With most Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) chiefs opting out, youthful musician Alexio Gwenzi, popularly known as Goodchild, has boldly stepped forward to contest for the organisation’s chairmanship.
Gwenzi, who currently serves as Zimura’s director for information, media and publicity, said representation from the Midlands province in such a key institution was crucial to ensure that musicians’ concerns are effectively voiced.
Speaking ahead of the Zimura annual general meeting slated for October 22 at the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds, Gwenzi emphasised the need for fair compensation for artists.
“No more next-to-nothing payouts. Our music deserves real money, real respect and real impact,” said Gwenzi.
The former ZBC TV presenter said he was driven by a vision to uplift the welfare of musicians and reform the sector for transparency and accountability.
“We all know the truth — our current royalties are an insult to our hard work and talent. As a fellow musician and composer, I feel that pain too,” he added.
Since joining the Zimura board in 2022, Gwenzi said he has actively pushed for reforms, including ensuring that royalties are now paid in US Dollar.
“That was just the first step. Now we are going further,” he explained.
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If elected, Gwenzi said he was committed to implementing a fully automated royalty system to enhance transparency and fairness.
“I am committed to pushing for a fair and transparent royalty system so that every musician gets a fair share of their hard work. This includes regular reviews of rates and the introduction of a digital tracking system to ensure accountability within Zimura,” he said.
Should Gwenzi win, he would become the first musician from the Midlands province to lead Zimura since its inception.
