By Nigel Tawanda Pfunde
HARARE – Intellectual property lawyer Jabulani Kwaramba has announced that he is standing for a seat on the Law Society of Zimbabwe Council for the Harare region, promising a Council that leads by listening.
Mr Kwaramba, an Associate Partner and Head of Intellectual Property at Gollop & Blank Legal Practitioners, says the profession is at a crossroads between precedent and innovation. “We have been given the opportunity to model the practice as we see fit,” he said.
He is a former President of the Zimbabwe Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Agents (ZIPTA), a statutory body established under the Patents Act. During his time as President he worked with the Companies and Intellectual Property Office, the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office and regional bodies such as ARIPO to run trainings and workshops for lawyers, and he secured the appointment of a representative of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to the ZIPTA Council. He is also a ZIMTRADE Associate Trainer, and IP Gorilla has nominated him as one of the top emerging IP practitioners.
His campaign rests on four commitments. The first is member welfare, including secure parking for lawyers at superior and magistrate courts and robing rooms that double as quiet work spaces. “Our profession can’t serve the public effectively if the daily work is plagued by unnecessary systemic friction,” he said. He says he knows the frustration first-hand, after his car was clamped when he lost track of time in court.
The second is digital readiness. As courts move to electronic portals such as the IECMS, Mr Kwaramba wants Law Society-backed training on the ethical and secure use of legal AI, and partnerships to give sole practitioners and small firms affordable access to research and practice tools.
The third is inclusive reform, with clear and early consultation with the bar on new laws and policies. The fourth is a Young Lawyers Desk within the Law Society, giving practitioners under 35 or with fewer than eight years’ experience a formal voice in Council consultations. “The strength of our legal future lies in how we train, integrate, and listen to our young lawyers today,” he said.
“We are 2000+ registered members, and together, we have what it takes to build a strong fraternity,” Mr Kwaramba said.
Away from the law, he plays and composes music and loves performing live.
*More information is available at jabulanikwaramba.com or vote@jabulanikwaramba.com. Voting opens on Friday 6 December.