Curioser and curioser

Stephen Mpofu

A local radio station reported recently that the Government wanted more set books used in local schools to be those approved by the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec).

No verification of that report could be obtained yesterday before going to press, but if implemented, the move would take Zimbabwean literature to greater heights by providing an impetus to local writers to excel to their best abilities in the same way as musicians do.

What is more, a revival of the Zimbabwe Literature Bureau will reinvigorate local writers by organising book fairs for the exhibition of their new works and in that way promote a competitive spirit among authors to excel to the best of their abilities, thereby giving Zimbabwean literature the cutting edge it requires over its foreign counterparts.

But surely, with Zimbabwe’s literacy rating pegged as high as 90% on the African continent, books by local authors should not play second fiddle to foreign literature occupying vantage space on

Zimbabwean shelves and in schools while, curioser and curioser some of the few books by local pens, this one included, are blued out of the country and published beyond many waters to fetch premium prices.

For instance, one book approved by Zimsec as an O-level English set book was and still is being published and sold in the United States of America in two versions, a hardback for over US$70 and a paperback for over US$60 while back here at home the book is sold for US$10.

A Zimbabwean who was educated in America and is now based in the twin cities of St Paul’s and Minneapolis was told by a publishing company there that it was selling the book Shadows on the

Horizon for the author, this writer, but said it wanted to know the writer’s address.

The local publisher said it did not give the American publisher authority to put out the book and suggested that probably an American visiting Zimbabwe bought one or more and had them republished in his native country.

However, the local publisher did not say what measures it considered against the foreign publisher for the violation of the international copyright law by seeking no authority to reproduce the book.

Locally, book pirates are known to be photocopying books and selling them on the streets, with one children’s book writer claiming she had not been paid her royalties for her book published locally and did not know what action to take against the publisher.

A local literature bureau suggested above by this pen could, in addition to promoting works by local writers through book fairs, also help authors through providing legal advice to recover royalties due to them.

As things stand right now, a survey might expose more stumbling blocks in the way of talented Zimbabweans eager to boost local literature.

Regular musical shows help put local song stars on the go at home and abroad, promoting Zimbabwe’s name.

But the Zimbabwe Writers’ Union, where are you when authors, including this pen, shake their heads in the doldrums, not knowing where to get recourse for their trials and tribulations?