The Zimbabwe International Book Fair will be heading to Bulawayo this week, for 2 days of literary immersion at the Bulawayo City Hall. Running under the theme “Reconnect Book Festival 2025,” a theme that underlies the event current re-engagement process.
“This intimate gathering aims to reignite partnerships with local and international stakeholders, laying the groundwork for ZIBF’s return as a cornerstone of Africa’s literary and cultural landscape,” shared Memory Chirere, Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBFA) Executive Board Chairman in an interview with The Herald
The two day edition in Bulawayo from 31 July to 1 August, comes after a Harare leg of the event that was was held on 30 May and 31 May. The 2025 edition of the book fair is the events first full book fair since 2020.
The fair will feature book exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to not only shape the future of the fair and but address evolving challenges in the book industry. Partners for the upcoming edition of the fair include the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association, Booksellers Association of Zimbabwe and Caleb Mucheche & Partners Law Chambers.
“As ZIBFA, we are reconnecting with our valuable base to find especially new ideas, new methods of resuscitating our book fair and the book sector in Zimbabwe. From there on, substantive strides in the actual restructuring of the fair will be made. During this mini book festival, just as we did in Harare in May, ZIBFA office will receive stakeholders’ ideas on how the fair could be reignited,” added Memory Chirere.
The book fair will be free to attend from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm across the 2 days at the Bulawayo City Hall.
Established in 1983, Zimbabwe International Book Fair rose to become a significant event in Africa, attracting publishers, authors, scholars, and readers from around the globe.
It was awarded the Principal Award in 1997 by the Prince Claus Fund for its bold network function and modern organizational approach, the fair operates with remarkable dedication and efficiency, despite limited resources.
