Minister shuts Apoz

and Publicity Webster Shamu, Minister Chinamasa said his ministry had taken into consideration multiple complaints against him over illegal activities.
“I have revoked the licence which I granted to you on the 9th of June 2009 in terms of Section 26 of the Companies Act [Chapter 24:03].
“This follows my letter dated 12 April 2012 wherein I wrote to you my intention to revoke the licence after my ministry received numerous activities of your organisation which have negatively impacted on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in Zimbabwe especially in the area of copyrights,” reads part of the letter.
Minister Chinamasa also highlighted in the letter that Matsengarwodzi had failed to account for his action when tasked to give an explanation over the allegations.
“You were afforded an opportunity to make representations regarding such allegations and you failed to do so. To that end licence is hereby revoked and your company no longer has the privileges which it used to enjoy under such licence.
“Accordingly, I direct your organisation to immediately stop all activities it was carrying out,” Chinamasa said.
Recently, Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) lashed out at Apoz saying the organisation was fanning piracy.
Zimura director Polisile Ncube said calls by other associations to weaken the anti-piracy campaign were retrogressive in the fight against piracy. Her plea comes following Anti-Piracy Organisation of Zimbabwe (Apoz)’s call to police to apply the copyright act selectively.
Apoz  executive director Innocent Matsengarwodzi wrote to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri requesting police to allow pirated CDs from outside the country to be sold in the country.
In a recent interview, Matsengarwodzi admitted writing to Chihuri, but denied he was fanning piracy. Ncube insists Matsengarwodzi was derailing the fight against piracy.
“We have an association in Zimbabwe (Apoz) which is throwing spanners in the fight to wipe out piracy,” Ncube said.
“This organisation used to be our affiliate but it defected and they are now trying to protect pirates from being raided by authentic copyright holders.”
She said piracy has reached alarming levels and ignoring the notorious crime would be very unfortunate because the welfare of artistes would continue to be adversely affected.