The Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights (ZICCO) recently kicked off its 2026 operations with a special board meeting aimed at providing strategic direction to the fast-growing Collective Management Organisation (CMO).
The board meeting served both as a strategic planning session and an orientation platform for newly elected board members who assumed office following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held in Bulawayo last year.
Crucially, the new ZICCO board chaired by Thabiso Moyo got the chance to interface with the office of the Chief Registrar of the Department of Deeds, Companies, and Intellectual Property Mr. Willie Mushayi.
The Chief Registrar implored the new board to uphold good governance, professionalism, harmony, respect for the law, and ethical conduct in the execution of their mandate.
After the crucial meeting, Moyo thanked the Chief Registrar and his officers for taking time out of their busy schedule to give advice on various issues including critical operational procedures and the foundational principles of good corporate governance.
“The engagement was constructive and essential in laying a solid administrative foundation for the year ahead.
“We found it necessary to have this very important meeting, especially because several members of the board are new. They were elected last year in accordance with our constitution, which provides for the election of a new board every year,” said Moyo.
“The main objective was to meet with the Registrar himself, who has guided us to start the year with full knowledge of how to conduct ourselves and operate properly within the industry. It was a very productive engagement.”
Moyo added that the board would work hard to address outstanding issues from the previous year.
“We want to clear everything we did not fulfill last year. This includes improving the disbursement of royalties, the ongoing project in Nyabira, and nationwide roadshows. We aim to position ZICCO as the leading music CMO in Zimbabwe,” She said.
On his part, ZICCO board member, veteran musician Chase Skuza said the new board’s mission was a direct response to the industry’s demand for integrity and improved benefits for artists.
“We are prepared to work towards bringing better standards for artists. We are determined to deliver improved royalty payouts and strengthened social support systems. ZICCO has already introduced medical, funeral, and legal cover for its members.
“ZICCO is also pursuing investment opportunities beyond music to ensure long-term financial sustainability for artists,” said Skuza.
Outlining the immediate way forward, ZICCO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tafadzwa Masembura confirmed that the board had directed management to expand income-generating projects, including scaling up agricultural initiatives currently underway in Nyabira.
“We will be implementing the board’s directive to expand our income-generating projects, including farming initiatives in Nyabira,” said Masembura.
To ensure the board is fully equipped to execute its mandate, Masembura announced that the next scheduled engagement will be a comprehensive induction workshop to enable members to hit the ground running.
“Transparency, accountability, respect, faithfulness, and adherence to the law are key to any organisation. These values form the DNA of ZICCO,” Masembura said.
Industry observers say ZICCO’s proactive engagement with regulators and its emphasis on governance, transparency, and tangible benefits for artists, presents a clear alternative model for artist representation in Zimbabwe. The performance of the new board will be closely watched by a creative community eager for stability, accountability, and fair remuneration.