Zimbabwe’s music industry is deeply divided, with mixed emotions rife, following the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura)’s recent introduction of licencing fees for performing cover music.
Under the new regulations, local bands and artists must now pay US$$150 per event to perform cover songs — a move backed by the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act (Chapter 26:05).
Zimura stated: "The license fee for live bands performing cover versions or copyrighted music is US$150 per event. It is the duty of the venue owner or event organiser to verify, prior to the performance, that the band has a valid Zimura music copyright licence.”
“Failure to do so will result in the venue owner or event organiser being required to pay a penalty of US$100 on top of the license fees required per event or show if an unlicensed band is found performing at your premises."
The decision has sparked outrage among musicians and their associations, who argue the tariffs are unfair.
The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (Zimu) denounced the ‘sudden imposition of a US$150 licencing fee on artists performing cover songs’.
Zimu argued that such a practice was against best practice, where ‘licencing fees… are typically the responsibility of venues and promoters, who secure licences to cover all performances within their spaces, with royalties distributed to creators.”
It called the tariff “punitive”.
It further stated that Zimura “has not clarified how or when this fee will be enforced, leading to the suspension of live performances by some venues and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of artists.”
Zimu also questioned the feasibility of the fee in the current economy.
It demanded the immediate withdrawal of the US$150 artist fee, restoration of compliance obligations to venues/promoters, as mandated by law, and an urgent stakeholder dialogue involving Zimu, artists, government, and copyright holders to design equitable solutions.
Austria-based Vusa Mkhaya described Zimura's cover band fee as a scam.
"When we perform all over the world, we submit our setlist to every venue or event promoter or festival,” he said.
“On that setlist, the composer/songwriter/arranger of every song is mentioned.
“The venues and festivals pay a certain fee to the copyright collecting societies of their respective countries for hosting live performances.
“The collecting societies then distribute to the composers/songwriters/arrangers mentioned on the setlist.
"They must be registered with a collecting society in their respective country in order for them to be identified on the international database and be paid accordingly.
“We have performed in more than 50 countries and 200-plus cities around the world. No one has ever made us pay a fee to perform at a venue because we have one or two covers on our set.
“We actually get paid royalties for performing our own songs live onstage.
"What Zimura is trying to do, asking artists to pay a US$150 flat fee if they have cover songs on their setlist, is a scam.
“How much are bands that perform in pubs and weddings paid in Zimbabwe right now? Where will they get the US$150 to pay Zimura after every gig?
“Will Zimura distribute the money to all the collecting societies representing the composers/songwriters/arrangers of the cover songs?”.
Mkhaya added that venues and festivals must pay Zimura, artists must be paid a performance fee by the venues, and composers, songwriters, and arrangers must be paid by Zimura and other collecting societies.
However, speaking to the media recently, Clive Mono Mukundu expressed his support for Zimura's cover band fee.
"This issue of music composers receiving payments is actually a good thing and it is common practice worldwide,” said Mukundu.
“However, it shouldn’t be presented in a way that feels punitive, as if it’s punishing those performing covers. It also shouldn’t be implemented in a way that leaves cover performers with nothing.
“Performing covers isn’t a crime. If it were, do you think it would be allowed in the US, where cover performances are widespread?
“In fact, there are tribute bands that are legally recognised and even appreciated by original artists. For example, Irish rock band U2 has cover bands that they sometimes engage for shows.
“Performing covers isn’t about stealing or devaluing someone’s work – it’s simply an artist’s own interpretation of a song.
“Let’s not be afraid of competition, and let’s not resist evolution because if we do, we’ll be hit hard by revolution. We can’t fight change.”
Mukundu noted that in many places, cover performers pay licence fees.
“In Australia, they pay quarterly, while in other countries, they pay annually,” he said.
“This is where I object to our local law, where performers are required to pay for each performance.
“Even from an administrative perspective, this process would be too complicated and inefficient.
“Taking inspiration from Australia, Europe, and the US, I would prefer a once-off payment per month.”
Zimura refuted allegations of excessive fees, asserting they were calculated based on comprehensive regional and global copyright tariff research.
“The assertion that the US$150 per show licence fee is excessive is ill-informed and unfortunate,” said Zimura board member and director of information, media, and publicity, Alexio Gwenzi.
“We studied tariffs in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Nigeria, the UK, and the USA before arriving at this figure, while also considering Zimbabwe’s economic factors.”
The organisation emphasised that the tariff concerns originated from music users, not copyright holders.
“It is crucial to note that those raising complaints are our clients, not the composers themselves,” Gwenzi said.
“Our mandate is to protect intellectual property rights and ensure musicians — including widows and orphans of legendary artists like Leonard Dembo, Marshall Munhumumwe, and Oliver Mtukudzi— receive what is due to them.”
Zimura explained that cover bands performing more than 90% of other artists’ songs must obtain a copyright music licence, while those primarily playing original compositions with only a few covers are exempt.
“For bands earning as little as US$100 per show, we suggest they increase their fees to include the US$150 composers’ fee,” said Gwenzi.
“Musicians should also establish stronger unions to negotiate fair performance fees.”
The association issued a warning that non-compliance with licensing requirements will lead to legal action against both artists and venue owners.
“Zimura remains open to constructive dialogue, but the commercial use of our members’ work must attract fair compensation,” the organisation stated.