Hakainde Hichilema to attend COMESA economic summit in Harare
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambianobserver
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is due to travel to Harare to attend the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit, scheduled for 22 October 2026. Zambia’s foreign ministry presents his participation as a way to advance regional integration and the country’s economic interests, Zambianobserver reports.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is due to attend the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit in Harare on 22 October 2026, according to Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting is being hosted by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Leaders are to review regional integration and COMESA’s priority programmes. The summit will also see the organisation’s chairmanship pass from Kenyan President William Ruto to Emmerson Mnangagwa. The new bureau will comprise Zimbabwe as chair, Eswatini as vice-chair and Kenya as rapporteur.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Hichilema is due to hold bilateral talks on cooperation, trade and investment. The ministry says Zambia intends, in particular, to advocate removing trade barriers and strengthening regional value chains.
The visit comes the day after Hichilema’s remote participation in the SADC extraordinary summit on 21 October, and following the presentation of his 2026–2031 development plan, announced on 12 October.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
