Tendai Gukutikwa
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
VICTORIA Falls has since yesterday (May 1), played host to a major global event, the Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications (GIs), an important platform for discussions on the protection and promotion of geographically-linked products.
Organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in collaboration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe (CIPZ), the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and supported by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), the symposium highlights Zimbabwe’s growing leadership in the field of Intellectual Property rights.
The symposium, held every two years, was last held in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2023. It provides a forum for high-level exchanges of ideas and experiences on Geographical Indications.
This year’s edition which will come to a close today (Friday) brought together experts, Government ministers, international organisations, and academics to share perspectives on the use, protection, and governance of GIs.
WIPO Director General, Mr Daren Tang, will also address the gathering, emphasising the global importance of this platform.
The event’s opening session yesterday featured welcome remarks by Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, and Ms Wang Binying, WIPO Deputy Director General.
A high-level segment followed with addresses from distinguished personalities such as Mr Norbert Mao, Uganda’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr Bemanya Twebaze, Director General of ARIPO, and Mr Denis Loukou Bohoussou, Director General of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI).
Experts such as Ms Alexandra Grazioli of WIPO, Ms Nathalie Berger from the European Commission, and Mr Xaysomphet Norasingh from the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation led discussions on international and regional developments on GIs.
Another exciting discussion, focusing on the intricate relationship between GIs and common names, featured scholars such as Mr Allen Johnson from the Consortium for Common Food Names and Dr Hazel Moir of the Australian National University.
The symposium today will further explore how Geographical Indications connect with tourism, traditional knowledge, governance structures, and sustainability.
Notable speakers include Ms Sandra Carvao from the World Tourism Organization, Mr Daniel Cavero Gamarra from PROMPERÚ, and Ms Maialen Sarraude representing the Syndicat du Piment d’Espelette in France.
A special session on Geographical Indications and Traditional Cultural Expressions will provide insights from Mr Idrissa Dommo Goro of Mali and Mr Alfredo Rendón Algara from Mexico.
Understanding the concept of Geographical Indications is key to appreciating the importance of the symposium.
GIs are signs used on products that possess a specific geographical origin and exhibit qualities, reputation, or characteristics inherent to that location. Examples from around the world include Champagne from France, Darjeeling tea from India, and Roquefort cheese.
GIs are not merely branding tools, they are mechanisms for protecting the unique link between products, their places of origin, and traditional methods of production.
They offer significant commercial advantages, including price premiums, legal protection against misuse, and enhanced rural development.
Zimbabwe has made significant strides in this area, anchored by its Geographical Indications Act (Chapter 26:06), which offers legal protection to GIs.
Furthermore, the country is part of the WIPO Lisbon Agreement, which facilitates international protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications.
The timing of this symposium is crucial for Zimbabwe. With increased global demand for authentic, origin-linked products, GIs offer an opportunity to boost agricultural exports, create jobs, and preserve traditional knowledge and biodiversity.
For Zimbabwe, it is an occasion to promote local products that deserve GI recognition and protection, such as Mazowe oranges, Eastern Highlands tea, Zimbabwean tobacco, and marula oil from Matabeleland.
Zooming in to Manicaland Province, the potential to leverage GIs is substantial. Manicaland’s rich biodiversity, unique climate, and traditional knowledge systems provide fertile ground for GI development.
Products like Chimanimani honey, known for its distinct taste shaped by highland flora, and Tanganda tea, already a national brand, can benefit immensely from GI protection.
However, it is important to note that some of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated products, such as Mazowe oranges and Tanganda tea, are currently protected as private trademarks rather than as collective Geographical Indications.
While trademarks like “Mazowe” and “Tanganda” have built strong brand identities under the ownership of major corporate players, this system places the control and economic benefits squarely in the hands of a few, rather than the broader communities who cultivate and maintain these resources.
Unlike GIs, which recognise and protect the collective contribution of local producers, trademarks confer exclusive rights to individual companies.
As a result, many smallholder farmers and rural communities remain excluded from fully participating in and profiting from the market prestige that their labour, land, and traditions help to create.
Transitioning towards GI protection would allow entire communities in places like Mazowe and the Eastern Highlands to share in the value of their products, fostering inclusive rural development rather than concentrating wealth at the top.
Even artisanal crafts and organic farming produce from various parts of the province could eventually be marketed globally through Geographical Indication frameworks.
Africa has shown strong examples of GI success stories that Zimbabwe can draw inspiration from.
South Africa’s Rooibos tea has gained international GI protection, ensuring its continued association with its homeland. Cameroon’s Oku White Honey and Ethiopia’s specialty coffees from Yirgacheffe and Sidamo have become powerful symbols of their countries’ agricultural heritage and marketing ingenuity.
The Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications comes at an opportune time when Zimbabwe is reasserting itself as a serious player in Intellectual Property management and innovation.
Beyond mere discussions, the symposium offers real opportunities for knowledge transfer, capacity building, and the creation of partnerships that will benefit Zimbabwean farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs.
Online Reporter