I did a paper on the Zimbabwe National Intellectual Property Policy and Implementation Strategy (2018-2022). Yes it very likely that you never heard about ZNIPP but its there and next year it will need to be revised/renewed. While it is, (1/22)

a step in the right direction very little has been done on the ground. There is no funding for this. While you are asking yourself about this let me ask you this does your company or startup or your enterprise have an IP Policy. (2/22)

While you think about that let me give some background. The Zimbabwe National Intellectual Property Policy and Implementation Strategy (2018-2022) process and stakeholder engagement began in 2014 and after an initial false start, (3/22)

a lengthy but all-encompassing participatory approach to ensure stakeholder buy-in was adopted which resulted in its finalization and subsequent cabinet approval in 2017. (4/22)

ZNIPPIS 2018-2022 is a result of massive cross sectoral stakeholder consultations (allegedly) undergirded by the technical assistance from WIPO under the framework of the WIPO Development Agenda after realizing the cross cutting nature of IP. (5/22)

ZNIPPIS 2018-2022 was formally launched by the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Mr. (6/22)

Ziyambi Ziyambi to spur innovation and creativity in various sectors of the economy on the 28th of June 2018 This policy interventions recognizes and seeks to harness the role of SMEs, (7/22)

which in Zimbabwe - as in literally all other countries across the world - evidently contribute significantly to the economy through innovations, investments, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contribution to trade, (8/22)

and contribution to employment and professional skills development. It is recognised that while the government is the largest formal employer, (9/22

currently SMEs employ about 70% -80% of the work force in Zimbabwe and they contribute at least 50% of GDP notwithstanding 85% of MSMEs are unregistered and unregulated (Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, 2016). Kanyenze, (10/22)

Chitambara and Tyson (2017) discuss how the Zimbabwean economy has undergone a significant structural degeneration, (11/22)

which they argue should not be simplified to just be an underperforming in relation to economic growth on a comparative basis with other countries in the region. (12/22)

The economic performance characterised by the “inflation of commodity prices” which has essentially led to an “increased dependence on primary commodities”. (13/22)

There is an urgent need for out of the box thinking and IP might be a catalyst to the much-needed economic activity. (14/22)

Key Objectives of the ZNIPPIS 2018-2022 Zimbabwe National Intellectual Property Policy and Implementation Strategy (2018-2022) has several interrelated specific objectives, which include: • Raising and consolidating IP awareness and knowledge available to public. (15/22)

This will be accomplished through a number of initiatives such as early education on IP, targeting both primary and secondary schools; • Informing sensitizing the stakeholders about the economic benefits of IP. (16/22)

This will be done through specialized foundation IP knowledge; practical professional IP skills; as well as “awareness raising and sensitisation through specialized advocacy and outreach programmes, targeting stakeholders in public sector, private sectors, (17/22)

and civil society”. • Enhancing IP knowledge and professional skills capacities in the country. In recognising the need to grow the small pool of IP professions which include but are not limited to Patent and Trademark Attorneys, IP managers, (18/22)

Technology transfer and licensing experts, IP enforcement agents and Judges the ZNIPPIS 2018-2022 seeks to build national capacity. (19/22)

• Encouraging IP mobilization through acquisitions and own creations which may including frugal innovations and appropriate technology; protecting as well as enforcing IP rights; • Encouraging, inspiring and facilitating IP commercialization. (20/22)

• Lastly the policy seek to enhance IP trading mediation capacities; as well as undertaking general education reforms, to ascertain the inculcation of innovative and creative culture from early education onwards. (21/22)

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