AfrIPI celebrates World IP Day 2023 in Zimbabwe

On 26 April 2023, AfrIPI commemorated World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) with the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe (CIPZ) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The 2023 WIPD was held under the global theme ‘Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity .’ It aimed to celebrate the “can do” attitude of women inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs and their ground-breaking work. The celebration constituted a 45-minute march in Bulawayo’s central business district, with a crowd of at least 200 people, followed by an address from dignitaries at the town hall. Many stakeholders from Zimbabwe’s private and public sectors participated in the celabrations.

The keynote speakers included Mr Willie Mushayi, Chief Registrar of CIPZ; Mr Bemanya Twebaze, Director General of ARIPO; Ms Aida Galindo, Project leader at AfrIPI; and the guest of honour, Mrs Virginia Mabiza, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Zimbabwe.

This year marks 23 years since the World Intellectual Property Organization instated WIPD to increase general awareness and understanding of IP. Since then , Zimbabwe has joined the rest of the world in the one-day annual celebration on 26 April.

Related publications:

• Press Release 26/04/2024 | Zimbabwe Commemorates World Intellectual Property Day 2023 in Bulawayo