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Brenda Phiri Arts Correspondent
THE ongoing Zimbabwe International Book Fair’s Indaba has denounced book piracy.
The Indaba, that was graced by authors, readers, publishers and international delegates, thronged the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel, making presentations on how to sustain a vibrant book sector.
Presenting a preliminary report on the second day of the Indaba, Anti-Piracy Focus Group representative Blazio Tafireyi shared views on how to spearhead book piracy.
“Book piracy is crime like any other and perpetrators should be brought to book. Efforts are being made but more still need to be done. We maintain that equipment used for the crime should be confiscated and disposed,” he said.
Tafireyi highlighted the challenge being experienced locally as stakeholders and the law enforcers are not adequately equipped to nail pirates.
“Pirates are getting away with reproducing books and selling them on our streets. When they get caught, they are given the miscellaneous offence charge. The two years imprisonment or US$700 fine that is stipulated for breaching the copyright law is not being implemented,” he said.
When asked whether higher prices are contributing to pirates enjoying brisk business since their books are cheaper, Tafireyi had this to say:
“Pirates do not incur many costs as the authors. They do not pay the price of producing the work but simply steal completed work.
“It is therefore not fair for authors to reduce their prices to tally with pirates,” he said.
The Anti-Piracy Focus Group comprises authors, publishers, booksellers, consumers and law enforcement agencies.
This year’s book fair was set to focus on developmental issues such as the role of language and material cultures in the identity of people, the impact of electronic media on the reading culture of children, how books become set texts and digital tools for writing and marketing for authors.
The Young Persons Indaba took place yesterday while Traders’ Day, exhibitions and a writers’ workshop are billed for Saturday.
The annual showcase is running under the under the theme “ZIBF@30: Enabling Creativity, Writing, Publishing and Reading for Africa’s Growth”. It was initially slated for July 29 to August 3, but was postponed as the dates clashed with the harmonised polls.
Online Reporter