The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) hosted Honourable Richard Ramoeletsi, Minister of Law and Justice of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and his delegation for a two-day official visit to the ARIPO Secretariat in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 15 to 16 September 2025.
The high-level visit aimed to strengthen Lesotho’s legal framework for intellectual property, increase its regional influence, and utilise IP as a catalyst for socioeconomic development.
During the official opening, ARIPO Director General, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, warmly welcomed the Minister and his delegation, describing the visit as a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between ARIPO and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
“Your visit demonstrates Lesotho’s enduring commitment to the development of Intellectual Property in Africa and signifies a vote of confidence in ARIPO’s mission,” remarked Mr. Bemanya. He further highlighted Lesotho’s historic contributions to ARIPO, including its participation in the 1976 negotiations of the Lusaka Agreement and its formal accession to ARIPO in 1987. Since joining, Lesotho has played an active role in ARIPO’s governing bodies and most recently hosted the 2024 Administrative Council session in Maseru.
Lesotho’s Growing Intellectual Property Footprint
Lesotho continues to emerge as a hub of innovation and creativity in Africa. Between 2019 and 2023, the country received over 2,500 trademark applications, alongside 1,300 patent and industrial design filings through the ARIPO system. This expanding portfolio underscores strong international interest in Lesotho’s IP environment.
Director General Bemanya praised Lesotho for its strategic policies and forward-thinking initiatives, notably the National IP Policy (2025), which creates a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for IP protection and management, the Research and Innovation Policy (2021), which supports a knowledge-based economy and workforce development, and the Export Promotion Strategies expanding Lesotho’s global trade in textiles, water, and agricultural products.
These efforts have led to notable milestones, including the rapid growth of the textile and apparel sector – currently generating over USD 300 million annually through AGOA – as well as the establishment of industrial parks and progress towards launching a national innovation agency.
Honourable Ramoeletsi expressed gratitude for ARIPO’s hospitality and reaffirmed Lesotho’s commitment to advancing IP as a driver of national development:
“We are deeply grateful for the warm reception by ARIPO and the fruitful engagement that has further solidified our partnership. Intellectual property is not just a legal or economic tool for Lesotho—it is a vital driver for unlocking the creativity and ingenuity of our people, for safeguarding our heritage, and for building a resilient, knowledge-based economy.”
Looking ahead, the Minister emphasised the importance of institutional transformation:
“I hope to engage in critical matters that will lay solid groundwork for building robust institutional and legal frameworks that will enhance IP administration and allow for greater operational flexibility, thus transforming the Lesotho IP Office from being a mere registry. We, as a government, have realised that offices with this flexibility perform incredibly well and have a greater impact on the development of the IP ecosystem, as they are able to push for agendas that foster socioeconomic development.”
Commitment to Ratification of ARIPO Protocols
Honourable Ramoeletsi reiterated Lesotho’s resolve to ratify three outstanding ARIPO Protocols:
“By ratifying the remaining ARIPO Protocols — the Swakopmund Protocol to protect Lesotho’s rich traditional knowledge and vibrant cultural expressions from misappropriation; the Arusha Protocol to incentivise the development of new, resilient, and high-yielding plant varieties critical for food security; and the Kampala Protocol to protect Lesotho creatives and encourage them to monetise their talents — we aim to strengthen our IP ecosystem and ensure inclusive economic growth. We are committed to working collaboratively with ARIPO to harness the power of intellectual property for the economic and social transformation of our nation and our continent.”
The official visit reaffirmed the shared vision of ARIPO and the Kingdom of Lesotho to foster innovation, creativity, and economic growth across the continent via robust Intellectual Property systems.