Update: Hichilema becomes COMESA vice-chair and hands over title deed for new headquarters in Lusaka

President Hakainde Hichilema has become Vice Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) after the 25th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare on Thursday 22 October. Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as chairperson from Kenya's President William Ruto, who had led the bloc since October 2025. "I do so with full confidence in my dear brother, President Emmerson Mnangagwa," Mr Ruto said as he handed over. The summit was held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, Harare, under the theme "One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA." More than 1,000 delegates were expected. Leaders discussed regional integration, industrialisation and adding value to raw materials, digitalisation, trade and investment, and bringing women and youth into cross-border supply chains. Mr Hichilema, speaking at the summit for the first time as Zambia's President, urged the 21 member states to trade more with each other. "We called on all the 21 COMESA member states to trade more with each other before looking elsewhere," he said, arguing that this would create jobs and business opportunities. He said the Grow Zambia Agenda "also topped our discussions." He said Zambia had handed over a certificate of title deed to allow construction of a new COMESA headquarters in Lusaka, where the bloc's Secretariat is based. After taking the vice-chair he left for Lusaka, saying, "We remain committed to delivering for all our people." The size and location of the plot, and the cost of the new headquarters, were not given. Before the summit it had been reported that the new bureau would have Zimbabwe as chair, Eswatini as vice-chair and Kenya as rapporteur; Mr Hichilema's own remarks confirm that he now holds the vice-chair. ## Why it matters COMESA exists to make it cheaper and easier for member countries to trade with each other, and Zambia, which sells copper and maize acr