By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Mr. Daren Tang, paid a courtesy call this morning on His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, at State House.
The visit marks Mr. Tang’s inaugural trip to Zimbabwe and comes as part of efforts to explore how robust intellectual property (IP) systems can drive national growth and development.
Speaking on the significance of his visit, Mr. Tang said, “It is my honour to be the first Director General to visit Zimbabwe, and I am very excited about the vision of the President. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo – a country is built by its own people.” He highlighted the critical role that intellectual property plays in supporting various industries, including the arts, agriculture, and education, and emphasized the benefits IP protection brings to local innovators and creators.
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ziyambi Ziyambi, welcomed WIPO’s engagement, noting that Zimbabwe seeks to harness its intellectual assets for national development. “We want to work closely with WIPO to unlock value in terms of intellectual property. From Chipinge coffee to Shona sculpture, and the broader creative industry, these sectors can be supported and developed to ensure their works are protected. We are planning several high-level engagements with the Ministers of Higher and Tertiary Education, Agriculture, Sports, and Small and Medium Enterprises to explore how we can use our knowledge and innovation to develop our country,” Minister Ziyambi said.
The visit signals a renewed focus on intellectual property as a key driver of economic growth in Zimbabwe, with government and WIPO officials set to collaborate on strategies that protect local innovations while opening new opportunities for investment and trade.
