By IPS Correspondents
HARARE, Jul 15 2003 (IPS)

This year’s international book fair in Zimbabwe has attracted a lot of foreign exhibitors, despite the political and economic crises dogging the southern African country.

"To date 134 exhibitors, from all over the world, have confirmed their participation in this year’s event," says the Zimbabwe International Book Fair in a statement, made available to IPS this week.

"The figures are very encouraging as they already prove that this year’s book fair will surpass that of last year," it adds.

Only 70 exhibitors took part in last year’s book fair, held – at the event’s location – behind the Crown Plaza Monamotapa Hotel, in central Harare.

This year, exhibitors from Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, Britain, Zambia and Zimbabwe have confirmed their participation at the fair, according to the organisers.

Nigeria is expected to bring the largest number of exhibitors, with at least 20 already confirmed out of the expected 28.

The international organisations attending the fair, include the delegation of the European Union (EU), and UN organisations such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)

"Whatever problems the country is facing the fair will show that Zimbabwe is a book-loving nation and that the standards of education in the country are high," says Milly Zerf, an upcoming Zimbabwean author who lives in Harare.

Zimbabwe, with a population of 13 million, has a literacy rate of around 75 percent, one of the highest in Africa.

This year’s book fair will be held under the theme: ‘Imagination – Literature, Art and Culture.’

Aspiring Zimbabwean writer, Lillian Matarirano, says she is looking forward to the fair, which will be held on Jul. 29-Aug. 2. "I will not miss it," she says. "Unfortunately participation at the event by the public is going to be marred by the harsh economic problems in Zimbabwe."

"People are thinking of ways to make money and sustain their families. Books might be the last thing on their minds," Matarirano says.

With inflation running at more than 300 percent, unemployment over 70 percent, and half the country’s population in need of food aid, it will be hard for book-loving Zimbabweans to spend on printed materials.

Their problems will further be compounded by an acute shortage of cash, as banks are restricting withdrawals to only 10,000 Zimbabwe dollars (five U.S. dollars) per customer.

The shortage – Zimbabwe is also suffering from a lack of foreign currency – will affect exhibitors seeking to clinch deals with buyers.

But the public will be treated to workshops where local and foreign writers will be discussing a variety of issues. They will discuss promotion of African literature and marketing of published African works.

Foreign writers, who will travel to Zimbabwe, will include big names like Taban lo-Liyong, a Sudanese, who is based in South Africa; Khary Fall Cissy, a Senegalese; Rebecca Ribeiro-Ayeh Clarke, a Ghanian and Sr. A. Botelho, an Angolan.

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