Zimura tightens noose on plagiarism

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
THOU shall not steal!

That is the message being put across by the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) through the introduction of a validation committee that will check if artistes used stolen ideas or not.

The committee will cross check all new music submitted by artistes registered with the association.

Due to the high number of artistes releasing music, especially on the Zim dancehall front, the committee will ensure that musicians submit original material.

In 2006, the late sungura star Tongai Moyoa��s song Zakeo, was very similar to that of Botswana rhumba artiste Francoa��sA� hit Tsietso which was released three years earlier.

Dendera musician Suluman Chimbetu, also stands accused of a�?stealinga�� the beat of Kenyan group Les Wanyikaa��s hit a�?Kajituliza Kasukua�� to create the 2010 song a�?Kwedua��.

Man of the moment, Jah Prayzaha��s hit Sisi Makachena, had certain elements linked to a song composed by Ghanaian musician Emmanuel Samini, who released his hit song in 2007.

The list of Zimbabwean artistes accused of plagiarism goes on and on.

To ensure that the plagiarism culture is laid to rest, Zimura executive director, Polisile Ncube, said that the new committee will validate all submitted material.

a�?We now have a validation committee that validates artistesa�� music, to confirm if the music they are presenting to us is not stolen. We are trying to tackle plagiarism, this is why we had to increase the registration fee,a�? she said.

However, this did not go down well with artistes who said that the registration fee was now too high as it was previously pegged at $50 but upped to $80.

Project director of Jibilika, Plot Mhako, took to his facebook page lamenting the registration fee increase.

a�?Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) which seldom pays royalties to artistes has increased registration fees for new artists to $80. This is a major blow to already struggling emerging artistes. I wonder why we have a lot of these punitive institutions and regulations that impede growth,a�? he said.