Blessing Nduku
Local artists have raised serious concerns over the surge in music, book and film piracy in the country at an engagement hosted by Aaron Chiunduramoyo in collaboration with Creative Voices for Policy Engagement therefore warning that the illegal reproduction and distribution of their work is destroying livelihoods and discouraging young creatives from pursuing careers in the arts.
For years, musicians and filmmakers in Gweru have battled the shadow economy of pirated CDs, memory cards and illegally shared digital files circulating on WhatsApp, Facebook and street markets.
With economic pressures already weighing heavily on the arts sector, many say piracy has become the final blow.
Afro-fusion musician Tafadzwa “TaffyBeats” Makiwa, who recently released an EP, said piracy has grown worse with the rise of mobile file sharing.
“What hurts the most is that my new songs were being sold in town before I had even finished distributing them myself,” he said.
“You work so hard pay for studio sessions, pay producers, pay for mixing and mastering only for someone who didn’t spend a single dollar to duplicate your work and sell it for pocket change. It’s daylight robbery.”
Makiwa said he had hoped to fund a small regional tour using proceeds from his EP sales, a plan now in jeopardy. “I expected at least to break even,” he added.
“Instead, I’m fighting to stop people from sharing my music for free in WhatsApp groups.”
“We had projected modest returns from online rentals and DVD sales to recover production costs. Now that’s gone. Every time I see someone watching a copied version of my film, it feels like a personal attack on my hard work.”
Chivende explained that her team used borrowed equipment and that several actors had agreed to deferred payment, expecting compensation after sales.
“Now I have to face people who trusted me and tell them there may be nothing to pay them,” she said.
Tinomutenda Chihora, known for mentoring young artists, said piracy has created a culture where creatives are undervalued and exploited.
” Young artists are getting discouraged before they even start,” he said.
“They see older artists struggling because music is stolen so easily. How do you motivate a teenager to follow their passion when the system is working against them?”
Chihora criticised authorities for what he called a lack of serious action.
“We report piracy, but nothing meaningful happens,” he said.
“Pirates operate openly. Some even sell pirated music next to the police station. Until the law is enforced, we are fighting a losing battle.”
Artists are calling for joint action between the police, Gweru City Council, ZIMURA and community groups to curb the illegal trade.
They also urged the public to support original work, arguing that without community intervention, Gweru risks losing its creative talent.
Despite their frustrations, some artists remain determined to push forward. We are not asking for miracles,” Chihora said.
“We just want a fair chance to earn from our craft. Piracy is killing the industry, but we refuse to give up. Our stories and our music still matter.”
Creative Voices for Policy Engagement (CVPE) is a program led by Zimbabwean writer Aaron Chiundura Moyo, supported by CreativeACTIONs2 and the EU, designed to equip emerging artists and creatives with skills to understand, support, and influence policy implementation in Zimbabwe, fostering cultural engagement with governance through workshops and capacity building, as seen in recent Gweru sessions.
It highlights how unique creative perspectives can be channeled into meaningful advocacy, bridging art with societal challenges and informing policymakers effectively.
CVPE is a localized, impactful initiative using creativity as a tool for governance and development in Zimbabwe, championed by figures like Aaron Chiundura Moyo.
CVPE empowers artists to engage with policy. Through workshops, skill-building and fostering creative expression for social impact.
