The role of Intellectual Property rights in the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA)
Article compiled by Tanaka Kachara, Associate at Zimbabwean member firm, Scanlen & Holderness. What is the African Continental Free Trade Agreement? The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade agreement[1] bringing together the fifty-five countries which make up the African Union[2]. For purposes of completion, a free-trade agreement is defined as an arrangement between two […]
Africa well positioned to benefit from global green mineral boom
Africa is home to some 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 8% of its natural gas reserves, and 12% of its oil reserves, according to the United Nations. It also has 40% of the world’s gold, up to 90% of its chromium and platinum, and the largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, platinum and uranium in […]
Intellectual Property Rights in Mergers and Acquisitions
Article compiled by Tanaka Kachara, Associate at Scanlen & Holderness WHAT ARE MERGERS AND ACQUISITION? A merger is defined in the Companies and other Business Entities Act as an amalgamation or consolidation of two or more companies which in turn means the joining of one or more companies into another existing company.[1] The Competition Act […]
The fundamentals of intellectual property rights in Zimbabwe
Article compiled by Tanaka Kachara, Associate at LEX Africa member firm Scanlen & Holderness. The past few decades have seen changes where economic success is influenced by knowledge-based industries and businesses commonly referred to as intellectual property. Competition in the modern economy has intellectual property at its core. This dynamic has significantly increased the need […]
Jump the gun, bite the bullet: Consequences of failure to notify a merger in Africa
Article by Paul Coetser, Director & Head of Competition, and Sandiso Dhlomo, Candidate Attorney of Werksmans Attorneys, South Africa It is no longer a surprise that many, if not most, African countries now have competition laws. In addition, Africa has five regional economic areas with competition rules. In many of these countries and regional areas, […]
Legalising personal use of cannabis in Zimbabwe
LEX Africa member firm Scanlen & Holderness is challenging the current Zimbabwe laws that ban personal use of cannabis – that is, the criminalization of the possession, cultivation, use and consumption of cannabis. The case is being handled by Associate Tapiwa John Chivanga who is passionate about this issue and has been working at the […]
Zimbabwe: New case on enforceability of choice of law clauses
Article by Fidelis Manyuchi of Zimbabwean firm, Scanlen & Holderness Choice of Law in the face of Delta Beverages (Private) Limited v Blakey Investments (Private) Limited SC 59/22. The issue of choice of law has come to the forefront with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the increase in international […]
Zimbabwe in Focus
The World Bank and IMF both predict GDP growth above 5% for Zimbabwe in 2022, while both caution that decisive government action is needed for this to be attained. A recent encouraging World Bank overview of Zimbabwe says the country’s economy showed signs of recovery in 2021 and its GDP is now expected to rebound to […]
Technology Media and Telecommunications Africa Quarterly E Bulletin
This e-bulletin highlights key legislative and regulatory developments in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors in sub-Saharan Africa. This issue covers the period 16 October 2021 to 15 January 2022 and includes developments from Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Botswana […]
Renewable energy in the spotlight
With global energy focused on carbon emissions in the run up to COP26, the role of Africa in the energy transition is once again under the spotlight. African policy makers are grappling with big questions about how to move their countries forward, particularly oil and coal producers, many of them under pressure from developed countries […]
