The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) has taken decisive action to counter what it describes as misinformation that has fuelled mistrust and division among its stakeholders nationwide.
The move comes amid broader government efforts to curb the spread of fake news in Zimbabwe and beyond.
In a statement, Zimura management dismissed published reports alleging that the Association sold properties without following due process and that a named individual personally benefited from the transaction.
“Zimura has noted with great concern the proliferation of misinformation circulating on social media and in the traditional press. These baseless allegations appear to be a coordinated effort to malign the Association’s reputation for ulterior motives,” read part of the statement.
Clarifying the claims, Zimura said it never owned a full building in the area cited.
“Regarding the alleged disposal of two residential flats in Avondale, we wish to set the record straight. Zimura did not own a building in Avondale as claimed.
The Association owned only two small flats within the building,” management said.
According to Zimura, the units had become unsuitable for its expanding operations.
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“The premises were dilapidated and posed serious occupational health risks, with staff forced to operate from makeshift office spaces, including the kitchen,” the statement added.
On governance, Zimura said the decision to dispose of the flats was made in line with its founding governance instruments. The board of directors at the time passed a resolution deemed to be in the best interests of the association.
“Pursuant to Article 41 of the Zimura Memorandum and Articles of Association, the board is vested with authority to make decisions that benefit the Association without the requirement to consult members,” Zimura said.
The association stressed that neither an annual general meeting nor an extraordinary general meeting was required for the decision.
“A board resolution was passed establishing a committee of board members to oversee the disposal of the units. The primary objective was to facilitate the acquisition of a standalone commercial property to serve as a new head office,” the statement said.
Zimura noted that members were subsequently informed of the transaction and that the proceeds remain under the Association’s ownership.
“The membership at large recognises that these actions were taken in good faith and solely for the benefit of the association,” Zimura said.
The copyright collective management organisation has since instituted legal action against individuals accused of spreading defamatory information.
Zimura confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and that investigations are underway.
“Zimura remains the rightful owner of the proceeds, which are being reinvested into the organisation’s future. Legal proceedings have been instituted against persons disseminating defamatory content,” the statement read.
“Zimura remains steadfast in its fiduciary duty to protect the rights of music composers and ensure they are fairly compensated for their creative works.”
These developments come as Zimbabwe finalises a National Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Strategy, led by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).
The strategy aims to strengthen citizens’ ability to critically assess information, combat misinformation and disinformation, and promote responsible media use.
The ZRP has previously urged the ZMC to develop effective mechanisms to address misinformation spread by citizen journalists, citing risks to national trust and security.
