ZICCO Chief Executive Officer Tafadzwa Masembura
By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — The Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights (ZICCO) has extended its royalty disbursement exercise beyond the previously communicated August 31 deadline, assuring artists and other rights holders that payments will continue until every eligible member receives their rightful share.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ZICCO said the royalty distribution process remains ongoing, with the organisation determined to ensure that no eligible member is left out of the payment exercise.
The copyright body attributed the delay in completing disbursements within the initial timeframe to several operational challenges. These include a continued increase in membership and cases where some members had not submitted the required or proper documentation to facilitate payment.
ZICCO Chief Executive Officer Tafadzwa Masembura said the extension was necessary to protect the interests of creators.
“Contrary to the earlier communicated deadline of 31 August 2026, the royalty disbursement exercise remains ongoing and will continue until every eligible ZICCO member has received their rightful royalty payment,” Masembura said.
He added: “Every effort is being made to ensure that artists and other rights holders receive what is rightfully due to them.”
ZICCO said it would continue processing and distributing royalties until all members who qualify for payment had received their share, stressing that the welfare of creators remained central to its mandate.
The development is significant for artists and other copyright holders who rely on royalty payments as part of their income. It comes amid persistent concerns over the administration and distribution of revenues generated from copyrighted works.
ZICCO, which is mandated to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of artists and other copyright holders, said it was committed to upholding transparency, accountability, fairness and professionalism in the administration of royalty funds.
The organisation has also urged members with outstanding documentation to regularise their records and ensure that their information is complete and up to date to avoid further delays in processing payments.
“The extended payment process is aimed at ensuring inclusivity and accuracy, rather than leaving eligible members without their royalties because of the original deadline,” Masembura said.
ZICCO said it would continue with the exercise until all qualifying members had been accounted for, while encouraging creators to ensure that their documentation was in order to facilitate smooth processing.
The latest announcement is expected to provide relief to artists who had been concerned about the approaching August 31 deadline, as the council has now made it clear that the payment exercise will not be prematurely closed before all eligible beneficiaries have been paid.