Books pivotal in national development – Dokora

noted.
This was said by the Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Lazaraus Dokora, during the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair last week.
The ceremony was also attended by various players in the book industry who delivered their presentations and addresses on how books can play a role for development of the continent.
He was speaking in line with the theme of this year’s edition of the ZIBF, “Books for Africa’s Development”.
“Access to a variety of reading materials contributes greatly to the literacy level of any country. I find this somewhat interesting: a theme on development on a continental breath depends firmly on the literature that is available to promote the development of the same or, indeed, any country through reading about research findings from various disciplines, and the developments or progress in other countries,” Minister Dokora noted.
He said books and other reading material encouraged literacy levels through inculcating a culture of learning.
He noted how Zimbabwe had one of the highest levels of literacy not on the African continent alone but also the world over due to the love for books.
Minister Dokora said other mediums of literature like newspapers also had a role to play in ensuring that literacy levels were increased.
“Zimbabwe ranked very high in the world among the countries that have a high literacy rate of 92 percent.
“This could be broadly attributed, in part, to the availability of books as indeed it can also be attributed to other factors such as the culture of learning. There are other literacies we should worry about in addition to the 8 percent debt we have with other communities. How about media literacy?” Minister Dokora said.
The minister also urged players in the book industry to seriously look at the Government’s Book Policy whose sole aim is to make sure that books reach their intended audience.
“Let me emphasise that issues raised in discussing the Government Book Policy are all pertinent as they impact on the extent we are able to provide literature that can be readily accessible to our collective clients: learners, parents and teachers.
“A policy should not simply allow a blanket import platform: how do we safeguard local production and support local writers and the chain of livelihoods implicated in the business.
“Further, tuition grants in Government schools and Per Capita Grants in non-Governmental schools are meant to support schools purchase reading materials,” he said.
He also urged publishers to promote different local languages by publishing books and reading material written in those languages.