Zimbabwe Musicians Union raises red flags over ZIMURA audit report

In an open letter dated 19 October 2025 addressed to Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants, ZIMURA’s auditors, ZIMU president Edith Katiji accused the firm of overlooking several procedural and ethical irregularities in its audit of the music rights body. The letter was also copied to the Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CIPZ), the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).

Questions over audit validity

Katiji claimed that ZIMURA’s 2024 audited financial statements failed to comply with the organisation’s Articles of Association. She said the report was signed by only two individuals, board chairperson Albert Nyathi and “executive director” Polisile Ncube-Chimhini, without the mandatory third signature from the company secretary. According to Section 59 of the Articles of Association, the company seal must be accompanied by two directors’ signatures and that of the secretary.

ZIMU further argued that the document was invalid because Ncube-Chimhini allegedly signed under a title that does not exist in ZIMURA’s governance structure. The letter cited a High Court ruling in Farai Fred Nyakudanga v Polisile Ncube-Chimhini (HH 438-25), which found that she does not hold the position of executive director.

Alleged omission of material facts

Katiji criticised the auditors for failing to disclose Ncube-Chimhini’s reported fraud conviction, while noting that the audit made reference to unrelated legal cases such as Simbisa Brands Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. She said the omission of information about the conviction undermined the integrity and transparency of the report.

“While every citizen has the right to appeal, the conviction stands until overturned,” Katiji wrote. “Responsible governance demands immediate suspension, not concealment or legitimisation.”

The musicians’ body alleged that ZIMURA continues to face multiple governance and legal challenges, including police investigations into fraud and misappropriation of funds, as well as ongoing court cases involving board members. ZIMU said the auditors’ failure to reference these matters amounted to a “serious breach of professional responsibility.”

The letter also raised concerns about the accuracy of the directors’ list in the audit report, stating that it did not match official records lodged with the Deeds Office. It named Philip Chipfumbu as one of the directors omitted from the published list.

Auditor independence questioned

ZIMU questioned Baker Tilly’s professional conduct, suggesting that the firm may have relied on information supplied by ZIMURA’s management without independent verification. The union said the audit created confusion by alternately assigning responsibility for financial statements to both “management” and the “board,” which contradicts ZIMURA’s Articles of Association.

Katiji urged the audit firm to withhold the report from presentation at ZIMURA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for 22 October 2025, warning that using the document to guide governance decisions “would be reckless and a breach of ethical responsibilities.”

ZIMU has requested an urgent reassessment of the 2024 audit, public disclosure of Ncube-Chimhini’s legal status, and cooperation with regulatory authorities to restore transparency. The union also called for scrutiny of ZIMURA’s legal adviser, Witness Zhangazha, who has reportedly been referred to the Law Society of Zimbabwe over alleged misconduct.

Katiji said the credibility of both ZIMURA and Zimbabwe’s audit profession was at stake if the issues were not addressed.

Neither ZIMURA nor Baker Tilly had issued a public response to the letter at the time of publication.