THE Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) has spread its wings to Masvingo as part of its 30th anniversary commemorations.
Report by Our Staff
ZIBF chairman, Musaemura Zimunya said the Masvingo Book Fair would be held at the Civic Centre from May 31-June 1 in fulfillment of the mandate to encourage the development of the book industry. It would also generate a culture of reading and raise public awareness of all aspects of publishing, printing, writing and copyright.
He said in bringing the book fair to Masvingo, ZIBF was inspired by the history of the place where the country derived its name, as represented by the old edifice of Great Zimbabwe, “a product of the cultural and architectural genius of our ancestors.”
“Our book fair thus aims to reconnect with the ancient rhythms of this city by recognising its place and role in our history through the ages and past the colonial era,” Zimunya said.
“We also aim to recognise Masvingo as an education friendly region, fully endowed with traditional powerhouses of learning and whose community values education as a powerful resource that opens opportunities for individual, communal and national growth.”
He said the Masvingo Book Fair would afford writers resident in the province an opportunity to meet and mingle in a lively atmosphere and debate issues that cut across the book industry with academics, publishers and booksellers, as well as get to know the environment they operated in.
It would also provide an opportunity for local booksellers to advertise their brands and sell books directly to the public and the schools in one place.
