CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Gideon Simwinga, Zambia, August 1998
THEME = ECONOMY
Uncertainty surrounds the future of textbook publishing
due to rising printing costs, taxation of imported printing materials,
and the continued depreciation of the local currency, the Kwacha
Publishers have complained that local printing costs are too high, particularly for upcoming indigenous publishing houses. They say they are unable to compete favourably with foreign publishers in a liberalised environment, because high printing costs militate against them. At the moment, the situation favours multinationals. Their books are printed outside Zambia and come into the country tax free. All imported books are excluded from tax.
Multinationals have an advantage over local publishers because they have the money. They are able to develop textbook materials for schools according to the local syllabus and later print books abroad. Indigenous publishers, however, see this to be unfair on their side. They say unless the authorities intervene by suspending tax on imported printing materials so as to allow them compete favourably with foreign publishers, the industry will grind to a halt.
Between 1994 and 1996, the government of Zambia suspended tax on imported passenger motor vehicles to allow passenger transporters bring more vehicles in the country. Today, Zambia is one of a few countries on the African continent with the most efficient road passenger transport. Should government do the same for publishers and printers, the situation will change for the better. It means printers can bring in new machinery and spare parts, and in the process these will improve the quality of books and perhaps even lower printing costs.
The Booksellers and Publishers Association of Zambia (BPAZ) chairman, Joseph Muyuni, says there is need for government to support local printers and publishers efforts, and ensure that schools have enough textbooks. Speaking during a week-long seminar for publishers at The Barn Motel in Lusaka from 17-21 August, on "The Commissioning and Legal Aspects of Publishing", he said: "At the moment there are no textbooks in schools at every level". He went on to say government would do well to give support to the industry to boost book production in the country.
And Times Printpak Publishing Manager, Edwin Kameya has called on the government to look into the plight of publishers seriously. Speaking in an interview he said: "The government should stop looking to donors for donated books and instead, assist indigenous publishers get off the ground". He added: "There is a terrible shortage of school textbooks in the country right now, and this is not good at all for the country".
Mr.Kameya believes that donors will not always support Zambia, but if local publishers are supported with resources by government, schools will be the ones to benefit. The lack of books in the country has created yet another serious problem - that of a non-reading culture in Zambia. People stop reading the moment they leave school. Instead of getting information through books and other literature, Zambians now depend on information by word of mouth.
The BPAZ is making efforts to reverse the situation and this is beginning to yield positive results. During the Book Fair, BPAZ organises a "reading week" during which people are invited into a tent to read books. Although the Book Fair is only held once a year, the "Reading Tent" will be taken to every province to enable people read and know what books are on the market. So far the tent has been to Solwezi in North Western Province and Lusaka Province.
When people begin to read, authors, publishers and booksellers will all be encouraged. There is need to encourage local authors by having their works published. The government must stop depending on donated books. Indeed, some books coming from outside, are not relevant to Zambia's needs. Schools especially must use books "grown on Zambian soil" written by Zambians. The same is true with printing. It is important that local printers are able to meet the needs of local publishers by charging a fair price and producing quality work.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement