THE Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights (Zicco) recently appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services to provide clarity on its establishment, operations, challenges and the role Parliament can play in strengthening the country’s copyright management sector.
The meeting, held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, outside Harare, was attended by several legislators who engaged Zicco on various issues, including what necessitated the council’s formation as well as the systems the organisation has put in place to promote prudent financial management, transparency and fair royalty distribution to artists.
Zicco chief executive officer Tafadzwa Masembura led the presentation, which comprehensively outlined the organisation’s history, mandate, operations and challenges.
Members of the committee commended the detailed report and engaged the Zicco delegation on several issues affecting the copyright sector.
Speaking after the meeting, Masembura described the session as intense but constructive.
“I would like to thank the entire Zicco management team for the excellent teamwork demonstrated during the preparation of the report. The positive comments from the committee showed that we were well prepared,” he said.
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“We were invited by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to clarify a number of issues relating to how Zicco was established, how it operates, and the challenges the organisation is facing.”
Masembura added that they addressed to the best of their abilities the issues raised by the legislators.
“Several questions were asked and we answered them satisfactorily.
“The presentation itself provided detailed explanations on most of the issues raised,” he said, adding that the discussions also focused on operational and legal challenges affecting the organisation.
“We were asked about the challenges we face in the field and the legal hurdles confronting the organisation.
“We also proposed possible solutions, and the committee pledged to assist in addressing some of these challenges, particularly given the existence of two collective management organisations (CMOs) operating in the country.”
One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the distribution of royalties to artists.
Masembura explained that Zicco currently distributes royalties from its general collections.
“At present, all funds earmarked for distribution come from our general collections.
“Management has set a minimum distribution amount of US$50 for every registered artist.
“We are, however, working on systems that will enable us to collect and distribute radio-play royalties.
“At the moment, there is no money coming from radio play, but once implemented, this will increase earnings for artists.
“We also have several projects underway aimed at cushioning artists during these difficult economic times.”
The Zicco management welcomed the committee’s engagement, particularly at a time when the organisation faces challenges arising from the existence of multiple CMOs competing within the same operating environment.
“We appreciate the committee’s observation that in some countries more than five CMOs operate harmoniously, while in Zimbabwe there are only two,” Masembura said.
“This should make co-ordination and regulation much easier.”
Although the meeting was rigorous, Masembura said it provided an important opportunity for the organisation to explain its mandate and correct misconceptions.
“Despite the robustness of the meeting, we managed to clearly explain who we are, where we came from and our vision as an organisation.
“There has been a lot of misinformation aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Zicco, and this meeting gave us an opportunity to set the record straight.”
The engagement is expected to contribute towards greater understanding of the role of collective management organisations in protecting artists’ rights and improving royalty collection and distribution systems in Zimbabwe.