Harare, (New Ziana) – The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has congratulated President Emmerson Mnangagwa on assuming the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), describing the development as a reflection of the confidence and trust regional leaders have in his leadership.
President Mnangagwa assumed the COMESA chairmanship on Thursday, pledging Zimbabwe’s commitment to consolidating regional gains and building on existing achievements towards creating an integrated, competitive and prosperous bloc.
In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya said the appointment demonstrated the high regard in which President Mnangagwa was held by his regional counterparts.
“On behalf of the two Vice Presidents, advisors and staff in the Office of the President and Cabinet, I heartily extend our profound congratulations to you, Your Excellency, on your historic assumption of the chairmanship of the COMESA. The historic development is a clear testimony to the immense confidence, trust and high regard that your regional peers have in your astute and visionary leadership, and in Zimbabwe’s capacity to steer the regional block for the 2026-2027 stretch,” Dr Rushwaya said.
He said the far-reaching decisions and commitments adopted at the summit reflected Zimbabwe’s domestic policies, and positioned the country to contribute towards building a new Africa anchored on self-reliance and a heritage-based economy, with beneficiation, industrialisation and intra-African trade at the centre of its development agenda.
Dr Rushwaya reaffirmed the OPC’s support for President Mnangagwa’s vision of ensuring that Africa’s abundant natural resources are processed and beneficiated locally to drive industrialisation, create jobs and improve people’s livelihoods.
He also pledged the office’s continued support, administrative efficiency and alignment with the President’s objectives to ensure that Zimbabwe’s tenure at the helm of COMESA delivered meaningful and lasting regional impact.
“Guided by our foreign policy position that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none, and that Zimbabwe is Open for Business, we look forward to a successful tenure anchored on multilateralism, dialogue and mutual respect. May God grant you continued wisdom, good health and strength as you lead our nation and the wider COMESA region toward a more integrated, competitive and prosperous future,” Dr Rushwaya said.
President Mnangagwa received the chairmanship from outgoing chairman, Kenyan President William Ruto, and said Zimbabwe will work with all 21 member states during its tenure to accelerate value addition and beneficiation, promote inclusive industrialisation and strengthen the region’s participation in regional value chains.
The summit was held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA”, which underscored the importance of regional inter-connectedness in strengthening productive capacity, expanding markets and advancing the bloc’s shared development aspirations.
New Ziana
