Arts Correspondent
The recent hiking of registration fees by the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has generated outrage by musicians who are members of the music association.
This has been exacerbated by the fact that musicians are crying foul over unremitted royalties by the organization after it had collected money on their behalf from broadcasting stations.
ZIMURA has since increased its registration fees by over 1 500% with effect from October this year as compared to the same period last year.
Contemporary gospel artist and a member of ZIMURA who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization questioned the logic in the rising of the registration fees whilst the association is not adequately remitting royalties.
“There should be value for money. You can’t be expected to fork out large amounts of money for paltry services which are not benefitting especially young and upcoming artists,” fumed the source.
Another producer whose aspirations are to join the music association said he has been demoralized to join ZIMURA because of its new fares regardless of being assured that he would get some remittances as a composer.
“I attended one of their functions at the Zimbabwe College of Music where I was taught that I could realize something for my works as a composer.
“However the increase in the fares has prevented me from registering with them (ZIMURA) as the money seems to weigh too much for me,” he said.
Zimbabwe Union of Musicians (ZIMU) a trade union for musicians has since issued a statement calling out on the prize hike as well as unremitted royalties.
“Royalties owed go back to 2014/15 and the money has since lost value…why the sudden increase on royalties you are failing to collect?” reads part of the statement which was addressed to ZIMURA.
ZIMURA, however, issued a membership fee increase justification statement outlining some of the expenses they are enquiring as an association.
The statement gave a breakdown of the registration fee sighting expenses such as membership card, membership certificate, orientation as well as “other” expenses accumulating to a total amount of ZW$800.
