Harare — A growing conflict within the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has sparked widespread concern among musicians, raising urgent questions about transparency, governance, and the future of artists’ royalties in Zimbabwe.
By Timothy Kuhamba
ZIMURA, the country’s primary collective management organisation responsible for collecting and distributing music royalties, has in recent months been rocked by internal disputes. Leadership tensions, power struggles, and communication breakdowns have reportedly split the institution into opposing camps. While the battle appears administrative on the surface, many in the music industry argue that ordinary artists are bearing the brunt of the fallout.
Artists Pay the Price
As disagreements continue behind closed doors, musicians both emerging and established say they are left confused and uncertain about how the turmoil affects their livelihoods. Industry observers note that whenever institutions meant to protect creators become unstable, it is the artists who suffer most through delayed payments, mistrust, and lack of clarity.
Silence and Apathy in the Creative Sector
For years, many artists have remained silent on governance issues within institutions that manage their rights. Some attribute this to fear of victimisation, misinformation, or a lack of unity within the creative sector. Others believe musicians often only engage once disputes directly affect their income.
As one commonly cited African proverb suggests, awareness does not come at the same time for everyone but many believe the current crisis has forced long-ignored issues into the open.
Questions Around Artist Education
Another major concern is whether musicians fully understand how ZIMURA operates. Key processes such as how royalties are calculated, how licensing works, and what legal rights artists hold remain unclear to many members. Critics argue that the system may not necessarily be too complex, but rather poorly communicated.
Low Attendance at Training Workshops
ZIMURA has previously pointed to workshops and training sessions aimed at educating musicians. However, attendance has reportedly been low. This has sparked debate over whether artists are unaware of these initiatives, too busy to attend, or simply distrustful of the institution’s intentions.
Expectations vs Reality
What is undeniable is the widening gap between artists’ expectations and their lived reality. Many musicians feel the institution designed to safeguard their interests has failed to keep pace with industry growth, new technologies, and modern standards of accountability. As trust erodes, frustration continues to mount.
Royalties Under Scrutiny
Each time royalty distributions are announced, complaints quickly follow. Many artists say payouts feel disproportionately low and inadequately explained. Questions persist over whether the issue lies in low revenue collection, inaccurate reporting, or deeper structural problems within the system.
How Are Royalties Calculated?
At the heart of the controversy is a lack of clarity around royalty calculations. Artists are asking what formulas are used, what data is considered such as radio play, live performances, or digital usage and why this information is not readily accessible to members.
Calls for Digital Transparency
In an era where music usage can be digitally tracked in real time, many are questioning why ZIMURA has not adopted transparent online systems. Musicians want secure portals where they can log in, view their usage data, earnings, and distribution history. The absence of such tools has fueled speculation about whether the delay is due to limited resources, resistance to change, or fear of accountability.
An Unfolding Story
As scrutiny intensifies, the ZIMURA saga continues to evolve. Each unanswered question appears to raise several more, deepening uncertainty within the industry. Stakeholders agree that without meaningful transparency, improved communication, and artist-centered reforms, confusion and conflict are likely to persist.
For now, the central question remains unresolved: is the crisis driven by leadership failures, lack of transparency, insufficient artist education or a combination of all three? The answer may determine not only ZIMURA’s future, but the sustainability of Zimbabwe’s music industry itself.
Discover more from earGROUND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
