THE Reprographic Rights Organisation of Zimbabwe (RROZ) was officially licensed as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for the book industry by the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry, represented by Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property chief registrar Willie Mushayi at the Deeds Registrar’s office.
The event was attended by key stakeholders from the government, publishing industry and the media.
RROZ’s mission is to ensure that authors receive fair compensation for the reproduction of their works, while fostering innovation and sustainability in Zimbabwe’s creative industries.
Operating under the guidelines of World Intellectual Property Organisation, RROZ is committed to aligning its practices with international standards for copyright management.
RROZ chairman Masimba Tinashe Madondo hailed the development as a crucial step for the local creative industry.
“This is an important step forward for Zimbabwe’s creative industry. The licensing of RROZ ensures that we can now manage reprographic rights more effectively and transparently while aligning with international best practices,” he said.
“This development benefits not only authors and publishers, but also educational institutions that depend on access to legally produced materials.”
As RROZ begins its work as a licensed CMO, authors and publishers will have access to enhanced protections, focusing on creating quality content while knowing their intellectual property is safeguarded.
Educational institutions will also benefit from better access to legally reproduced content, supporting Zimbabwe’s knowledge economy growth.
RROZ chief executive officer Anthony Rimau expressed excitement about the event, stating: “This licensing solidifies Zimbabwe’s role in protecting the rights of its creatives and aligns us with global standards for intellectual property management.
“The ceremony is a celebration of our shared commitment to innovation and progress in the publishing industry.”
By joining a select group of African nations with CMOs for the book industry, Zimbabwe solidifies its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property rights.
This development benefits not only authors and publishers, but also educational institutions that depend on access to legally produced materials.
“This is not just a win for RROZ but for the entire country. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to build a stronger, more sustainable intellectual property framework in Zimbabwe,” Rimau added.
This milestone marks Zimbabwe's dedication to intellectual property rights, aligning with global standards.
RROZ joins the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association, another Collective Management Organisation, advocating for artists’ rights and copyrights, increasing efficiency, transparency and fair compensation for authors’ work.