COMESA Trade Barriers Come Under Spotlight Ahead of Summit

September 25, 2026

Story by Owen Mandovha

BUSINESS leaders are calling for the removal of non-trade barriers in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to increase intra-regional trade.

The call comes as Zimbabwe prepares to assume the chairmanship of the regional trading bloc next month.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the CEO Africa Roundtable, Mr Kipson Gundani, several non-tariff barriers continue to impede the growth of intra-trade among COMESA partners.

He said Zimbabwe’s US$15 million intra-COMESA trade figures require scrutiny at the COMESA Business Forum set for next month.

“Tariffs are the main hindrance to enhancing intra-trade, but there are also non-tariff barriers such as lack of infrastructure, digital gaps that still impede trade between countries.”

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Chief Executive Officer Mr Christopher Mugaga said the regional economic bloc, with a population of more than 600 million, has the potential to unlock trade by focusing on each country’s competitive advantage.

“The potential remains huge given that each member country exports some raw materials, especially to Europe and we can make sure that we trade with each other by way of beneficiation, which will benefit each country.”

Various industrial linkages and value chains will come under the spotlight to establish ways of growing trade, which Zimbabwe seeks to leverage to meet some of the objectives enshrined in the National Development Strategy Two to industrialise the economy and increase export earnings.