Zimpapers Logo

MUSA ZIMUNYA

Stanely Mushava recently in Bulawayo
The Bulawayo edition of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair that took place last weekend was almost cancelled after a foreign donor withdrew funding on short notice.
ZIBF chairperson Musaemura Zimunya revealed that the regional fair had run aground and publishers saved the day when they intervened with contributions.
Speaking at the official opening of the fair, taglined “Indigenous Languages, Literature, Art and Knowledge Systems of Africa,” Zimunya said they were facing funding challenges. Lack of state and corporate support has seen regional editions of the country’s premier literary festival being bankrolled from outside the country – a clear indictment on Government’s lukewarm support for the embattled book sector.

“We were almost grounded. I want to apologise to those who were failing to get hold of us. The international donor who used to fund all the regional fairs was not forthcoming and we only got to learn about it at the last minute,” Zimunya told the delegates. Zimunya said a few publishers intervened on the eleventh hour with a vehicle and money to redeem the festival from indefinite deferment.

He appealed to other stakeholders to come aboard with the requisite funding with a view of making the fair a truly national festival.

“We are fully aware of how much support we need from core stakeholders to sustain the book fair. As of now, Government commitment, through the education and arts ministries, has been disappointing,” Zimunya said in an interview with The Herald Entertainment. “Hopefully, it will be remembered that Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa because the book sector and schools enjoyed financial support from Government for close to three decades.

“We are clear on what needs to be done. The ministries need to start buying books and stocking libraries for the ailing book value chain to regain its vibrancy,” Zimunya said.

“The fact that the book fair was made possible by local publishers where previously we depended on foreign funding means more local stakeholders can come aboard.

“We do not regret that foreign funding was not forthcoming but our misgiving was their decision to notify us at the last minute. We must take possession of our institutions as a people. If the corporate sector sponsors HIFA which is primarily a leisure experience, there is no reason why they should not support the book sector.

National development is not possible without a thriving local book sector. The ZIBF is an indispensable institution as far as development is concerned,” Zimunya said.

Zimbabwe Academic and Non-Fiction Authors chairman Mzana Mthimukhulu said lack of government support spells jeopardy for the book sector.

“Government support is indispensable for the sustenance of the book sector. Cultural institutions like ZIBF. They need Government support if they are to survive, grow and flourish,” he said.

An editor with a local publisher said the book sector was likely to slouch into relevance, bar the urgent government intervention. “Government support is a critical necessity for the survival of the sector. Literary festivals, publishers, authors, libraries and printers have plenty of ideas but are down financially. The resuscitation of the book sector must extend to the private sector,” she said. Acclaimed novelist and playwright Tsitsi Dangarembga said that lukewarm Government support for the sector was causing it to operate below its potential.

“Lack of proper, well-planned Government support for the book sector is like lack of proper, well-planned Government support for any productive sector. It contributes greatly to the destruction of our society and failure of all our positive endeavours to produce optimal results,” Dangarembga said. The regional fair was third to be held in Bulawayo since it was reintroduced in 2012. ZIBF has since spread its turf to all the major cities with the inaugural Gweru edition slated for the last quarter of the year.