HARARE – Zimbabwe’s creative industry is losing millions to piracy, with renowned musicians such as Sulumani Chimbetu, Alick Macheso, and Oliver Mtukudzi among those whose work has been illegally reproduced and sold on the black market, prompting calls for urgent action to protect intellectual property rights and compensate affected artists.
A motion was recently moved by Zanu-PF MP Energy Mutodi, seconded by Webster Shamu, calling for the establishment of a compensation fund to restitute authors and musicians who have lost income due to piracy.
According to Mutodi, numerous musicians have fallen victim to piracy, including: Sulumani Chimbetu, Leonard Zhakata, Alick Macheso, Simon Chimbetu (late), James Chimombe, Oliver Mtukudzi (late), Nicholas Zakaria, Leonard Dembo, Tongai Moyo (late) and Thomas Mapfumo.
Their music, along with textbooks authored by various individuals, has been photocopied and sold on the black market without permission or compensation.
The motion proposes a two-pronged approach: restitution for authors and artists who have lost income due to piracy, and the promulgation of laws to prohibit vendors from unlawfully benefiting from other people’s intellectual property.
“In order to correct this situation, I propose a two-pronged approach, one which is restitution from the value they have stolen authors and artists and secondly, the promulgation of necessary laws which prohibit vendors from unlawfully benefiting from other people’s intellectual property. I will also suggest, since this is a subject that is new to say what is the criteria that is going to be used.
“I am sure we have suggested in this motion that a compensation fund be established and once that compensation fund has been established, it will then be managed by the relevant Ministries which are the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education as well as the Ministry of Arts” Mutodi noted.
The compensation fund would be managed by relevant Ministries, including Primary and Secondary Education, Higher and Tertiary Education, and Arts. The source of information to support claims of piracy would come from organisations such as ZBC, publishing houses, and museums.
Shamu, a former Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, expressed support for the motion to combat piracy, drawing from his experience working with authors, musicians, and their associations.
He acknowledged that piracy was a major concern, with many complaining about their work being pirated and sold cheaply on the streets, resulting in significant financial losses, estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
“The need to ensure authors of scientific work and creators of art enjoy fruits of their work and the need to establish laws that prohibit the continued piracy of intellectual and artistic work.
“I was once a former Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services. During my service in Government, I worked with several authors of digital content as well as musicians and their associations. In fact, I was the Patron of the Musicians Association.
“Madam Speaker, most of what they raised as complaints in the trade was piracy of their work on the streets where their work was pirated and sold for pittance.
“It is indeed correct and factual what Hon. Mutodi said and highlighted the shoulders of the various CDs that are being sold on the streets.
“There are also several authors of books of various labels of our education system. We have indeed lost millions of dollars collectively as a result of piracy,” he said.
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
