adminNations the world over revere and protect the legacies of their icons.
In this regard, we feel that there is an issue that many of us take for granted – President Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s leadership and legacy.
Since last year, we have seen a number of items including clothing apparel such as berets and work-suits spotting a distinctive feature of President Mugabe – his signature.
To date, we have not heard anyone arguing that this is not the correct imitation of his signature, a signature that has been appended on thousands of documents in his distinguished career in the service of the nation.
It is also a well-known signature because at independence, a handwriting expert was called in to analyse the signature and try to decipher the personality behind it.
When Zimbabwe’s history is told in the future, that signature will be an important aspect of that historical narrative.
The foreign media, unlike the local media, has written a lot about this in the past few months.
We cannot accuse them of realising the value of what we have, when we seem disinterested.
Does this new phenomenon mean that Zimbabweans now acknowledge the President’s revolutionary works, that is through the recognition of this imprint – his signature?
To some it has become a fashion imprint, the latest fad in town adorning car stickers, berets and T-shirts.
However, the million dollar question is: who controls the rights to the President’s intellectual property – his signature especially?
Is there a foundation in place to ensure that this signature and other items of significance about President Mugabe’s life and works are well maintained and used not only to benefit him as the creator of that intellectual property, but his family and the nation as a whole?
If this arrangement is not in place, are there plans to establish that foundation? Should it be run by members of his family, Zanu-PF supporters, business people, etc?
If all this has been ad hoc, we do not have to reinvent the wheel.
South Africa has honoured its founding leader, former president Nelson Mandela by ensuring that there are a number of foundations to cater for the interests and preservation of his legacy, including his palm print.
The People’s Republic of China has done the same with the hero of their cultural revolution – General Mao Tse Tung.
We worry about the abuse of the President’s signature where people will end up profiteering at the expense of other worthy causes.
In this age of rapid electronic developments, we also feel that the signature should be a registered trade mark, which will only be used by those who have been granted the permission to do so, in this case, a foundation.
Notwithstanding, it is interesting to see how the President’s persona has had such an impact on people’s lives, especially that imprint (the signature) that has shaped Zimbabwe’s socio-economic, political, cultural and spiritual landscape for almost five decades.
The signature is a national treasure that should be protected for the greater good.
Online Reporter