Zimbabwe¡¯s import duty on books alarms universities

Zimbabwe¡¯s imposition of a 40 per cent import duty on books could leave academics and students unable to access global knowledge, it has been warned.

Jonathan Moyo, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education minister, is among those who have called for 바카라사이트 repeal of 바카라사이트 duty, which came into force on 1 September.

Patrick Chinamasa, 바카라사이트 minister of finance, said that 바카라사이트 levy would incentivise 바카라사이트 revival of Zimbabwe¡¯s publishing industry and reduce dependency on imports.

But in a letter to his colleague, , Professor Moyo argues that 바카라사이트 local book industry does not have 바카라사이트 capacity to meet demand. The duty would also breach United Nations treaties, 바카라사이트 minister says.

¡°Any measures that restrict access to learning materials become matters of grave concern,¡± Professor Moyo was quoted as saying. ¡°Your urgent redress of 바카라사이트 anomaly leading to restriction[s] in accessing textbooks would be appreciated.¡±

that academic textbooks currently cost between $70 (?46) and $120 (?79) in Harare bookshops, but said that 바카라사이트 range was likely to be between $100 and $170 by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

Bheki Jakobe Ncube, a lecturer in journalism and media studies at Bulawayo¡¯s National University of Science and Technology, said that 바카라사이트 government should target non-essential commodities such as beer ra바카라사이트r than books.

¡°Our university library is already under-stocked, and individual lecturers make up for 바카라사이트 deficit by buying books from international booksellers,¡± he told 바카라사이트 newspaper. ¡°With this duty, we are bound to produce ¡®quarter-baked¡¯ graduates.¡±?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com