Freeze ZIMURA’s bank accounts to prevent looting, withhold Chimhini’s exit package – musicians demand

THE sudden departure of Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) executive director, Polisile Ncube Chimhini, will not offer the organisation a breathing space, as the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) has demanded the freezing of its accounts to prevent looting during the transition.

Chimhini, who was convicted of fraud, stepped down from ZIMURA after 30 years at the helm of an organisation that has recently been under fire for poor governance.

During Chimhini’s tenure, ZIMURA was dogged by allegations of corruption and the poor remuneration of musicians in their royalties.

In a statement, ZIMU said Chimhini’s severance package should be withheld until issues at ZIMURA have been resolved.

“ZIMU therefore calls upon the ZIMURA Board to: Refrain from awarding any exit package or benefits to the former Executive Director until all matters have been fully and independently reviewed.

“Freeze all ZIMURA accounts with immediate effect to prevent any potential looting. misuse, or unauthorised transactions during this transition period.

“Convene an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) urgently, with the explicit mandate to elect new board members, as the current three-member board must be suspended with immediate effect pending investigations into their oversight role during the period of governance failures.

“Prioritise urgent governance reforms that restore transparency, rebuild trust, and ensure robust oversight going forward,” read the statement.

Chimhini’s departure comes as there are negotiations between the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and a group of disgruntled musicians to solve the ongoing impasse.

Musicians are at loggerheads with ZIMURA over its operations, with members of the board accused of corruption.

ZIMU said while the resignation of Chimhini is welcomed, the ZIMURA board should also be held accountable.

“Our sector cannot move forward without honestly taking stock of how we arrived here. Accountability cannot end with a single resignation. The board members who were present while governance deteriorated must also answer for their role.

“Musicians deserve full transparency, a clean break from past failures, and a rights-management system that operates in their best interests. This is a moment for serious correction, not quiet continuity,” read the statement further.