The ongoing standoff between Zimbabwean musicians and the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has revealed a deepening crisis in our cultural governance.
At the heart of this issue lies the dual board membership of renowned musician Hope Masike, who currently serves on the National Arts Council (NAC) and ZIMURA boards.
This situation is not just an administrative overlap—it is an alarming conflict of interest that jeopardizes the well-being of the artists both institutions should protect.
The Constitutional Crisis: A Divided Responsibility
ZIMURA operates under the Ministry of Justice as a Collective Management Organization (CMO) tasked with managing the rights of musicians and artists. On the other hand, the welfare of all artists, including composers and performers, falls under the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, with the NAC as its statutory guardian.
This separation of responsibilities has led to a disastrous divide. ZIMURA, unaccountable for its actions, has been allowed to act as an unchecked prosecutor, issuing threats to artists.
Meanwhile, the NAC is forced into the difficult position of acting as a public defender, attempting to mediate and resolve the damage caused. The result? Artists find themselves trapped in the crossfire, their livelihoods hanging in the balance.
Hope Masike’s Unworkable Position
Hope Masike, a respected mbira artist, finds herself in an impossible situation. She holds dual board memberships:
- As a Board Member of NAC, her role is to protect and promote the welfare of artists.
- As a Board Member of ZIMURA, she oversees an organization actively threatening and undermining the livelihoods of the artists NAC is supposed to protect.
This isn’t just poor judgment—it is institutional sabotage. The situation becomes even more untenable when:
- ZIMURA threatens musicians with lawsuits, adding unnecessary pressure.
- NAC steps in to mediate fair solutions for artists caught in the middle.
- One individual holds significant influence on both sides of the debate.
We must now ask: Whose interests is Hope Masike truly serving in this crisis?
The Honorable Path Forward: A Call for Accountability
In light of these developments, we believe Hope Masike must make a clear choice. She has three possible paths forward:
- Resign from ZIMURA’s Board: By doing so, she would stand with the artists and help ensure their protection.
- Step Down from NAC: If she chooses to defend ZIMURA’s actions, she must recuse herself from the NAC, as her loyalty to ZIMURA would undermine her role in protecting artists.
- Publicly Recuse Herself: Hope Masike can publicly recuse herself from any discussions regarding this ongoing crisis, avoiding further damage to her professional integrity.
While holding both positions, her continued silence amounts to professional malpractice, betraying the very artists that both institutions claim to serve and protect.
Our Demands: A Call for Transparency and Action
We stand united in calling for immediate action on this matter:
- Immediate Resolution of Ms. Masike’s conflicted positions, ensuring that no individual serves two masters.
- Full transparency regarding the approval process for her dual appointment to ZIMURA and NAC.
- Continued NAC Leadership in protecting artists from the predatory actions of ZIMURA.
The NAC has shown commendable leadership throughout this crisis. Now, it must complete its mission by ensuring that no board member can serve two conflicting roles while artists suffer in silence.
A Stand for Artists’ Rights
The time has come for accountability and a resolution to this crisis. We demand that the National Arts Council swiftly and decisively resolve the conflict of interest that threatens the livelihoods of Zimbabwean artists.
Artists’ lives matter, and it is time that institutions like NAC and ZIMURA are held to the highest standards in their duty to protect them.
