Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru has said that African countries should come up with effective copyright policies to curb piracy, local media reported on Thursday.

Speaking here on Wednesday at the official opening of training center of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization ( ARIPO), Mujuru said piracy was a cancer that has destroyed property and intellectual assets.

She said intellectual assets such as trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial designs could contribute immensely to economic growth and development.

"In recent years, intellectual property has become an important tool for economic development and has become essential in fostering the growth and effectiveness of industry and commerce.

"It is for this reason that the ARIPO has specific goals and obligations to assist and support member states in addressing problems faced by African countries in the establishment of appropriate intellectual systems for economic emancipation," Mujuru said.

"The contribution of copyright is crucial particularly through artistic and musical works since these vocations are creators of employment opportunities in our countries," Mujuru added.

She said the entertainment industry, in particular music and audio-visual activities, was creating employment for many people.

She also said the government attached great importance to the role of intellectual property.

"The government of Zimbabwe has acceded to a number of treaties and conventions and has also developed national laws on the protection of intellectual property rights. The government is taking steps to ensure that a national intellectual property policy is developed at the earliest possible opportunity," she said.

Mujuru also presented awards to eminent personalities who contributed to the development of the organization.

Those awarded are World Intellectual Property Organization director general, Kamil Idris, Dominic Mills from Ghana, Jeremiah Ntabgoba (Uganda), Anderson Zikonda (Zambia).

ARIPO is an inter-governmental organization that was formed in Lusaka, Zambia in 1976 with the mandate to administer industrial property matters on behalf of its member states including Botswana, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The organization seeks to establish common services necessary for the coordination, harmonization and development of industrial property activities affecting its members and also to establish schemes for the training of staff in the administration of industrial law matters.

Source: Xinhua