..…From Left ZICCO Finance Director Mhizha and CEO Masembura
By Desire Tshuma
Harare– The Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights (ZICCO) is pushing beyond its traditional Harare-Bulawayo-Gweru base, with new offices secured in Masvingo and Mutare as part of a drive to put copyright services in every province.
ZICCO CEO Dr. Tafadzwa Masembura confirmed the expansion was approved at the organisation’s December 2025 Annual General Meeting in Bulawayo. Pressure to move faster came during a recent appearance before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden.
“We were asked to speed up our expansion to ensure copyright representation reaches all corners of the country,” Masembura said. “We still have a lot to do before we have a physical presence in all ten provinces.”
The Masvingo office is expected to open within days, with the Mutare branch to follow shortly after. Both launches are being timed to coincide with ZICCO’s mid-year royalty payouts, allowing the organisation to hand over payments to registered artists in those regions as the doors open.
“The official opening will coincide with the mid-year royalty distribution,” Masembura said.
That distribution comes with a guaranteed minimum of US$50 for every registered member. Currently, ZICCO funds royalties from general collections. Masembura told Parliament the organisation is working on systems to collect and pay out radio-play royalties, which could substantially boost artists’ earnings once operational.
“At the moment, there is no money coming from radio play, but once implemented, this will increase earnings for artists,” he said.
ZICCO was registered in February 2023 after a four-year licensing process. It now has about 2,200 members and operates as a collective management organisation for artists, composers, producers, and arts associations. A new board took over after the December AGM in Bulawayo, with gospel musician Thabiso Moyo replacing Tendayi Chiraya as chairperson. Other board members include Nicholas “Chase” Skuza, Brighton Chirumbwana, Ishmael Sibanda, and Evias Bhebhe.
The leadership change has coincided with a broader push on governance and member support. ZICCO runs projects that go beyond royalty collection, including the Nyabira Sugar Beans initiative aimed at long-term income for artists unable to perform due to age or health. Members also access medical aid, funeral insurance, and free legal help on copyright matters.
Masembura has also launched a programme to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in the creative sector, built around peer support, rehabilitation specialists, and mental health workshops. Plans are underway for an arts school to build life skills and deepen members’ understanding of their rights, with ZICCO intending to cover school fees for young artists.
The organisation has been running roadshows to educate communities on copyright, though court matters caused delays. A 2024 session in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, combined outreach with royalty disbursements and direct engagement with artists.
Zimbabwe currently has two collective management organisations, fewer than in some countries that host five or more operating in parallel. Masembura told Parliament that the smaller number should make coordination and regulation easier, despite legal battles that have demanded management’s attention.
With Masvingo and Mutare next in line, ZICCO says its 2026 priorities include clearing outstanding 2025 issues, improving royalty payouts, and expanding roadshows nationwide.
“No artist should struggle in silence. Our doors are open for anyone who needs assistance,” Masembura told members at the December AGM.
As the new offices open, ZICCO is positioning itself to become Zimbabwe’s leading music CMO by taking services and payments directly to artists outside the major cities.