Story by Farai Gwaze
TENSIONS have surfaced within the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA), with board members divided over allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities.
The dispute arose after a faction of directors accused management of prioritising personal interests over the welfare of artists, citing low royalty payments and questionable financial decisions.
Dereck Mpofu, a ZIMURA board member, criticised management for excessive salaries and misappropriation of funds, highlighting concerns that some artists were receiving as little as ZiG 30 in royalties.
“The challenge is misappropriation of funds, high salary payouts, and artists receiving as little as ZiG$30. We believe the institution has become management-focused rather than artist-focused. We want to address the sale of our building without proper consultation with members, and take action regarding the general manager at the top,” he said.
In response, ZIMURA Chairperson Alexio Gwenzi described the allegations as an internal governance breach by a “splinter group” and confirmed that disciplinary measures had been taken.
“A group within the board acted against ZIMURA governance procedures in a manner we deem damaging to the organisation’s reputation. In line with our statutes, we removed them from the board. We want to assure all stakeholders that ZIMURA is transparent; we are audited annually by a reputable firm appointed by the membership at every AGM,” said Gwenzi.
The public dispute raises questions about accountability, transparency, and whose interests are being prioritised within Zimbabwe’s music royalties system.
The tensions come amid ongoing concerns from artists over the low royalties they receive from ZIMURA, which some say amount to as little as US$80 per year.
