Writers Association Raises Concerns Over Reprographic Rights Governance in Zimbabwe – Eduzim News

By A Correspondent – The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) has raised serious concerns over the operations and mandate of the Reprographic Rights Organisation of Zimbabwe (RROZ), questioning its legitimacy as a collective management body representing writers’ interests.

In a statement, ZWA said it is worried about the way RROZ is currently functioning, arguing that writers remain the primary rights holders in literary works and must be central to any rights administration system.

“Writers are the primary rights holders in literary works,” the association said. “It is therefore a matter of principle that no entity claiming to license, collect or administer rights on behalf of writers can do so without clear legitimacy, transparency and demonstrable mandate from writers themselves and their representative bodies.”

ZWA has called on RROZ to publicly clarify the foundation of its authority, including the list of writers whose rights it manages, the terms of representation, and the governance structures guiding its operations.
“The Zimbabwe Writers Association notes with concern ongoing questions surrounding the operations and mandate of the Reprographic Rights Organisation of Zimbabwe as a collective management organisation purporting to represent writers’ reprographic interests,” the statement reads.

The association also questioned whether the current model of collective management is sufficiently inclusive and transparent, warning against systems that operate without meaningful participation from rights holders.

“A collective management organisation handling public-interest intellectual property rights cannot, in our considered view, operate as a private arrangement conceived without full consultation and meaningful participation of rights holders,” ZWA said. “Collective management must be built on trust.”

ZWA further raised concerns about accountability in royalty collection and distribution, noting that trust in the sector has historically been fragile and must be earned through transparency.

“There are also unresolved practical questions around the scope of collections being pursued,” the association added. “Clarity is required as to whom such collections represent, how rights ownership is determined, whether rights holders are recognised, and by what mechanism revenues are being distributed.”

The writers’ body concluded that while it is not opposed to reprographic rights management in principle, current governance gaps must be addressed before any organisation is allowed to collect royalties on behalf of writers.

“Our position is not opposition to reprographic rights management,” ZWA said. “On the contrary, Zimbabwe needs an effective, credible and inclusive system to protect authors and support fair remuneration. But such a system must be built with writers, not around them.”

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