MAMBO Press celebrated this year's Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) 2025 which started on July 31 and ended on Friday, held under the theme "Reconnect Festival" by announcing their return to Bulawayo after a long break from the city since the Covid-19 period.
Since then they had been operating from their Gweru premises after the closure of the Bulawayo branch.
The books publishing house official made the remarks during a books expo where they sold IsiNdebele old books at very low prices at a cost of US$2 for normal books, US$6 for set books and the expo turned out exceptionally well.
Mambo Press marketing officer Millicent Taruvinga highlighted the diverse collections the publisher offers, including titles like "UMendo," "Ngangingazi," and "Umhlaba Lo," encompassing Ndebele, Shona, and English books.
"The response from the Bulawayo audience was overwhelmingly positive, with popular titles selling out by mid-morning. We had to reach out to our offices for more books to be brought in by the afternoon," she said.
The ZIBF expo, which started on Thursdays at 9:30am and was scheduled to conclude on Friday at 6pm due to demand for the books.
Taruvinga assured potential buyers that arrangements would be made to purchase the books and the company is currently running a promotion on the local language books, which includes English books to encourage a culture of reading among young people and the larger community, continuing until the end of the year.
Taruvinga noted that the hard copy reading culture is alive and well in Bulawayo.
- Mambo Press captures hearts at ZIBF 2025
- Mambo Press captures hearts at Zimbabwe International Book Fair 2025
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"I thought people didn't read hard copies anymore, but the comments I've received show that many believe reading from a physical book enhances focus," she stated.
"I had brought a substantial number of books from Gweru, but by 10 AM, they had sold out. I had to call the offices in Gweru for more stocks to be delivered."
Taruvinga said Mambo Press had briefly closed its operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"In an effort to revive our brand, we are working on making our books available on digital platforms, although it is still a work in progress," she said.
When asked about advice for readers, she said, "Reading is therapy. Many individuals are facing mental health challenges, and we encourage them to find solace in books. You might discover solutions within the pages that could shift your perspective."
Taruvinga said Mambo Press aims to revive its presence in Bulawayo by inviting authors to join them on their journey to write and publish together.
"You can expect new releases before the end of this year," she promised.
Taruvinga expressed gratitude towards ZIBF for hosting the event and praised the community of Bulawayo for their support.
"This 'Reconnect Festival' has opened many doors between us and our audiences. We would like to specially acknowledge Raisdon Baya, whose voice brought everyone to our expo. We could not have achieved this without the great City of Bulawayo, which has shown extraordinary support," he said.
Mambo Press formerly known as The Catholic Mission Press, was established in 1957 when Brother Michael Zwyssig and his team of builders erected the first workshops and staff quarters.
The Catholic Mission Press opened on February 2, 1958 and Father D. Monico took charge of it.
He was succeeded by Father A. Loetscher In 1962, Father Michael Traber became director of the press.
The Catholic Mission Press changed its name to Mambo in 1963 which showed it was no longer concerned with only catholic/religious literature.
