Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
A SIGNIFICANT legal turn of events has sent ripples through Zimbabwe’s creative industry with the High Court ordering the immediate reinstatement of three key Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) board members.
The ruling, delivered on May 6, follows a spirited legal challenge by Alexio Gwenzi, First Batani, and Evelyn Natsai Moyo.
The trio successfully contested the decision made by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to terminate the entire ZIMURA Board earlier this year.
The High Court granted a provisional order that effectively halts the Minister’s administrative decision dated March 26, 2026.
By staying the execution of that termination, the court has cleared the way for Gwenzi, Batani, and Moyo to resume their leadership roles with immediate effect.
According to the court’s relief, the decision to terminate the applicants’ appointments is officially stayed, allowing the reinstated members to continue exercising their functions without interference while any steps previously taken to implement the board’s dissolution are suspended pending the finalisation of the matter.
For the musicians and rights holders who rely on ZIMURA, this isn’t just a legal win; it’s a restoration of the status quo during a period of significant transition.
Following the ruling, ZIMURA Management issued a robust statement urging all stakeholders – including law enforcement, the media, and the association’s clients—to accord the reinstated board full professional courtesy.
“This leadership remains deeply committed to the effective, transparent, and efficient collection and distribution of royalties to the very musicians and rights holders the Association was founded to serve,” the statement read.
The association emphasised that the court’s intervention is a “legal affirmation of the will of ZIMURA’s membership,” warning that any attempts to obstruct the board’s operations would be contrary to the interests of the creative community.
The reinstatement comes at a time when ZIMURA claims it is being targeted by a campaign of, “false and malicious information” circulating on social media.
Management noted that these “reckless statements” are designed to sow division and destabilise the association.
ZIMURA has called on its members to remain vigilant and ignore the noise, focusing instead on the core mission: the collection and distribution of meaningful royalties.
Despite the “difficult times” and administrative hurdles of the past few months, the Board remains adamant that ZIMURA is resilient.
The focus now shifts back to the logistics of ensuring that the labor of Zimbabwe’s musicians results in tangible financial rewards.
As the legal process moves toward its final determination, the reinstatement of Gwenzi, Batani, and Moyo serves as a reminder of the power of the judiciary in upholding the democratic principles of private associations.
For now, the music plays on – and the board is back in the conductor’s seat.
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Bunjiwe Mkwananzi