The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) has officially commenced its 50th-anniversary celebrations, unveiling a commemorative Golden Jubilee logo and a year-long roadmap designed to cement intellectual property (IP) as the cornerstone of the continent’s development.
At a high-level ceremony held at the ARIPO Secretariat in Harare on the 2nd of March 2026, stakeholders from across the globe witnessed the launch of the jubilee year under the theme: “Fostering innovation, creativity, and a sustainable future for Africa.”
The event marks five decades since the 1976 adoption of the Lusaka Agreement, the founding treaty that established the organisation. Since moving its permanent headquarters to Zimbabwe in 1982, ARIPO has evolved into a vital regional hub for the protection of patents, trademarks, and traditional knowledge.Digital transformation services
Gracing the occasion as Guest of Honour, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Nobert Tichaona Mazungunye—representing Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi—reaffirmed the commitment of Member States to using IP as a driver for investment and industrial growth.
“Our appreciation goes to the current and former Directors General of ARIPO and their teams for ably leading this great institution and for formulating robust protocols that have empowered inventors, creators, and businesses across the region,” said Hon Mazungunye.
ARIPO Director General, Mr Bemanya Twebaze, described the milestone as both a moment of reflection and a strategic call to action.
“Fifty years represents five decades of supporting inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs as they transform ideas into impact,” Mr Twebaze stated.
He paid tribute to the “visionaries” who recognised early on that intellectual property would be central to Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
The Jubilee celebrations are not merely ceremonial; the organisation has scheduled a series of high-level technical symposia throughout 2026 to address critical pillars of the IP ecosystem.
The anniversary year will culminate on 9 December 2026 with a flagship “IP Africa Conference” at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia — the site where the organisation was originally founded.
Expected to draw over 500 attendees, including policymakers, global experts, and investors, the Lusaka summit will serve as a definitive platform to chart ARIPO’s strategic direction for the next 50 years.
Mr Willie Mushayi, Chief Registrar of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of the ARIPO Administrative Council, commended the organisation’s impact, noting that robust IP administration remains essential for regional integration and sustainable development.
As Africa moves towards deeper economic alignment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ARIPO’s Golden Jubilee signals a shift from purely administrative functions to becoming a proactive enabler of a continent-wide, knowledge-based economy.-herald