Musicians Demand Audit Rewrite at ZIMURA Amid Governance Crisis

ZIMU accuses auditors Baker Tilly of a flawed ZIMURA audit, citing governance breaches, fraud concealment, and missing disclosures (image source)

HARARE — The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) has formally condemned the 2024 audit report of the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA), urging an immediate revision of the document and calling for a full regulatory investigation into the rights body’s governance.

In a letter dated 19 October 2025 and addressed to the auditors Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants, ZIMU president Edith Katiji labelled the audit as “not just flawed — it’s a betrayal of every Zimbabwean musician who depends on ZIMURA for fair representation.”

ZIMU’s open letter highlights a range of alleged violations. Most significantly, the audit document bore only two signatures when ZIMURA’s Articles of Association require three, including that of the company secretary. One of the signatures was attributed to Polisile Ncube-Chimhini, listed in the report as “Executive Director” — a title ZIMU says does not exist within ZIMURA’s governance structure and was rejected by the High Court in case HH 438-25.

Corporate governance expert Tawanda Mudzonga warned: “The inclusion of a convicted fraudster in the audit process is not just unethical — it’s legally indefensible.” (Attribution as per ZIMU’s letter.)

The audit report omits disclosure of Ncube-Chimhini’s fraud conviction, a lapse ZIMU argues is a material omission affecting ZIMURA’s credibility. Moreover, ZIMU alleges that the report misrepresents the current board composition by excluding registered directors such as Philip Chipfumbu. ZIMU claims that Baker Tilly failed to independently verify key governance details, raising serious questions about the audit methodology.

According to ZIMU, ZIMURA is currently subject to multiple police and court investigations involving allegations of fraud, intimidation, and misappropriation of funds, none of which are referenced in the audit report. One ZIMURA member, speaking anonymously, described the situation as “a slow-motion collapse of institutional integrity.”

ZIMU asserts that whistle-blowers have faced systemic retaliation, and that the audit’s silence on these issues underscores a failure in fiduciary oversight.

The union’s letter calls for three key actions:

1. A full revision of the 2024 audit report by Baker Tilly.

2. Public disclosure of Ncube-Chimhini’s conviction and her removal from governance functions.

3. Immediate cooperation with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CIPZ) to restore confidence.

ZIMU also warned that presenting the contested audit at ZIMURA’s Annual General Meeting on 22 October 2025 would constitute “reckless” governance and could further entrench corruption. Additionally, the union flagged concerns over ZIMURA’s legal adviser, Witness Zhangazha, whom it has reported to the Law Society for alleged misconduct.

For Zimbabwean musicians, ZIMURA is more than a rights body — it is often the only channel for royalties and representation. Bulawayo-based singer Chipo M. told this publication: “I haven’t received a single royalty payment in over a year. Now we find out the people in charge may be hiding fraud? It’s heartbreaking.”

That anecdote underscores the human cost of alleged governance breakdowns. When an institution meant to protect creators betrays trust, the ripple effect can undermine livelihoods and morale across the sector.

Why did Baker Tilly proceed with the audit report despite apparent governance anomalies and unresolved legal matters? Did regulatory bodies such as CIPZ or NACZ enforce due diligence standards for ZIMURA’s governance? And crucially — will Zimbabwe’s musicians, who rely on ZIMURA, ever get the transparency and accountability the union is demanding?

Until those questions are answered, the union warns, trust continues to erode. At stake is not only the institution’s legitimacy, but also the financial wellness and creative futures of thousands of musicians across Zimbabwe.