Knowledge and insights.
Consumers often face imbalances in economic terms, educational levels and bargaining power and bearing in mind that consumers should have the right of access to non-hazardous products, as well as the right to promote just, equitable and sustainable economic and social development. The phenomenal growth of consumerism worldwide has led to many jurisdictions improving their […]
On 24 June 2019, after a 10 year hiatus, the Zimbabwean dollar was reintroduced as sole legal tender in Zimbabwe.
The Partners of MawereSibanda Commercial Lawyers notify you that Sharon Bwanya will be leaving the firm on the 31st December 2019. Pending the date of her departure she will be attending a secondment programme in the UK. Sharon has been with the firm since graduating from law school in 2007 and made partner in 2014. […]
As part of our continuous commitment to customer care, anti-money laundering and cyber security, MawereSibanda has made the following appointments: MawereSibanda is a full service commercial law firm headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe with regional presence in Gaborone, Botswana. For more information on our expertise, visit our page.
Nextlaw Referral Network is the largest legal referral network in the world, with more than 600 member firms and 28,000 lawyers across 200+ countries.
Alec Muza, head of our Intellectual Property practice area, was elected President of the Zimbabwe Institute of Patent and Trademarks Agents at the annual general meeting which took place on 27 February 2019. Alec Muza has 12 years’ experience advising companies on brand protection strategies, trademark and patent filings and prosecutions, copyright, licensing, sale and purchase […]
Zimbabwe is set to remove laws limiting foreign investment in the mining industry.
Recent changes to Zimbabwe’s Deeds Registries Act (“the Act”) through the Deeds Registries Amendment Act, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act {Chapter 22:23} (the Public Procurement Act) came into effect on 1 January 2018. The new Act repealed the Procurement Act {Chapter 22:14}.
In Zimbabwe, Plant Breeders’ Rights are governed by the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations, 1998 (Statutory Instrument 113 of 1998).
Advice for foreigners investing in Zimbabwe.
IP lawyers from MawereSibanda attended this year’s event which was hosted by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) at the ARIPO headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is accepting applications for tax amnesty. The tax amnesty was introduced in terms of the Finance Act, No. 1 of 2018 and applications may be submitted by qualifying person up to the 30th June 2018.
Zimbabwe has introduced amendments to its indigenisation legislation which has altered previous minimum shareholding requirements for businesses operating in reserved sectors.
According to Chambers and Partners commentary, MawereSibanda “is acknowledged for its strength in litigation as well as its activity in the areas of banking and finance, telecommunications, real estate and infrastructure.”
We highlight yet another aspect in that Labour Amendment Act, 2015 which employers in Zimbabwe need to be wary of.
Bitcoin is booming but is it legal? Download this month’s free MS infographic.
The next annual annual conference, IBA 2018, shall take place in Rome, Italy.
Zimbabwe’s Deeds Registries Amendment Act came into force on 23 June 2017. It provides for the establishment of an electronic filing system and registry. Get your FREE 1-page download of our 5 Fast Facts About E-Registry when you sign up for our monthly bulletin.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) organised a patent drafting course for African patent agents with the assistance of the Japan Patent Office. The course was held at ARIPO and officially opened on 4 September 2017.
Competition is defined as the effort of two or more companies acting independently to secure the business of a customer by offering the most favourable price or terms. In essence, competition is about out-smarting your opponent to win over the customer.
The Special Economic Zones Act [Chapter 14:34] (the SEZ Act) was enacted on the 1st November 2016 as part of the Zimbabwean government’s efforts encourage investment in specifically designated areas.
On the 26th June 2017, the International Trademark Association (INTA) CEO, Mr Etienne Sanz de Acedo visited Harare, Zimbabwe.
Here are five steps you should consider taking before making a trademark application in Zimbabwe.
A step-by-step guide to registering a trademark in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe published the Madrid Protocol Regulations on the 13th March 2017. Here are some commonly asked questions regarding the Madrid System in Zimbabwe.
A trade mark must be capable of distinguishing the goods or services in relation to which the mark is used or proposed to be used, from the same kind of goods or services connected in the course of trade with any other person.
All new foreign investments in Zimbabwe require an Investment License issued by the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA).
On the 31st of October 2016 the President of Zimbabwe passed the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Amendment of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act and Issue of Bond Notes) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 133 of 2016 (SI 133 of 2016). The purpose of the legislation was to provide a legal framework for the introduction of the much […]
In Zimbabwe, copyright exists without registration provided that the right exists within the provisions of the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] (the Act). Once it is established that the work concerned falls within the parameters of copyright protection, the copyright owner does not need to take a further step. Works which are eligible […]
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is an effective way of protecting a company’s confidential information. The uses of an NDA for a business are varied, including the protection of trade secrets, business ideas, customer information and technical know-how.
A code of conduct which does not comply with the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] leaves an employer exposed to a claim for review on the ground of illegality.
Syndicated loans are increasingly becoming a prominent feature in today’s loan market landscape due to their numerous advantages to both the banks and the corporates.
Transfer pricing is a tax which has implications for businesses who share employment services amongst their various entities.
Intellectual property is a complex area of law and also one of the most misunderstood. In Zimbabwe, our sources of copyright law are the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] and various court decisions where the meaning, nature and scope of copyright are defined. At a recent IP event held in Harare, Zimbabwe, the following scenario was […]
The biggest IP event in Africa this year.
Existing Zimbabwean legislation currently does not provide, in clear and certain terms, the extent to which private players may participate in the provision, maintenance and management of transport infrastructure.
Founding partner, Tatenda Mawere is a ranked lawyer in Chambers Global 2016. He has been recognized as a leader lawyer in Zimbabwe under the General Business Law category.
Rapid growth in commercial transactions in Africa has increased the need for alternatives to litigation – this the gap that arbitration fills, providing an effective and enforceable method of dispute resolution while saving businesses time and money. Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions is an exploration of the processes and issues surrounding arbitration in […]
The International Trademark Association’s (INTA) 138th meeting saw record-breaking numbers with over 10,000 registrants this year. Trademark lawyers from around the world gathered at this year’s annual meeting The annual meeting, which is a strategic networking opportunity for trademark lawyers around the world, took place on May 21 – May 25, 2016. The head of […]
This year’s World IP Day theme is Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined.
Concerns on the scale of the Ebola crisis, current levels of political unrest and plunging commodity prices would have sent investors rushing out of Africa not long ago. But deal-making in the sub-Saharan region is buoyant as most investors set aside short-term worries and bet big on the continent’s growth prospects. “Africa is on the […]
Doing business in Africa provides unique challenges and endless opportunities. With fewer conflicts and economic growth rates that are now competitive with those of other developing regions, Africa has experienced positive change and has a substantial amount to offer. However, the business environment, including social, economic, legal and political, is complex and doing business in […]
INVESTMENTS in infrastructure, particularly by public-sector institutions, will have to be ramped up by a large margin if ambitions to grow South Africa’s economy are to be realised. Gross fixed capital formation, a measure of investment spending, grew by just 3.1% during the fourth quarter of last year, a disappointing drop from 7% growth in […]
KIERAN HOLMES’S early career in the Irish revenue service had not fully prepared him to take over as chief tax collector in Burundi, one of central Africa’s poorest countries. One of his first tasks was learning to use a pistol: getting companies to file returns in a country more accustomed to conflict and corruption can […]
HOUSED until recently behind a German beer garden in a shopping mall, Namibia’s stockmarket has just a handful of actively traded stocks. Its low profile is not unusual for Africa: the continent’s public markets are mostly small and illiquid. That is not the only reason why entrepreneurs find it hard to raise capital. Pension schemes, […]
It has become a common phenomenon that employees terminate their contracts of employment by tendering in their resignations. It has also become common occurrence that after an employee has terminated his/her employment contract by resigning the same employee either attempts to withdraw the resignation or starts to claim that his/her resignation is not valid as […]
Most employers in Zimbabwe look forward to a day when they can terminate an employee’s contract of employment without having to give any reasons. Well that day seems to come and go. This is largely due to the inconsistency in the application of the law by our courts. Following the decision by the Supreme Court […]
Progressively, international business is making inroads into Africa with a view to tapping into the African economy. This of course is no surprise as collectively, Africa’s markets continued to grow notwithstanding the 2008 global financial crisis which saw the economies of Europe and the USA contract and or otherwise remain in a state of stagnation. […]
Globally, stock exchanges are transforming their corporate governance structures through demutualization due to the globally competitive environment that is characteristic of the 21st century. The very first stock exchange to demutualise was the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1993. Thereafter, like a domino effect, the trend towards demutualization spread rapidly with exchanges in Canada (Toronto Stock […]
