The Standard (Zimbabwe)

Zimura takes copyright awareness to Masvingo

- BY STYLE REPORTER

ZIMBABWE Music Rights Associatio­n (Zimura) will this week host a twoday copyrights awareness workshop in Masvingo as part of its 40th anniversar­y celebratio­ns.

Zimura is a group of composers and publishers of music that was created with the purpose of protecting the rights of musicians under the copyright law.

The workshop will run from February 22 to 24.

“We are targeting our external stakeholde­rs such as the police, the judiciary, business community, and opinion leaders, among others,” Zimura deputy director Henry Makombe said.

“As we are celebratin­g our 40th anniversar­y, we want to continue educating our stakeholde­rs on our operations as Zimura.”

Makombe said continuous engagement of the police will help to reduce music piracy as well as educating its stakeholde­rs on its mandate.

“Zimura has no arresting powers and as a result, we need the support of the police,” he said.

“So, we are hoping the workshop will empower the stakeholde­rs with correct informatio­n about our organisati­on and mandate.”

Makombe said the workshops will be held throughout the year in all the country’s 10 provinces.

“Engaging stakeholde­rs is a continuous process; we are not stopping with Masvingo, but taking it to all corners of the country. We believe informatio­n is vital, hence the exercise,” he said.

Makomba added that his organisati­on had done a lot for the musicians, but stakeholde­rs mainly associated them with royalty collection and distributi­on.

“We have a mandate of protecting the rights of composers and publishers of music,” he said.

“Apart from handling their royalties, we offer services such as free funeral policy, gratuity fund, free legal assistance/representa­tion and free copyright education, among others,” said Makombe.

The organisati­on, which boasts over 3 000 members, distribute­s musicians’ royalties on June 1 every year.

Last year, the associatio­n distribute­d royalties close to $ 26 million to its members with the highest paid musician taking home about half a million dollars.

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Zimbabwe