Anatomy of the Challenges Facing Zambian Writers and Publishers of Literary Works

This article argues that the publication of literary works in Zambia has been held captive by the challenges facing the book industry, in particular the economic crisis. The economic challenges have led to high costs in publishing, and inevitably the cost of purchasing books has also been high. The publishers have depended on government procurement for their book sales – but government is more concerned about purchasing textbooks. Many publishers have depended on the sales of textbooks to generate funds to publish literary works, but the overdependence on government procurement has left publishers financially vulnerable. The diminished publishing opportunities for writers of literary works have driven some writers into self-publishing as an alternative. However, this option has not answered the problem, in part because it is more concerned about quantity rather than quality of publications. The interventions into the book industry by writers' associations, the publishers' and booksellers' associations, the Curriculum Development Centre, writing awards and government policy have provided enough stimulation. A change in government policies, however, could go a long way towards stimulating the growth of the industry and exposing unknown writing talent.