By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
Long-serving Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) Executive Director Mrs Polisile Ncube Chimhini has stepped down, bringing an abrupt end to her 30-year reign at the powerful music rights body.
ZIMURA confirmed her immediate departure, marking the close of an era that had increasingly come under the spotlight amid growing pressure from stakeholders.
Chimhini’s exit follows months of sustained criticism, with stakeholders raising concerns linked to a fraud conviction recorded last year, alongside allegations of governance failures and organisational capture that placed her leadership under intense scrutiny.
The mounting pressure had sparked widespread debate within the creative sector, with artists and rights holders questioning transparency, accountability and the future direction of the association.
Once a dominant and influential figure in Zimbabwe’s intellectual property landscape, Chimhini’s departure signals a major turning point for ZIMURA as it seeks to steady the ship and restore confidence among its members.
The association has not yet indicated who will take over the top post, but insiders say expectations are high for reforms and a possible leadership reset.
As the dust settles, attention now shifts to what comes next for ZIMURA — and whether the exit of its long-serving boss will usher in a new chapter of accountability and change.
