Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
THE World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has pledged to assist Zimbabwe in creating a new intellectual property (IP) strategy.
This came out on Monday when the visiting WIPO Director General, Mr Daren Tang paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the President, Mr Tang said, given that Zimbabweans are harnessing innovation, entrepreneurial and creative potential, these ideas need to be protected by intellectual property.
“The people of Zimbabwe are beginning to harness their innovation, entrepreneurial and creative potential and I think intellectual property will become very important to this country’s development. When we start to innovate, create and become entrepreneurs, we are looking for new ideas, and these new ideas need to be protected by intellectual property.”
Mr Tang said as he meets with officials drawn from several sectors, focus will, among other issues, be on supporting the country’s innovation hubs to ensure the research and entrepreneurial energies are commercialised.
He also brought attention to the organisation’s intention to assist Zimbabwe with a new intellectual property strategy.
“So with the President and with the Minister of Justice, Mr Ziyambi Ziyambi, as well as many other ministers I’m meeting, we are going to focus our efforts on four or five major areas. First, how to support the innovation hubs of Zimbabwe, so that research and the entrepreneurial energies are commercialised. Secondly, how to support your creators. We are talking about people like Jah Prayzah. Of course, Zimbabwe has the legendary Oliver Mutukudzi, who started the combined Zimbabwean rhythms with jazz. We are looking at people like Comic Elder, who has become a very famous YouTube personality. How to make sure that, as they create, their creations are protected and enhanced by copyright,” he said.
“Our aim is for IP to accompany Zimbabweans who see innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as a way of life and a source of economic growth. At the national level, we also want to help Zimbabwe create a new IP strategy, working closely with the Minister and other stakeholders.”
Mr Tang will be in the country for the next three days and will meet various stakeholders as explained by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“As the Director General has indicated, we want to work closely with WIPO to unlock value in terms of intellectual property. As mentioned, the Chipinge coffee, the Shona sculpture, and even the creative industry, how can these be supported, developed and patented so that their works are protected. We are going to have several high-level engagements with the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Sports and Culture, and the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, to see how we can harness the knowledge that is at our disposal from WIPO and use it for the development of our country,” he said.
President Mnangagwa continues to call for young minds at the country’s tertiary institutions to come up with innovations that have an impact on national development.
Ensuring the innovations are patented and commercialised is vital, hence, a comprehensive IP strategy is key for the nation.
