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Blazio Tafireyi, ZIBF interim board chair, speaking at the press conference on Tuesday

Beaven Tapureta Own Correspondent
Preparations for this year’s main Book Fair are now at an advanced stage as papers to be presented during the indaba are currently being selected while there are also new activities to be introduced.

The 2016 book fair is running under the theme “Igniting Interest in Reading for Sustainable Development”.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday, the interim Zimbabwe International Book Fair board chairperson Blazio Tafireyi said that this year’s indaba will tackle issues around reading such as reading culture, reading categories, skills for producing reading materials, reading and technology, reader/writer dynamics, publisher and sustainable development, access to reading materials and intellectual property rights.

He said the indaba, usually happening during the first two days of the Book Fair, will be graced by international and regional writers and publishers some of whom have already confirmed their participation.

However, while new activities such as the Indigenous Language Corner have been introduced, Tafireyi said the ZIBF remains committed to fighting book piracy which has rocked the local book industry.

The first quarter of the year, he said, focused on anti-book piracy workshops from which recommendations were made including the issuance of circular in schools banning photocopying learning materials, the strict regulation and monitoring nature of learning materials, allowing publishers to produce low priced editions, petitioning government to put stiffer sentences on book pirates and lobby same government to come up with a book policy.

Tafireyi gave credit to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for the support it has given writers regarding the fight against book piracy.

“Special mention on piracy go to ZRP, we have received support and cooperation countrywide and from the highest office to the lowest, well done ZRP,” said Tafireyi.

He highlighted some of the usual events which book lovers will enjoy at this year’s Book Fair apart from the indaba and these include the book exhibitions, Children Reading Tent, Live Literature/Poetry Slam, Traders Day, Writers’ Workshop and the Literary Evening.

Events such as the writers’ workshop and literary evening are yet to be confirmed as funding for them is currently being sought.