Staff Reporter
Government has approved the principles to the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe Bill which seeks to expedite continued support of creativity and innovation as it moves towards ease of doing business and service delivery in line with Vision 2023.
Speaking after the 29th Cabinet session yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe Bill will provide for the establishment of Companies and Intellectual Property Office which will be responsible for the administration and management of companies and the Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe.
"Cabinet advises that the Bill will provide for the establishment of the Companies and Intellectual Property Office. The Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe will be responsible for registration and administration of proprietary rights related to companies, other business entities and intellectual property in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that the enactment of the legislation will amend several Acts establishing the Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe (CIPZ) and these include the Copyright and Neighbouring Act (Chapter 26:05) , the Patent Act (Chapter 26:03) , the Industrial Designs Act (Chapter 26:02), the Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Act(Chapter26:07), the Trade Marks Act(Chapter26:04), the Intellectual Property Tribunal Act(Chapter 26:08), the Armorial Bearing, Names , Uniforms and Badges Act (Chapter 10:01) and the Companies and other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31).
Cabinet also approved the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill and it will allow only resident legal practitioners to practice in Zimbabwe.
"The nation is informed that in order for a legal practitioner to be registered to practice in Zimbabwe it is a requirement that they be resident in Zimbabwe. In the event that the legal practitioner is not resident in Zimbabwe, they would be granted a residential exemption certificate. The Principles seek to amend Section 5 (1) (c) and Section 7(1) to limit the granting of exemption letters to legal practitioners from a reciprocating country,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, Cabinet heard yesterday that Zimbabwe was elected into the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council at the just ended 41st session of that Assembly held on 4 October this year.
