5th Bindura Book Fair set for May

which has been pencilled in for May 19 to 21 is expected to provide a platform to shrink the knowledge gap in Bindura and surrounding communities.
In an interview, Bindura Book Fair executive director Mr Tendai Moyo said the 2011 book fair and career guidance exposition is aimed at giving the Bindura people an opportunity to access educational information and career opportunities in the market.
“The purpose of the event is to educate people and create awareness on abundant diverse career and livelihood opportunities that exist in Zimbabwe,” he said.
The event will be running under the theme “Closing the skills gap, embracing the potential of Zimbabwean youth”.
Mr Moyo said the book fair would include seminars and workshops for both students and school-leavers.
There will also be a special awards ceremony to honour achievers from Mashonaland Central Province including Vice President Joice Mujuru, musician Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the late Professor Solomon Mutswairo, among others.
Mr Moyo said that their aim was to eradicate the limitation to education and skills development opportunities in the wider Mashonaland Central Province.
“The lack of higher education and skills development investment and a deliberate policy to the latter in Mashonaland Central Province deprives rural communities of clearcut opportunities compared to other areas.
“It marginalises youths from obtaining a share in the exploitation of abundant natural resources, business and employment opportunities.
“The skills gap is too wide and requires urgent affirmative action from Government and development stakeholders,” he said.
It is to this extent that the Bindura Book Fair acts as a platform for information dissemination around educational and career opportunities for the local community.
Added Mr Moyo: “The initial idea behind the establishment of the book fair and careers exposition was as a response to the high levels of idleness that had become entrenched in the young people in the province. The neglect and misuse of recreational and educational facilities in the area compounded this.
“There was also the issue of a general lack of technical manpower development institutions in the province. Since the initiation of the event in 2007 there has been positive support from Government institutions and private players as regards the creation of a platform for interaction between institutions and these relevant institutions and organisations,” he said.
Some of the exhibitors expected at this year’s event include the Securities Commission of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Open University, National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe, Longman Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Publishing House, Ministry of Information and Publicity, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Mwana Africa and the Environmental Management Agency.