Section 33: Preservation of traditional knowledge
Constitution of Zimbabwe
The State must take measures to preserve, protect and promote indigenous knowledge systems, including knowledge of the medicinal and other properties of animal and plant life possessed by local communities and people.
Insight: Traditional Knowledge as National Heritage
This provision recognizes that indigenous knowledge systems represent valuable intellectual property and cultural heritage. It places responsibility on the government to actively safeguard traditional wisdom about medicinal plants, sustainable agriculture, and environmental management that has been developed over generations. This constitutional protection acknowledges that such knowledge contributes to Zimbabwe's sovereignty over its biological resources and provides a foundation for sustainable development.