ZIMURA celebrates 40 years of existence
Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) is celebrating 40 years of existence with a mandate of protecting the rights of copyright music owners.
Founded in 1982, ZIMURA was established to safeguard the rights granted to creators of music by the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act of Zimbabwe, Chapter 26:05.
To commemorate their 40th anniversary, ZIMURA is hosting a 3-day festival, ZIMURA @40, featuring live performances from numerous artists of various genres.
The festival will have two editions for the Northern (Harare) and Southern Regions (Bulawayo) in September and October 2023.
The event will culminate in three days of live performances by popular artists chosen from the two regions.
Celebrations will also feature a book launch documenting the journey that the organization has had since its inception.
This book will include insights into the success, challenges, legal battles, and the first members to join the organization.
Additionally, the book will clarify various misconceptions by the public on the mandates of ZIMURA as enshrined in its founding documents.
To further support music creators, ZIMURA intends to introduce music awards for artists who enjoy music airplay on radio, tv, and online platforms.
For the success of the event, ZIMURA has engaged Event Management Consultants to manage the two events.
Mike Billion Events will manage the Harare Edition, while Simon Phiri (Mbazo) will manage the Bulawayo edition.
ZIMURA also plans to construct a twin state-of-the-art Music and Cultural Centre in Harare, similar to the one being constructed in Bulawayo.
The facility will be equipped with various training rooms to cover guitar, piano, dance, drums, acting, film, and other related artistic activities, particularly aimed at the youth.
ZIMURA secured 5 000 square meters of land in Emhlangeni Suburb in Bulawayo, where construction is underway. The organization has completed the installation of a security wall and drilling of a borehole, which was completed in November 2022.
Engagements are underway with the Harare City Council to try and acquire land for the Harare Music and Cultural Centre.
Ultimately, the Music and Cultural Centre is an attempt by ZIMURA to address socio-economic issues that affect established, upcoming, and aspiring artists.
The facility will be an arts and culture hub with a garden and internet to ensure the youth are taken off the streets and away from drugs.
ZIMURA is an association for music composers, authors, and publishers that represents music creators worldwide through reciprocal agreements that have been signed with music rights associations and societies commonly known as Collective Management Organizations (CMOs).
Additionally, Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Berne Convention, which provides for equal treatment of music rights holders worldwide.
Affiliated to the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), and Companies and Intellectual Property Office of Zimbabwe under the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, ZIMURA upholds intellectual property rights in the music industry.
