Patents Act [Chapter 26:3] Special provisions as to State use during emergency

35. (1) During any period of emergency the powers exercisable in relation to an invention by a department of the State or a person authorized by the Minister under section thirty-four shall include the power to make, use, exercise and vend the invention for any purpose which appears to the Minister nucessary or expedient -

  1. for the efficient prosecution of any war in which Zimbabwe may be engaged; or
  2. for the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community; or
  3. for securing a sufficiency of supplies and services essential to the well-being of the community; or
  4. for promoting the productivity of industry, commerce or agriculture; or
  5. for fostering and directing exports and reducing imports or imports of any classes, from all or any countries and for redressing the balance of trade; or
  6. generally, for ensuring that the whole resources of the community are available for use, and are used, in a manner best calculated to serve the interests of the community; or
  7. for assisting the relief of suffering and the restoration and distribution of essential supples and services in any part of Zimbabwe or any foreign country that is in brave distress as the result of war;
and any reference in that section or in section thirty-six to the service of the State shall be construed as including a reference to the purposes referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g).

(2) In subsection (1)-

"period of emergency" means any period beginning on such date as may be declared by the Minister, by statutory instrument, to be the commencement and ending on such date as may be so declared to be the termination of a period of emergency.


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