ZIMURA executive director Polisile Ncube-Chimhini steps down

In a statement, the ZIMURA board said Ncube-Chimhini had concluded her service following a period of engagement and reflection, during which she indicated her intention to pursue other professional opportunities after many years in the association and the broader intellectual property sector.

Her departure comes after sustained pressure from the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) and sections of the music industry, who had called for her to step aside following legal and governance disputes linked to her role at ZIMURA. In July 2025, the Harare Magistrates’ Court convicted Chimhini of submitting fraudulent company registration documents to the High Court.

In a related ruling on 23 July 2025, the High Court found that ZIMURA’s Articles of Association do not provide for the position of executive director, and that Chimhini therefore held no executive authority within the organisation.

Following the court decisions, ZIMU urged ZIMURA members and stakeholders to demand accountability and reform, arguing that Chimhini should have stepped aside to deal with her legal matters independently. The union also criticised the ZIMURA board for supporting an appeal against her conviction, saying it was a matter of personal liability that should not have been pursued on behalf of the organisation without member approval.

Additional concerns were raised by ZIMU over governance and transparency at ZIMURA, including questions about the validity of the association’s 2024 audit report. In an open letter to ZIMURA’s auditors, Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants, ZIMU president Edith Katiji alleged that the report did not comply with the organisation’s Articles of Association and omitted reference to Chimhini’s conviction. The union also cited a High Court ruling which found that she did not lawfully hold the title under which she signed the audited financial statements.

ZIMURA board acknowledged Chimhini’s long service, noting that she had played a significant role in the development of music copyright administration in Zimbabwe and had represented the country on regional and international platforms, including as chairperson of the CISAC African Chapter.

The board said the association’s operations would continue under its oversight and the existing management team while leadership arrangements are considered. It added that further communication on the way forward would be made in due course.

ZIMURA has not publicly addressed the specific allegations raised by ZIMU, while the union has maintained its calls for broader structural reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the organisation, which is mandated to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of Zimbabwean musicians.