“IT IS FALSE!”: ZIMURA Drops Bombshell Statement Backing Fungisai, Exposes Unpaid Royalties by 'In Total' Band
What started as a heated online debate over production credits, cover bands, and artists' rights has now escalated into a formal regulatory crackdown. Following intense public scrutiny and a fierce war of words involving industry veterans, ZIMURA has stepped in to set the legal record straight regarding the commercial exploitation of Zimbabwean musical works.
The official document, titled "ZIMURA Clarifies Licensing Position, Royalty Remittances and Copyright Concerns," serves as a massive vindication for Fungisai, leaving the cover band community and their defenders with difficult questions to answer.
The US$150 Licence: What ZIMURA Says It Really Covered
During the height of the online arguments defending cover bands, a receipt for a US$150 licence was widely circulated on social media, with proponents claiming it gave bands the legal right to perform and monetize classic hits. ZIMURA has now categorically shut down this narrative.
The regulatory body made it explicitly clear that this single receipt did not constitute:
The 'In Total' Bombshell: Unpaid Royalties
In what is arguably the most damning section of the official release, ZIMURA addressed the licensing and remittance status of the highly popular In Total band and associated events like the ECOBANK Legends Night.
The organization confirmed that based on present records, In Total "has not maintained a general licence with ZIMURA covering the commercial exploitation currently being publicly associated with its performances, tours and events."
The organization went a step further, declaring in bold text that any public assertion suggesting that In Total has been continuously licensing, accounting for, and remitting royalties to composers is FALSE.
Fungisai Gets Official Backing
Addressing the intense backlash Fungisai has faced online for standing up for her music, ZIMURA offered its unequivocal institutional support. The body stated it stands for the principle that the rights of composers must be respected and will not endorse commercial exploitation where the owner has expressly objected.
ZIMURA unequivocally supports the principle that every Zimbabwean musician holds fundamental statutory rights:
A Warning to "Pseudo-Journalists"
In a closing section titled "On Misinformation, Pseudo-Journalism and Public Propaganda," ZIMURA expressed concern over the circulation of unverified narratives and selective documentation aiming to influence complex copyright matters.
The authority called upon journalists and commentators to exercise due diligence, stating that the intellectual property rights of musicians are "too important to be sacrificed for social media engagement, personal agendas, factional interests or sensational headlines."
A Wake-Up Call for the Music Industry
The official intervention by ZIMURA is a massive victory for Fungisai Zvakavapano and a harsh reality check for the Zimbabwean entertainment sector. For too long, the industry has relied on assumptions, public sentiment, and a fundamental misunderstanding of intellectual property law.
This document draws a hard line in the sand: nostalgia and cover band popularity do not override copyright law. Paying a US$150 fee for a single gig does not give anyone the right to build an ongoing commercial enterprise on the backs of original composers without remitting proper royalties. As the digital era continues to monetize live performances, Zimbabwe's musicians and cover bands must heed ZIMURA's warning: protect your intellectual property, clear your licenses properly, and respect the original creators!
© Sona Headlines | Entertainment & Music Law Desk
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