happiness ChikwanhaTrust Khosa
THE Zimbabwe Music Rights Association has come under fire, with a board member claiming there was rampant embezzlement of funds and violation of the organisation’s constitution.
A case of theft and abuse of funds has been opened against Albert Nyathi, Polisiwe Ncube-Chimhini, First Farai and Henry Makombe at Harare Central Police Station (reference number IR 042092).
Board chairperson Nyathi and executive director, Polisiwe, have been accused of running the organisation as a family business.
ZIMURA was established in 1982 to manage the music rights of composers/authors and publishers.
Board member Phillip Chipfumbu, who has been with the organisation for eight years, claims Nyathi has been leading the association with an iron fist while Polisiwe’s position doesn’t exist.
“It must be noted that the position of executive director is not provided for in ZIMURA’s Memorandum and Articles.
“It is now confusing which position Polisiwe Ncube is occupying.
“The chairman, (Nyathi), has (allegedly) formed a cartel in cahoots with the so-called executive director to unilaterally make decisions outside council.”
Chipfumbu told journalists that resolutions of meetings were not being implemented.
“The chairman is benefiting from this chaos, hence I believe the association needs a forensic audit.”
He accused fellow board members — First Farai (deputy chairperson) and Alexio Gwenzi (director of information and publicity) — of embarking on an unsanctioned trip to Bulawayo sometime in March.
“The trip was never discussed in the council before I raised questions.
“The trio went on to withdraw large sums of money as allowances.
“Nyathi even assigned Mr Gwenzi to threaten me with unspecified action and my life is in danger.”
Responding to the claims, ZIMURA, through Gwenzi, said their hands were clean.
“It is the burden of the accuser to prove beyond reasonable doubt that funds are being abused. Our financial statements are audited every year and the audited records have also been annually sent to CISAC, the International governing body for CMOs as well as the Companies and Intellectual Property of Zimbabwe – Office among other relevant stakeholders.
“The audited financial statements are also available on the ZIMURA Website,” he said.
Gwenzi said they were entitled to use some funds when discharging their duties.
“It should also be noted that ZIMURA management is allowed to utilise a maximum of 30 percent of the total revenue collected for purposes of running the organisation.
“Those activities include marketing, public relations and publicity activities, admins, staff salaries, workshops etc.
“As long as their expenditures fall within this 30 percent, there is no abuse of funds. We, however, as the board, do monitor these activities.”
He added: “The trip (to Bulawayo) was a management action and three board members were roped in for either their expertise, qualification or popularity to assist management in addressing prospective partners
“The Bulawayo trip was a reaction to a bad media report by a local newspaper that ZIMURA had failed to kick-start a project it had broken ground for in 2020.
“Management saw it fit to go and meet journalists in Bulawayo at the construction site to show them what progress is there.”
Online Reporter