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Zimbabwe , 22 October 2026 - Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday formally handed over the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, Harare.
Addressing fellow leaders and delegates, President Ruto emphasised the need for Africa to engage the world as an equal partner rather than through unequal or exploitative arrangements.
“We come together as one market, speaking with one voice,” Ruto said. “We come not in inequality or exploitative engagement, and not in a spirit of charity, but in genuine partnership , seeking win-win outcomes that deliver shared prosperity for our people.”
He stressed that Africa seeks partners who recognise its young workforce, abundant mineral resources, and determination to process those minerals on the continent. “We seek partners who are fair in their dealings and reliable in their word,” he added. “Africa is ready to sit at the table with others , not as a perpetual recipient, but as a full partner shaping its own destiny.”
Ruto expressed confidence that under Mnangagwa’s leadership, COMESA would pursue greater ambition, increase intra-regional trade, boost production within the region, and strengthen its role in advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 under conditions of peace and stability.
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The Kenyan leader also noted recent engagements with President Mnangagwa on investment opportunities in Zimbabwe and acknowledged the presence of other African heads of state, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, as evidence of a continent choosing its future together.
“Let us therefore build with new determination. Let us work as equals, as partners, and as brothers and sisters committed to the success of our common market,” Ruto said, drawing applause from the gathering.
The summit, running under the theme “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA,” brings together leaders from the 21-member bloc representing a market of approximately 640 million people. Key items on the agenda include the launch of COMESA’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026,2030 and discussions on industrialisation, value addition, and deeper economic integration.
The handover marks the end of Kenya’s tenure as chair and the beginning of Zimbabwe’s leadership of the regional body for the 2026–2027 term.