Indigenous People and the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Indigenous people in Zimbabwe possess a wealth of indigenous resources, which has always sustained them and their preceding generations. Indigenous resources are disappearing at an alarming rate due to exploitation by non-indigenous people. The exploiters of indigenous resources are benefiting from the indigenous resources at the expense of the indigenous communities who own the resources simply because they do not have IPRs. The sustainability of indigenous resources is being compromised by a lack of intellectual property rights (IPR) which accords the indigenous people’s right to own and protect their resources. This paper assessed the rights of indigenous people and the initiatives put in place to protect the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples in Zimbabwe. Qualitative descriptive research was used to establish the perceptions, feelings and behaviours of respondents in their natural setting. Interviews and document reviews were used to collect data from indigenous people and IP practitioners. The results indicated that the protection of indigenous people’s intellectual rights is quite imperative, hence the urgent need for implementation of the IP policy in Zimbabwe. The study recommends more legal instruments that support the protection and preservation of indigenous knowledge in Zimbabwe.