Publishers cry foul over curriculum changes

The continuous change in school curriculum has dealt a major blow to publishers leaving most of them saddled with piles of redundant books.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) 16th edition of the Commissioner-General’s Merit Awards held last week in Harare, College Press national sales manager Elijah Mapanzure said the industry was facing several hurdles among them piracy and regular changes of the school curriculum.

“Some of the challenges we face as publishers and have disrupted our sales is piracy. Most parents are now opting for pirated copies because they are cheaper as compared to original ones. Some bookshops which sell our books once they are produced are also selling pirated copies. This results in low sales on our party. Piracy is really affecting our industry, most publishers are being affected by this monster which is eating quite a chunk of our cake,” Mapanzure said.

“So, the change in the market is also affecting us unlike way back when we used to only have bookshops and schools buying from us, so the trend has changed. When there is change in the curriculum some books will be phased out of which we would have stocked a lot of books. That is what mostly affects us as publishers.”

Mapanzure said publishing houses were working hand in glove with the National Anti-Piracy Organisation of Zimbabwe, which helps to trace illegal book sellers.

“In terms of piracy we have come up with several issues, so that we try to retain or maybe get back those customers who are buying from illegal routes. We are working hand in glove with the anti-piracy [body]; they do their own party as law enforcers. The other thing that we have done for us to remain competitive is we have reduced the prices of our books so that they try to match the ones in the streets. We also conduct promotions during the beginning of the year, that is when parents buy books for their children,” he said.

Meanwhile, ZRP Deputy Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba warned teachers at schools run by the police who are offering extra lessons to desist from such activities.

 “Our stories are being blemished by some bad elements among us. I am informed that some staff members are putting undue pressure on parents from whom they are demanding extra and unnecessary charges for the so-called extra lessons,” Mutamba said.

 “From the onset, let me remind you that the responsible ministry rightly gave a position that it is illegal. That should stop forthwith; those who feel uncomfortable to work in the classroom environment are free to come out in the open and the organisation and we will deploy them elsewhere.”