President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia recently participated in the 23rd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit held in Bujumbura, Burundi, where he officially handed over the Chairmanship of the COMESA Authority to President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi. This summit, conducted under the theme, “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism,” underscored a renewed commitment to fostering economic integration among member states.
In his address, President Hichilema stressed the critical need to boost intra-COMESA trade, which currently stands at a mere 12%. He highlighted Zambia’s dedication, as the outgoing Chair, to enhancing the regional bloc’s collaborative efforts, particularly in agricultural research and productivity initiatives. Notably, during Zambia’s tenure, COMESA experienced a remarkable increase in total export value to the global market, surging by 210% from $100 billion in 2020 to an impressive $219 billion in 2023.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Hichilema engaged in bilateral meetings with President William Ruto of Kenya and HE Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia. These discussions aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and address shared interests. Additionally, President Hichilema introduced Dr. Samuel Maimbo as Zambia’s candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank, expressing gratitude for the support received from African leaders. In return, Zambia pledged its backing for former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the AU Commission Chairperson.
Upon returning from the summit, President Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to regional integration as a fundamental aspect of the nation’s economic strategy. He emphasized, “Our goal is to make Zambia a land-linked nation, leveraging our strategic position to enhance trade and connectivity.”
As Burundi assumes the COMESA Chairmanship and Kenya takes on the role of deputy, Zambia remains a key player in supporting the goals and initiatives of the regional organization as an outgoing member of the COMESA Bureau. President Hichilema’s leadership and proactive approach set a strong foundation for continued collaboration and growth within the COMESA community.
