Zimbabwe musicians raise red flags over Zimura

The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) has called for an urgent review of the 2024 audit report of the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA), citing alleged governance failures, misrepresentation, and breaches of corporate protocol.

In an open letter dated 19 October 2025 to Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants, ZIMURA's auditors, ZIMU president Edith Katiji alleged that the audit overlooked several procedural and ethical irregularities. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).

Katiji questioned the validity of the audit report, pointing out that it was signed only by ZIMURA board chairperson Albert Nyathi and "executive director" Polisile Ncube-Chimhini, without the mandatory signature of the company secretary as required under Section 59 of ZIMURA's Articles of Association. She further noted that Ncube-Chimhini reportedly signed under a title that does not exist within ZIMURA's governance framework, citing a High Court ruling in Farai Fred Nyakudanga v Polisile Ncube-Chimhini (HH 438-25) which found that she does not hold the position of executive director.

The union also criticised the auditors for omitting material information, including Ncube-Chimhini's reported fraud conviction, while referencing unrelated legal cases in the report. Katiji said this undermined the transparency and integrity of the audit, arguing that responsible governance requires immediate disclosure and action rather than concealment.

ZIMU further raised concerns about discrepancies in the directors' list presented in the audit report, noting that it did not align with official records lodged with the Deeds Office. The letter highlighted that Philip Chipfumbu, a registered director, was omitted from the published list.

The union questioned Baker Tilly's independence, suggesting that the firm may have relied solely on information provided by ZIMURA management without adequate verification. Katiji noted that the audit alternately assigned responsibility for financial statements to both "management" and the "board," contradicting ZIMURA's Articles of Association.

Katiji urged the auditors to withhold the report from ZIMURA's Annual General Meeting scheduled for 22 October 2025, warning that using the flawed document to guide governance decisions would be "reckless and a breach of ethical responsibilities."

ZIMU has requested an urgent reassessment of the 2024 audit, public disclosure of Ncube-Chimhini's legal status, and full cooperation with regulatory authorities to restore transparency. The union also called for scrutiny of ZIMURA's legal adviser, Witness Zhangazha, who has reportedly been referred to the Law Society of Zimbabwe over alleged misconduct.

Katiji emphasised that the credibility of both ZIMURA and Zimbabwe's audit profession was at stake if the concerns were not addressed. As of publication, neither ZIMURA nor Baker Tilly had issued a public response to the allegations.