Zimbabwe Proposes COMESA Fund for Green Industrial Projects

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

Zimbabwe has proposed the establishment of a regional circular economy fund to finance green industrial projects across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as the country calls on member states to turn policy commitments into practical economic outcomes.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu made the proposal on Monday, 19 October 2026, while addressing the COMESA Green Industries Connect conference at the Harare International Conference Centre. He said sustainable industrialisation was essential to strengthening economic resilience, improving competitiveness and using resources more efficiently across the 21-member regional bloc.

“Our gathering comes at a defining moment for our region, as we intensify efforts to expand manufacturing, mobilise investment, strengthen regional value chains, and create sustainable employment,” Ndlovu told delegates. “We must move beyond commitments and translate our shared industrialisation ambitions into concrete outcomes.”

The proposed COMESA Circular Economy Fund would support commercially viable enterprises investing in cleaner production, energy-efficient machinery, recycling infrastructure and technologies that convert waste into useful products. Ndlovu said the facility would require transparent eligibility criteria and sustainable financing mechanisms to ensure that funding supports viable projects with measurable industrial and environmental benefits.

The proposal comes as COMESA seeks to expand circular business models and strengthen value chains in sectors including leather, textiles, plastics and electronic waste. Recommendations from the Green Industries Connect are expected to feed into discussions at the bloc’s 25th Heads of State and Government Summit.

Zimbabwe outlines green industrial measures

Ndlovu said Zimbabwe was working with the Climate Technology Centre and Network on a national decarbonisation roadmap for the cement industry. He also highlighted investments in renewable energy, energy-efficient machinery and water-recycling systems as part of efforts to improve industrial performance and reduce environmental impacts.

The minister called for closer regional cooperation to remove barriers that increase the cost of trading manufactured goods. He said member states should align green standards, harmonise product testing and strengthen conformity assessments to reduce compliance costs and improve trade within Africa. Ndlovu also identified electric mobility as an emerging industrial opportunity, urging countries to develop capacity across the value chain, including battery technologies, charging infrastructure, electric vehicle assembly and end-of-life battery recycling.

He said regional economies needed to move beyond exporting raw materials and capture more value through processing and manufacturing. Citing Zimbabwe’s shipment of locally processed lithium sulphate to China, Ndlovu highlighted the importance of mineral beneficiation and agro-processing in retaining a greater share of economic value within domestic economies. “The success of this agenda will be measured not by the number of strategies adopted, but by the investments mobilised, factories modernised, resources used more efficiently, enterprises developed, and jobs created,” he said.

COMESA chairmanship offers regional opportunities

Zimbabwe is preparing to assume the rotating chairmanship of COMESA at the bloc’s 25th summit, scheduled for 22 October 2026 in Harare. The summit follows several days of business and policy engagements, including the Green Industries Connect and the COMESA Business Forum.

The chairmanship is expected to give Zimbabwe a platform to promote its industrialisation and regional trade priorities while strengthening engagement with businesses, investors and development partners. The country intends to encourage exports of finished and processed goods, including agro-industrial products, textiles, leather products and beneficiated minerals, rather than relying primarily on raw-material exports.

Other priorities include reducing non-tariff barriers, streamlining customs procedures and lowering cross-border transport and logistics costs. Zimbabwe also hopes to use regional business platforms and the Multisectoral International Exhibition, running at the Harare International Conference Centre from 19 to 21 October, to showcase investment opportunities and connect local enterprises with regional markets.

Ndlovu reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s willingness to work with COMESA member states, the Secretariat and private-sector stakeholders to advance practical partnerships. The proposed circular economy fund remains a proposal. Its eventual impact will depend on whether member states and financing partners agree on its structure, funding sources and implementation arrangements.

For Zimbabwean businesses, the broader opportunity lies in converting regional market access into increased production, value addition, investment and employment.

COMESA Circular Economy Fund