing sovereignty, territorial integrity, African ownership and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The ministerial meeting is expected to consider matters of regional cooperation, peace, security and governance, providing strategic guidance ahead of the summit of heads of state and government.
The summit is being held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialization, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
New Ziana
