Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa Assumes COMESA Chairmanship from Kenya's Ruto

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe assumed the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on October 22, 2026. During the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare, Mnangagwa succeeded Kenyan President William Ruto for the 2026-2027 term.

Under the theme "One Market, One Future," Mnangagwa committed to fast-tracking value addition, beneficiation, and the implementation of the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026-2030. His priorities for the term include reducing non-tariff barriers, enhancing digital trade systems, and promoting agro-processing and climate-proofing agriculture to secure regional food supplies.

Outgoing Chairperson William Ruto attended the summit after canceling a planned trip to Russia, a decision made amid a cost-of-living crisis and political unrest in Kenya. Ruto urged the 21-member bloc to implement a market levy under Article 168 of the COMESA Treaty to create sustainable financing. He argued that the region should mobilize its 4 trillion dollars in domestic financial assets rather than relying on foreign funding, while advocating for local processing of raw materials to mitigate global supply chain disruptions.