The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) has responded to concerns raised by musician Chillmaster, who recently expressed dissatisfaction over the royalties he has received despite having a catalogue of more than 17 popular songs.
Chillmaster took to his Facebook page claiming he had earned less than US$800 from Zimura questioning the value of his membership.
“Out of all these songs I have listed down there, I have earned less than US$800 from Zimbabwe Music Rights Association. So what’s the point of being a member of Zimura then?” he posted.
He added that the situation had affected his motivation to submit new work for 2026, noting that live performances now offer a more reliable source of income.
Chillmaster hit songs include, Ndiudze Zvese, Horror, Makanaka, Kudiwa Chaizvo, Wakahwina Kare, and Dai Mandiropadza.
Other notable releases include Ndaremerwa, Judas Iscariot, Hazvisi Kutambirika and Mhepo,
Responding to the concerns, Zimura chairperson Alexio Gwenzi told Standard Style that the issue largely stems from a misunderstanding of how the royalty system operates.
“It is Zimura’s responsibility to ensure that members clearly understand how the system works,” Gwenzi said.
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“We appreciate these questions as they help bring to light both our challenges and those affecting composers and the general public.”
Gwenzi clarified that royalties are not determined by the number of songs an artist has produced, but by how frequently the music is used.
“Firstly, having a large catalogue of music does not automatically translate to higher royalty earnings. Royalties are strictly driven by usage. If the music is not being played or tracked, it cannot generate income,” he said.
He added that even when music is played on radio, Zimura can only distribute what it has successfully collected. Currently, the organisation is owed more than US$1 million in unpaid royalties from various users.
“We are working tirelessly to recover this debt for our composers,” Gwenzi said.
He also revealed that a competing organisation has been collecting funds that legally belong to Zimura members, a matter that has already been ruled on by the High Court in Zimura’s favour.
“This has significantly reduced the revenue we receive compared to previous years,” he said.
Gwenzi further explained that royalty payments are made in arrears, meaning distributions reflect usage from the previous year.
“For example, money distributed in 2025 was for music used in 2024. If an artist had a hit in 2025, those earnings will only be reflected in the 2026 distribution,” he said.
He emphasised that external factors, rather than internal inefficiencies, are the major challenges affecting payouts.
“However, we remain committed to renegotiating contracts and recovering every cent owed to our creators,” Gwenzi said.
