Chimurenga music maestro Thomas Mapfumo has called on the government to enact legislation which will allow the courts to jail music pirates. Mapfumo who spent the last 14 years in self-imposed exile in the United States was shocked at the levels of piracy in Zimbabwe. Speaking to Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation Kazembe Kazembe, Mapfumo said,
My management and I are shocked with this level of piracy. Can you imagine how they are destroying our lives as artists? Government is also losing taxes through this and something should be done urgently.
Do you know for one to do a proper recording with those 12 tracks in the United States there is need for about $20 000 for studio booking, mastering and production costs among others. Then someone decides to sell this for 50cents. This is very disturbing and this problem should be solved by the Government. People should go to jail for piracy.
The minister promised to set up a task force to look into the matter and to find solutions to help curb piracy.
More: Herald