By: Jennifer Frimpong Wiredu
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has officially launched its 50th Anniversary celebrations at its headquarters in Harare, marking five decades of advancing intellectual property protection and regional cooperation across Africa.
The Golden Jubilee event, held on March 2, 2026, brought together diplomats, government officials, intellectual property experts and development partners. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the “ARIPO@50” logo, symbolising the organisation’s legacy and its renewed commitment to innovation and creativity on the continent.
Addressing the gathering, the Director General of ARIPO, Bemanya Twebaze, described the milestone as a defining moment in the life of the organizations. He noted that since its establishment in 1976 under the Lusaka Agreement, ARIPO has evolved into a key regional institution harmonising intellectual property systems among its Member States.
He highlighted the organisation’s major legal instruments, including the Harare Protocol on patents and the Banjul Protocol on trademarks, as well as other frameworks that facilitate cross-border protection of intellectual property rights.
Mr. Twebaze said the anniversary presents an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but also to respond to emerging challenges driven by rapid technological advancement, the growth of Africa’s creative industries and the continent’s youthful population.
“Our responsibility is clear: to protect and commercialise the ideas of our innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives,” he stated.
The anniversary is being commemorated under the theme: “Fostering Innovation, Creativity, and a Sustainable Future for Africa.”
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, was the Guest of Honour but was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy Minister, Nobert T. Mazungunye.
In a speech delivered on his behalf, the Minister commended ARIPO for its institutional growth and impact over the past five decades. He traced the organisation’s journey from its early beginnings in Lusaka and Nairobi to its permanent establishment in Zimbabwe in 1982. He said ARIPO’s protocols have strengthened Africa’s intellectual property architecture and supported industrial growth across the region.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of aligning intellectual property systems with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area to enhance competitiveness and promote cross-border innovation and trade.
As part of the Jubilee programme, ARIPO Member States are expected to gather on December 9, 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Zambia, where the organisation’s founding vision was first formalised.
With the launch of its 50th Anniversary celebrations, ARIPO has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that intellectual property remains a key driver of innovation, economic growth and sustainable development across Africa.
