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Mbulelo Mpofu
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has halted the implementation of a US$150 cover band tariff imposed by the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) on local artistes.
The move follows a formal directive sent to ZIMURA, instructing the suspension of the tariff pending regulatory approval.
“It has come to our attention, as the regulator of collecting societies registered in Zimbabwe under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act (Chapter 26:05), that you are requiring cover bands and third parties to pay a licence fee of US$150 and 30 percent of total sponsorship to your organisation,” reads part of the letter from the Ministry.
“Please note that the Copyright Office is still seized with the approval of all Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) tariffs for the year 2025, and the 30 percent remittance to ZIMURA is unprecedented.
“Therefore, in terms of Section 111 of the above Act, you are hereby directed to suspend the levying of the cited tariffs until a determination has been made by the regulator in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.”
The Ministry’s intervention came in response to a letter from ZIMURA’s head of licensing, Servious Matiza, addressed to the managing director of Ecobank. In that letter, ZIMURA requested the bank to allocate 30 percent of its sponsorship budget toward music licensing and royalties for copyright holders.
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