Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights has expressed delight at the ongoing royalties disbursement underway.
With a membership of over 2 500 composers, ZICCO’s top brass — which, in its first phase, has been distributing uniform royalties — hopes to have completed this exercise by July 31.
Afterwards, another roll-out will be held later this year.
“We are glad that the exercise, which started in Harare on July 1, has been going on smoothly both in Harare and Bulawayo, among other centres,” ZICCO chief executive Dr Tafadzwa Masembura told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
“We are giving members uniform royalties since most of the revenues we are getting come from general collections by bar owners, restaurants, and hotels.
“The challenge we are facing is that there are no log sheets to ascertain how often someone’s music is played. Bar owners don’t have time for log sheets, and it becomes difficult to predict how someone’s music is played.
“As such, we resorted to giving our members uniform royalties until such a time when we have proper log sheets.”
He said most of their members had received their royalties, although they are yet to reach others.
“Some of our members have changed their contact details, which has made it difficult for us to reach out to them.
“As such, we try by all means to get hold of their next of kin because we don’t want to keep their money.” Asked why they were giving some members cash transactions, Masembura explained:
“You will be surprised that some of the members do not have bank accounts, and we end up giving them cash. There are even top musicians like Josphat Somanje who told us that he had no bank account, and we are assisting him and many others to open bank accounts.
“We don’t encourage the issuing of cash because it has the potential to attract armed robbers.”
When Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub visited ZICCO offices, people such as Somanje, Principal Chigwida, Noel Zembe, and Tendai Chiraya had already received their royalties.
“The other reason why we are giving them cash royalties is for transparency’s sake, but in the future, we will simply do online payments. As for those who have bank accounts, we have since deposited cash into their accounts.” He also urged ZICCO members who have changed contacts, bank accounts, and addresses to contact them.
Dr Masembura said the association has played a crucial role in assisting members with funeral and medical expenses, while also supporting the families of deceased members.
He also pledged to continue strengthening the organisation’s relationship with its membership countrywide.
“As a registered CMO, it may appear new in the eyes of many people, but we have a number of major projects lined up and have been working quietly behind the scenes.
“As one of the CMOs in Zimbabwe, the health and welfare of our members remain our top priority, which is why we have been assisting those who are ill.
“One of the beneficiaries of our programmes was Thabiso Moyo, who was unwell. One of our members — Moses Mudenda — from Binga was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Harare and is currently receiving treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital. “One of our members, Empress Mishie (real name Thandiwe Madewu), has also benefited from our medical schemes.
“We have also assisted in covering funeral expenses for some of our members in Chegutu,” said Dr Masembura.
He added: “When Orchestra Mberikwazvo’s Barnabas Mandipota passed away, we stood with his family and provided assistance as a way of honouring his contribution.
“Despite being a member of Orchestra Mberikwazvo, Barnabas was also one of us, and we worked with him pretty well.
