Zimbabwe has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional economic integration and trade governance under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission. This emerged during a courtesy call by COMESA Competition Commission Chief Executive Officer, Dr Willard Mwemba, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, in Harare yesterday.
In his welcome remarks, Professor Murwira said Zimbabwe remains committed to regional integration and promoting equitable economic development through strong legal and institutional frameworks.
“I acknowledge the Commission’s engagement with Zimbabwe and its contribution to strengthening regional competition and consumer protection frameworks.
“Zimbabwe is commited to regional integration under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),” Professor Murwira added.
Professor Murwira said Zimbabwe’s approach was guided by Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution, which focus on safeguarding national interests, promoting regional cooperation and ensuring balanced economic growth.
“Guided by Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe is committed to advancing national interests through regional integration, and promoting equitable economic development,” he said.
The Minister highlighted Zimbabwe’s efforts to strengthen regional trade governance through cooperation agreements signed between the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission and local regulatory bodies.
“In this regard, Zimbabwe continues to safeguard fundamental rights and promote the strengthening of regional trade governance institutions.
“This can be through legal frameworks such as the Memoranda of Understanding between the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission and the Competition and Tariff Commission of Zimbabwe; and the Consumer Protection Commission of Zimbabwe that were signed in 2021 and 2023,” Professor Murwira said.
During the deliberations, Dr Mwemba also commended Zimbabwe for its growing alignment with regional competition standards and the impact of capacity-building programmes facilitated by the COMESA commission.
“My Commission has facilitated several capacity building workshops for the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs which has been evident in Zimbabwe’s court rulings on competition-related cases where reference is made to regional practice,” Dr Mwemba said.
He also underscored the significance of World Competition Day within the COMESA region.
“World Competition Day is a critical day in COMESA and it my desire is to see Member States giving the day befitting prominence,” he said.
COMESA is a regional economic community made up of 21 member states aimed at promoting regional integration through trade and investment. Zimbabwe has increasingly positioned itself as an active participant in regional economic governance and trade facilitation initiatives.
