Publishers, authors in race against time

This has been evidenced by the number of new books, which have hit the market showing an upsurge in reading culture in Zimbabwe.
This is also a step in the right direction as it stimulates diversity by ensuring that more local material which promotes local ideas is readily available to readers.
This year’s theme is “African Literature in The Global and Digital Era”.
The books to be launched include “Zimbabwe Diverse But One” by  Governor of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Cain Mathema, “Bwititi Muruwa” by Charles Mzemba, “Haasiye Wandinoda” by Wiseman Magwa and “The Man Who Became a Crocodile Forever” by the late Stephen Alumenda, among others.
All these books were published by Tepp Marketing, Publishers and Distributors and together with other titles from the stable; they will be displayed at the firm’s stand at the book fair.
“We hope that at this year’s Book Fair authors and publishers will seriously lobby the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture to do what the now-defunct Literature Bureau used to do by purchasing books which they would distribute to the various schools and libraries around Zimbabwe.
“This served the purposes of pushing the authors’ volumes, at the same time making sure that students and readers had access to the latest books available on the market,” said Daimon Phiri, the director of Tepp Marketing, Publishers and Distributors, himself an author of many popular books.
He also said that the Book Fair should be a platform to give new authors a chance to show the stuff they are made of.
“We have realised that there is a lot of talent out there that is lying untapped and we are currently moving around identifying new talent.
“Zimbabwe has talent but this is being affected by a lot bottlenecks in the publishing industry.
“But as Tepp Marketing, Publishers and Distributors, we encourage authors to submit their manuscripts for consideration because we believe in giving the budding writers a chance to let their voices be heard.
“Those who wish to submit their manuscripts can contact us on                  0772 981 339, ” said Phiri.
He is the author of a number of books that include “Kwakaenda Museve Nenzara Dzabere”, “Ghost in the Ceiling”, “Jongwe, Nyoka Nakamba”, “Jongwe Nedzimwe Shiri” and “Varume Vakatsvaka Rufu” among others.
Born on March 10, 1974, Phiri is a professional writer who started off his career as a journalist. He is a holder of various professional qualifications including a Diploma in Journalism and Professional Writing obtained from South Africa, Public Relations, Selling and Sales Management as well as a Certificate in Training Methods obtained from the Police Staff Col-lege.