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The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Zimbabwe have signed an agreement for Zimbabwe to host the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare from Oct. 19 to 22, 2026.
The Hosting Agreement was signed in Harare on Monday by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amon Murwira and COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Mpundu-Kapwepwe.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Kapwepwe thanked President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zimbabwean government and people for agreeing to host the summit.
She also commended the National Organising Committee and government officials for working with the COMESA Secretariat, saying a Secretariat delegation that met Zimbabwean officials in July was satisfied with the preparations.
The 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 Heads of State and Government to shape the next chapter of regional integration with focus on trade, investment and industrialisation,” Kapwepwe said.
She said the agenda would include the launch of the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026-2030 and the 2025 Annual Report, as well as discussions on the state of regional integration, industrialisation and regional value chains in critical minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.
The summit will also consider reports from the Council of Ministers, ministers of foreign affairs and the COMESA Business Forum, she said.
Ahead of the summit, the COMESA Green Connect Forum and COMESA Business Forum will be held on Oct. 19 and 20 respectively.
Kapwepwe said the forums would bring together policymakers, investors, business leaders, development partners and academics to discuss ways of accelerating industrialisation and deepening regional integration.
She said hosting the summit would give Zimbabwe an opportunity to strengthen its position as a gateway for regional trade and investment while advancing its industrialisation agenda.
“The 25th Summit will be an opportunity to turn regional ambition into greater economic opportunity, stronger value chains and increased investment,” Kapwepwe said.
Following the signing ceremony, COMESA and the Zimbabwean government visited the New Parliament of Zimbabwe, which has been designated as the venue for the summit.
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