President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday met World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Dr Daren Tang at State House in Harare, where the two discussed ways to strengthen Zimbabwe’s innovation and intellectual property systems.

Dr Tang, who is in the country on his first official visit as WIPO chief, said he was impressed by Zimbabwe’s intellectual and creative capacity, citing a strong knowledge base, vibrant cultural scene and a rising generation of young entrepreneurs as key national strengths.

He reaffirmed WIPO’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to develop robust innovation ecosystems and modern intellectual property frameworks that can drive economic growth.

As part of his itinerary, Dr Tang and his delegation will visit the headquarters of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), a move that highlights the strategic role of intellectual property in fostering development both in Zimbabwe and across the region.

Guests at State House were treated to a night of culture, cuisine, and fashion as Her Excellency the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, hosted a Cultural Gastronomic Dinner aimed at promoting the nation’s Culture and Heritage Tourism Cluster. The event, which took place on Friday evening, was attended by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and key partners of the Angel of Hope Foundation.

The dinner celebrated Zimbabwe’s rich traditions and highlighted how its cultural heritage, cuisine, fashion, and tourism can be combined to create immersive experiences for visitors. Guests were welcomed in vibrant national fabric attire, transforming State House into a colourful display of Zimbabwe’s diverse cultural identity.

A fashion show featured innovative designs using national fabric, reflecting creativity, identity, and versatility. Meanwhile, attendees enjoyed a range of traditional dishes, including Kasunika and Mubvandadya, prepared from indigenous ingredients. The evening also showcased the Seven Day traditional beer, which became an instant favourite for its authentic flavour and cultural importance.

The event not only honoured contributors to the Angel of Hope Foundation but also reinforced the First Lady’s ongoing commitment to promoting Zimbabwe’s tourism and cultural sectors.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating HIV in Zimbabwe, saying widening access to prevention, treatment, and integrated health services remains at the centre of the country’s response.

He made the remarks on the eve of World AIDS Day, commemorated globally every 1 December since 1988 as a moment to reflect on progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, honour lives lost, and renew momentum towards ending the epidemic.

Mnangagwa highlighted Zimbabwe’s significant strides over the years, noting that new HIV infections have dropped by more than 80% in the last decade, while national prevalence has fallen from 14% to 11%. Access to treatment has also improved across the country.

“This year, we commemorate this day with great pride,” he said. “Zimbabwe not only reached the global 95-95-95 targets and achieved epidemic control in 2022, but we have now surpassed them. Currently, 97% of people living with HIV know their status, over 95% are receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 96% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. This progress speaks to the dedication of our leadership, communities and health workers.”

This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” reflects the challenges facing global and national health systems, particularly as countries grapple with reduced international funding, post-pandemic recovery, climate related health pressures, Mpox outbreaks and rising non communicable diseases.

Mnangagwa acknowledged the financial pressures but said government remains focused on strengthening domestic funding mechanisms to safeguard Zimbabwe’s gains.

“Our approach is shifting from dependency to self reliance. The National AIDS Trust Fund has continued to provide stable financing, and we are integrating HIV services into primary healthcare so that no citizen is left behind,” he said.

Looking ahead, the President outlined priorities designed to sustain momentum: expanding prevention and treatment, integrating HIV services with other healthcare programmes, addressing stigma and gender inequalities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the response through domestic resource mobilisation.

He said HIV will continue to be treated as a public health priority as the country pushes towards universal health coverage. Zimbabwe’s guiding health financing principle, “more money for health, and more health for the money”, remains central to efforts to build a resilient system capable of protecting the progress made so far in HIV prevention and care.