Crime and Courts
High Court Rules Against Simbisa in Music Rights Battle
The High Court has ruled that Simbisa Brands Zimbabwe — operators of Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn and several other fast-food outlets — breached copyright law by playing music without a valid licence from the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA). However, the company was spared from paying nearly US$87,000 in damages after the court found the amount claimed was unjustified.
Justice Jacob Mafusire handed down the decision on September 10, 2025, in a case that highlighted rivalry between two collecting societies, ZIMURA and the Zimbabwe Council of Copyright Owners (Zimcoco), while clarifying the reach of Zimbabwe’s Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act.
“The first defendant infringed the copyright in the musical works played at its outlets,” Justice Mafusire said, adding that ZIMURA held exclusive rights to license that material.
ZIMURA had taken Simbisa to court seeking royalties for the period between November 2023 and October 2024, arguing that the company had used songs from its members — including top local acts like Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Nutty O, Winky D, and the late Oliver Mtukudzi — without paying. Through its global agreement with CISAC, ZIMURA also claimed foreign artists were affected.
The association demanded US$86,719, the equivalent of Simbisa’s annual licence fees, and sought a court order declaring that Zimcoco had no authority to license its members’ works.
In defence, Simbisa said it had already paid royalties to Zimcoco, which was registered in 2019, and believed this was sufficient based on guidance it had received from the Copyright Office under the Ministry of Justice. Zimcoco, meanwhile, argued that it was legally entitled to license music users such as Simbisa.
Justice Mafusire dismissed Zimcoco’s position, stating that registration as a collecting society does not automatically grant it authority over works it does not control.
“The matter is not about being registered as a collecting society. It is about who actually owns the rights to the music,” he wrote. “The second defendant cannot authorise anyone to play music that is protected by another’s copyright.”
The judge, however, rejected ZIMURA’s damages claim, ruling that the calculation was flawed. He noted that the organisation had equated the damages to its annual licence fees without proving actual loss suffered by musicians.
“The plaintiff’s computation of its claim is ill-conceived,” Justice Mafusire said. “Songs by different artists cannot all carry the same value, and the amount claimed bears no relation to the alleged prejudice.”
Ultimately, the court held that Simbisa had infringed copyright but was not liable for the US$87,000 sought by ZIMURA. Instead, Zimcoco was ordered to pay ZIMURA’s legal costs, while Simbisa and ZIMURA were directed to cover their own expenses.
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Crime and Courts
23-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Police Vehicle
Itai Mazire
A 23-year-old man from Chinhoyi has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after stealing a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) vehicle from Chemagamba Police Camp.
According to court papers, the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court convicted Godfrey Musa Ndlovu (23) of stealing a ZRP vehicle from Chemagamba Police Camp in Chinhoyi.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that on 7 December 2025, at around 0500 hours, a ZRP officer was preparing to travel to Mutoko in a silver Kia Rio police vehicle when the offender, who was a relative of the officer’s neighbour, requested a lift into Chinhoyi town.
“The officer allowed him to load his goods into the vehicle. Before departure, the officer briefly returned to his residence to collect a cellphone, leaving the vehicle keys inside his jacket on the seat. The offender then took the keys and drove off at high speed,” the NPA said.
Acting on a tip-off, police later apprehended Ndlovu near Thrills Service Station while he was travelling in an unregistered taxi, commonly known as a mushikashika. He subsequently led officers to the recovery of the stolen vehicle in Ruvimbo Phase 2, Chinhoyi.
The vehicle, valued at US$6 000, was recovered with its registration plates removed, the third plate altered, the police radio disconnected, and the communication aerial damaged. The missing registration plates, valued at US$650, were not recovered.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, of which 18 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve an effective 12-month jail term.
Crime and Courts
Shinsoman Pays US$200 Fine Over Cannabis Offence
Zimdancehall musician Romeo Anthony, better known as Shinsoman, has been fined US$200 after admitting to smoking cannabis.
The 37-year-old artist appeared before the Mbare Magistrates’ Court together with four other accused persons Themba Sibanda (26), Tendai Shumba (43), Kennedy Simbanegavi (37) and Cosmas Muzanzi (41). All pleaded guilty to violating Section 157(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which prohibits possession of dangerous drugs.
Magistrate Ranga Jere ordered each of the five to pay a US$200 fine. The court ruled that failure to settle the fine would result in a four-month prison sentence, with three months suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.
According to the State, the incident occurred on January 5, 2026, at a residence in Highfields. CID Drugs and Narcotics officers allegedly discovered the men smoking cannabis near a parked Mercedes-Benz while carrying out follow-up investigations.
Crime and Courts
Garwe Urges National Unity, Says Focus Must Shift to Development
Itai Mazire
ZANU PF Mashonaland East Provincial Chairperson, Cde Daniel Garwe, has implored Zimbabweans to set aside political differences and unite under a shared vision of national development.
Speaking during a recent tour of Mrewa North Constituency, Honorable Garwe who also serves as the Minister of Local Government and Public Works said that the country’s primary focus should remain on infrastructure and economic growth rather than perpetual political contestation.

Cde Daniel Garwe
The tour was aimed at assessing ongoing projects in the district and engaging with local communities on their developmental needs. Hon. Garwe’s message was clear, the time for campaigning has passed and the time for labor has arrived.
“We must be a nation that is united for development.
“Let us focus on building our country because we are not in an election season,” he said.
Addressing various stakeholders and community members, Hon.Garwe said that the Second Republic’s “Vision 2030” can only be achieved if the citizenry works in harmony.
He added that the government is currently preoccupied with closing the infrastructure gap through projects such as dam construction, road rehabilitation and the development of smart cities.
Hon Garwe dismissed any rhetoric focused on early electioneering, reminding the public that the mandate for the current administration was established in the previous general elections.
“There is a time for politics and a time for work. Right now, our hands should be on the tools. We are not in an election season, so let us focus on the development that improves the lives of our people,” he added.
Provincial Progress
During his visit to Mrewa North, the Chairman praised the local leadership for their commitment to government-led programs.
He urged the province to lead by example in maintaining peace and stability, which he described as the “bedrock of progress.”
The visit is part of a broader provincial outreach program by the ZANU PF Mashonaland East leadership to ensure that developmental targets are met at the grassroots level. Garwe concluded by reiterating that the door is open for all Zimbabweans to contribute to the nation’s growth, regardless of their background.
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