Book Café founder heart-broken over closure

Paul Brickhill, the founder of a popular Book Cafe in Harare reports that the the lease for premises rented has been terminated with a short notice. The Book Cafe offered artists, authors and readers to meet and share intellectual thoughts on books and culture. It can only be hoped that another venue will be found to continue this cultural dialogue in Harare. It is also surprising that more than 11 years since the launch of a Book Cafe, the project has not spread to other towns or cities.

Paul was also instrumental in the formation of a now defunct Zimbabwe Book Development Council (ZBDC).

In this vein, ZLDT’s objectives extends the book cafe model into a knowledge centre not limited to books alone.

More about the closure of the Harare Book Cafe here. Reported in the Zimbabwe Standard paper.

Book Fair dates set

Culled from The Herald Newspaper
Monday, 11 April 2011 22:18
By Richmore Tera

The Zimbabwe International Book Fair is scheduled to run from July 28-30 at the fair’s traditional venue, the Harare Gardens.

Running under the theme “Books for Africa’s Development”, the fair will be preceded by the two-day Indaba that will take place on July 25 and 26 as well as the Young Persons’ Indaba scheduled for July 27.
This year, there is huge expectation of international interest in what is widely recognised as one of the biggest literary events in Africa.
As has become the norm, several publishers and exhibitors are expected to put up stands during the fair hoping to attract a number of foreigners.

“The Book Fair itself takes place, as usual, in the Harare Gardens with free admission to the public. Over the years, several permanent structures have been set up by the publishers and other exhibitors.
“There are also additional structures which will be available to other exhibitors.

“It is expected that the number of foreign publishers exhibiting at the Book Fair will increase considerably as compared to previous years,” said an official from ZIBF.

Added the official: “This year we have welcomed Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) who will be hosting an HIV and Aids awareness workshop on July 28.

“These activities will be held at a venue yet to be confirmed, with a number of foreign speakers and participants having been invited to add interest to the discussions.”

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe International Book Fair Association, that runs the book fair, recently appointed prolific playwright Stephen Chifunyise and publisher Mwazvita Madondo as chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively, of the general council of the association.
The executive board is headed by Musaemura Zimunya with Ruby Magosvongwe as the vice-chairperson, while five other members, including author Jenny Yon, publishers Tendai Vutuza and Charles Geti and booksellers Alex Mashamanda and Paul Masuku also sit on the board.

Dr Xavier Carelse was also appointed as the board’s executive director and heads the secretariat of ZIBFA.

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