Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube and Rutendo Nyeve, Zimpapers Writers
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today expected to officially open the two-day Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications (WIPO), which kicked off yesterday in Victoria Falls.
The symposium is organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in cooperation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe (CIPZ) and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the support of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO).
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ms Vimbai Nyemba said President Mnangagwa will be represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira with robust discussions and keynote speakers lined up for the day.
The President will be officiating at the burial of National Heroine Air Vice Marshal Winnie Cabby Mandeya at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
“Tomorrow we are going to have a great programme. It is going to be the official opening of the symposium by President Mnangagwa who is represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We will also have the Director-General of Hawaii speaking to us as well.
“We have got a lot of other speakers that are coming. They are flying in today. There is going to be a lot of unpacking of GIs. And on the political side, of course, we will hear the speech of President Mnangagwa speaking to us on the policies, how Zimbabwe is fairing in terms of the policies relating to geographical indications,” said Ms Nyemba.
Geographical Indications, or GIs, are distinctive signs used to identify a product as originating from a specific geographical area, where the quality, reputation, or characteristics of that product are essentially attributable to its place of origin.
In Zimbabwe, products like Mazowe Oranges, Nyanga Trout, and Mutoko Tomatoes are some of the examples that are deeply rooted in the terrier and traditional know-how.
Ms Nyemba said GIs are important for Zimbabwe because they provide an opportunity to formally recognise and protect these local products in both domestic and international markets and ensure that communities benefit from the commercial value of their unique goods while also helping preserve cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.
She said Zimbabwe’s hosting of this global symposium is a powerful endorsement of the growing commitment to intellectual property rights and innovation-led development as it positions the nation as a leader in the African region in championing GIs and sustainable development.
“This event has brought together policymakers, legal experts, producers, and global stakeholders to share experiences and shape the future of GIs.
“Hosting it here in Victoria Falls — an iconic Unesco World Heritage Site has also highlighted the synergy between natural heritage, culture, and economic potential,” said Ms Nyemba.
She said the symposium is a platform to showcase the readiness to modernise IP systems, enhance trade, and empower our rural communities.
“It also aligns with our Vision 2030 goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which emphasises value addition, rural transformation, and intra-African trade,” said Ms Nyemba.
To the farmers, artisans, and producers across Zimbabwe, Ms Nyemba said their traditional knowledge, local resources, and unique ways of production are national treasures which GIs can turn into sources of income, pride, and international recognition.
She said her ministry, through the Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe (CIPZ), is there to assist them in understanding and accessing these opportunities.
“We urge you to engage with us, protect your products, and become part of this transformative journey,” said Ms Nyemba.
Turning to the legal frameworks, Ms Nyemba said Zimbabwe’s accession to the Lisbon Agreement is a major milestone for Zimbabwe as it enables the nation to register and protect it’s geographical indications in over 55 member states through a single international procedure.
“This means our local producers can gain exclusive rights to market their GI products abroad, reducing the risk of misuse or imitation.
“Economically, this translates into enhanced export potential, higher product value, rural job creation, and inclusive growth, especially for smallholder farmers and artisanal producers,” said Ms Nyemba.
She said by leveraging GIS, Zimbabwe can position itself as a competitive player in premium markets globally, especially in the agri-food and handicraft sectors.
Meanwhile, Goverment has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and creators to secure streamlined global protection for their industrial designs and origin-linked products in a bid to enhance innovation, competitiveness and participation in global value chains.
This was revealed by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, during the World Symposium on Geographical Indications (WIPO), which kicked off in Victoria Falls yesterday.
Minister Ziyambi said the Government has already made significant strides in terms of modernising the intellectual property framework and aligning it with best international practices.
“I am proud to announce that Zimbabwe is actively pursuing accession to two landmark international instruments, that is the Lisbon Agreement on Geographical Indications and the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi said Zimbabwe’s efforts to join the Lisbon Agreement signal its determination to provide strong, effective, and internationally recognised protection for the country’s origin-linked products such as aromatic teas, unique agro-products or artisanal crafts rooted in its cultural landscapes.
“This step will not only enhance the economic viability of rural and indigenous producers but will also ensure that Zimbabwe’s distinctive heritage is properly acknowledged and safeguarded on the global stage,” said Minister Ziyambi.
He said the move to join the Hague Agreement is a strategic initiative to promote innovation in industrial design and empower local creators.
“By joining this international system, Zimbabwe aims to empower its entrepreneurs and creators to access streamlined global protection for their industrial designs, thereby strengthening competitiveness, encouraging innovation, and enhancing our participation in global value chains,” said Minister Ziyambi.
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“These measures are integral to Zimbabwe’s broader intellectual property policy and implementation strategy anchored in reform, institutional strengthening and digital transformation.”
Minister Ziyambi said Zimbabwe is updating the national IP laws and modernising the operations of the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office (ZIPO) with a clear vision to establish an ecosystem where creativity, knowledge and innovation flourish within a framework of legal certainty and international alignment.
He said Zimbabwe’s engagement in the symposium organised in close partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) further reflects the Government’s policy of active re-engagement with the international community, and embracing economic diplomacy, regional integration, and sustainable development as key pillars of the national transformation agenda.
Mr Ziyambi noted that the symposium comes at a time when preserving biodiversity, traditional knowledge and cultural production practices is more critical than ever.
“GIs offer a dynamic mechanism to achieve precisely that by safeguarding local value, protecting producers from unfair competition, enabling traceability and creating differentiated access to global markets based on quality, tradition and place-based reputation,” he said.
