By Tatenda Mujeyi
Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of both the African Regional Intellectual Property Office, ARIPO, administrative council and council of ministers whose meetings will be held in Victoria Falls from December 6 to 10.
The assumption of the ARIPO chairperson position by Zimbabwe will follow the country’s host of both the Council of Ministers meeting and the Administrative council scheduled for Victoria Falls next week.
“Following our host of both the ARIPO Administrative council and the Council of Ministers scheduled for Victoria Falls from the 6th to 8th and 9th to 10th respectively, Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of both structures.” Permanent Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabhiza said.
The assumption of the chairperson of ARIPO is expected to bolster Zimbabwe’s intentions to improve the general adoption of intellectual property laws policies and standards and comes at a time government has designed a special department for Intellectual Property.
“The setting up of the companies and intellectual property office is motivated by serious need to improve service delivery and to promote creativity and innovation including access to relevant data bases for research purposes by researchers.” The Chief Registrar Companies and Intellectual Property Office Mr Mushayi said.
The African Regional Intellectual Property Office commended Zimbabwe’s commitment to the improvement of intellectual property conditions in Zimbabwe in line with global standards.
“ARIPO was founded in Zimbabwe in 1982 and is also headquartered here, this speaks of vast commitment by the Zimbabwean government to foster for adoption of intellectual property rights at most levels in line with the global trends.” ARIPO Director General Bemanya Twebaze said.
The meeting is expected to take place in physical format with 12 ministers having confirmed their attendance despite the restrictions to travel that have been necessitated by the new COVID-19 mutation having put Southern Africa under strict monitoring.
“We have so far received confirmation from over 120 delegates and 12 Ministers from the 21 ARIPO member states, users of the ARIPO system among other delegates and we are expecting to be in Victoria Falls for the greater part of next week for the two important ARIPO meetings,” ARIPO Director General Bemanya Twebaze also said.
Intellectual property remains a less explored product protection priority for African countries owing to the cost associated with registering trademarks, patents, copyrights despite the growing numbers of local designs.
The conference will see the Administration Council meeting convening between the 6th to the 8th of November with the Minister of legal and Parliamentary Affairs officially opening before the President Emerson Mnangagwa officially opens the Council of Ministers meeting to be held between 9th and 10th of the same month.
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