SAMRO Board Shake-Up Mirrors ZIMURA Fraud Scandal: Music Rights Governance Crisis Grips Southern Africa

SAMRO Logo (image source)

The music rights landscape in Southern Africa is under intense scrutiny as two of the region’s largest rights organizations, SAMRO and ZIMURA, face mounting backlash over alleged corruption, poor governance, and disregard for artist welfare. In South Africa, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has seen several board members ousted amid protests by artists, while in Zimbabwe, ZIMURA’s executive director has been found guilty of fraud, setting off a wave of internal revolt and regulatory intervention.

Artists Seize Control at SAMRO

On July 10, 2025, a dramatic Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) saw SAMRO members vote to remove three board members linked to major international music corporations. These individuals were accused of obstructing reform and ignoring a forensic report that exposed fraudulent royalty claims and collusion between SAMRO employees and select publishers.

The ousted board was also condemned for attempting to sell SAMRO’s headquarters without member consultation—a move the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called unlawful and in breach of the organisation’s Memorandum of Incorporation.

“For decades, local artists have been side-lined. Even when royalties were paid, they were often minuscule,” said Nomsa Mazwai, a leading artists’ rights advocate. “Many legends died destitute while their creative work enriched others. We took matters into our own hands because SAMRO refused transparency and accountability.”

Despite the board shake-up, SAMRO has not released the full forensic report, fuelling distrust and uncertainty among its membership.

ZIMURA’s $150 Tariff Scandal and Fraud Fallout

Across the Limpopo, Zimbabwe’s ZIMURA (Zimbabwe Music Rights Association) faces a near-identical reckoning. The organization’s executive director, Polisile, was recently found guilty of fraud, leading to her ousting and the appointment of an interim artist-led board through an EGM.

The crisis deepened when ZIMURA unilaterally imposed a $150 per-event tariff on musicians and venues—a sharp escalation from the former $50 annual licensing fee. The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) and other stakeholders swiftly rejected the move as punitive and exploitative, arguing it contravened global best practices, which typically place licensing responsibility on venues, not individual performers.

Government Steps In

Amid mounting backlash, the Ministry of Justice and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) intervened, suspending the $150 fee and calling for urgent dialogue. In a statement issued on March 31, 2025, ZIMU commended NACZ’s intervention and emphasized that the tariff crisis reflects decades-long governance failures within ZIMURA.

“This is symptomatic of deeper systemic issues… mismanagement, intimidation, and unethical practices that have impoverished artists and eroded public trust,” ZIMU stated.

ZIMU’s catalogue of complaints includes:

• Lack of transparent royalty audits

• Intimidation and harassment during "spot checks"

• Absence of artist representation in decision-making

• Ambiguity around ZIMURA’s legal and operational status
  

Questionable Legality and Governance at ZIMURA

ZIMURA insists it is a private company, not an Arts Association, and claims it is not legally required to register with NACZ. However, many artists dispute this, arguing that the lack of oversight facilitates unaccountable leadership.

Reform advocate Philip Chipfumbu added fuel to the debate, stating:

“There is no executive director post in the ZIMURA constitution. The creation of such a position—and the powers exercised under it—have no legal basis. This has enabled unchecked authority and financial mismanagement.”

Calls for Total Reform

ZIMU has demanded:

• An independent forensic audit of royalty collections and distributions since ZIMURA’s founding

• A complete leadership overhaul

• Clear separation of powers, especially for individuals serving on both NACZ and ZIMURA boards

• New governance frameworks aligned with international standards

The Ministry of Justice has called for improved oversight of all collecting societies, while NACZ is reviewing its regulatory scope to better protect artists’ rights.

A Region in Revolt—and Reform

From Johannesburg to Harare, Southern African musicians are reclaiming control of organizations long accused of exploiting them. The parallel crises at SAMRO and ZIMURA reveal a deep-rooted governance malaise that, if left unchecked, threatens the sustainability of the region’s creative industries.

Yet, the successful artist-led actions in both countries point to a shifting tide. As ZIMU noted in a recent release, “The fight for justice is far from over, but artists are no longer silent.”