The Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission, Dr. Willard Mwemba, paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. Prof. dr. A. Murwira this morning. He is in the country at the invitation of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. In his welcome remarks, Prof. dr. Murwira acknowledged the Commission’s engagement with Zimbabwe and its contribution to strengthening regional competition and consumer protection frameworks. He further re-affirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional integration under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). 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. In this regard, Zimbabwe continues to safeguard fundamental rights and promote and the strengthening of regional trade governance institutions 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. In his response, Dr. Mwemba highlighted that his Commission had 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. He highlighted that the World Competition Day is a critical day in COMESA and his desire was to see Member States giving the day a befitting prominence. Zimbabwe is earmarked to assume the Chairmanship of COMESA in October 2026 and is the current Vice Chair of the regional bloc. As incoming COMESA Chair, Zimbabwe is ready to continue engaging constructively with all COMESA institutions towards regional trade and economic growth.