The Digital Stage: Using NDS2 to Sell Your Art Beyond the Border

Avondale Stone artifacts

By Percy Nhara | Southerton Business Times

If you are a sculptor chiselling stone in Harare, a novelist writing with a solar light in the misty hills of Mount Selinda, or a comedian recording skits on your phone in Chipinge, here is the good news: the world is no longer “out there.” It is already in your pocket. Under Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the government has made a clear pivot toward a digital-first economy. For artists, this shift quietly changes everything. It means your next song, book, painting, or video does not have to stop at the border post. It can travel legally, visibly, and profitably across the globe.

But as we established in our previous column, “Paperwork is the New Paintbrush,” talent alone is no longer enough. In 2026, to sell your art beyond the border, you need more than inspiration. You need a digital identity that global platforms can recognise, trust, and pay.

The 15% Digital Services Tax: The Entry Fee to the Global Market

Before you upload your next track, vlog, or digital artwork, it helps to understand the landscape you are stepping into. Zimbabwe, like many countries, is aligning itself with international digital trade rules. One visible result is the 15% Digital Services Tax (DST). This tax applies mainly to foreign-owned platforms, such as Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, Shopify, and YouTube, that earn revenue from Zimbabwean users.

Some creators worry this makes the digital world more expensive. In reality, it signals something important: Zimbabwe is formally recognising the digital space as a legitimate marketplace. That matters because markets need rules before money can flow safely.

For artists, the lesson is simple. If you are informal, your earnings can disappear into a legal grey zone. If you are formal, registered, and traceable, your royalties, sales, and ad revenue have a clear path back home.

Your Art Needs a Digital Passport

Under NDS2, the big idea is value addition. This means turning raw creativity into a properly tagged digital asset, something that can be tracked, traded, and protected.

Think of it as giving your work a passport.

1. Authors and Fine Artists: ISBNs and Digital Certificates

If you are a writer in Mount Selinda, your equivalent of a musical ISRC is an ISBN. Without it, your book does not exist to Amazon, global bookstores, or libraries.

For fine artists, the world is moving toward digital certificates of authenticity and even NFTs. These tools ensure that if your painting is resold in London or Cape Town, your authorship and resale rights are preserved.

2. Filmmakers and Content Creators: ISAN and Monetisation

Filmmakers use the ISAN (International Standard Audiovisual Number) to track films and documentaries worldwide.

For everyday creators YouTubers, skit comedians, vloggers there is encouraging news. The Zimbabwean government has opened discussions with Google and Meta to unlock direct monetisation for local creators. Under NDS2, the Ministry of ICT has also earmarked US$10 million to support content creation and scaling.

In short, the door is opening, but only for creators who are properly registered.

3. Musicians: The ISRC Code

For musicians, the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) remains the most important digital fingerprint. This 12-character code ensures that when someone streams your song in Lagos, London, or Los Angeles, the money knows where to go back to your registered business.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Be an Invisible Creator

NDS2 has laid down the bridge, but artists must still cross it properly equipped. From Harare’s studios to Mount Selinda’s writing desks, the opportunity to sell art beyond the border is real. But visibility matters. If Sha Sha can win a BET Award and local animators can land Netflix deals, it is not by luck. Their creative paperwork is as strong as their talent.

Register with ZIPO, formalise your business, secure your digital codes, and step onto the global stage with confidence. The world is already listening. Make sure it knows how to pay you.

Percy Nhara is a musician, veteran broadcaster, and ethnomusicologist focusing on the intersection of creative arts and economic policy. For insights on turning policy into profit, email mdarawengozha@gmail.com or WhatsApp +263 772 113 605.

📺 Related video: Zimbabwe opens talks with Google and Meta on digital content monetisation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_84C-uoYqM

✅ Short Explainer Box

Quick Guide: How to Sell Your Art Online Under NDS2You don’t need to be “techy” to earn online. You just need three things:

1. Register Yourself or Your Group Open a simple business or trust and register your work with ZIPO. This proves the art is yours.

2. Get a Digital CodeMusic: ISRCBooks: ISBNFilm & video: ISANThese codes help platforms track your work and pay you correctly.

3. Use Approved PlatformsUpload through recognised platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Amazon or Facebook. Government talks with Google and Meta are making this easier for Zimbabwean creators.Remember: No registration = no payment trail.