Book publishers and authors have in recent years battled cut-throat competition from illegal printers and vendors who reproduce and sell photocopied material on the cheap.
With schools now reportedly participating in text book piracy, intellectual property owners say their situation has been worsened as educational institutions were their biggest customers.
According to publishing companies and authors, schools — many of which charge textbook levies — now buy a few original copies which they then reproduce and distribute/sell to pupils.
Schools with inadequate photocopying equipment allegedly buy pirated books. Investigations show that school heads and other administrators get some of the money from the ventures.
Mr Masimba Guzha, the man tasked by the Zimbabwe International Book Fair to fight such piracy, said while investigations are yet to be made at all schools, Ellis Robins Boys High School, Daramombe Mission and Chitangazuva in Marondera have been found wanting.
“We have not visited many schools yet, but our investigations revealed that a lot of them are engaging in book piracy. So far we have caught Ellis Robins, Daramombe Mission and Chitangazuva in position of counterfeits,” he said.
“Ellis Robins and Chitangazuva have already gone to court while Daramombe’s case is different because the books they had were brought in by students as replacements of the lost ones.
“What we have found is that schools charge various amounts of book levies, but they do not go on to buy those books; instead they buy a few original books and photocopy them or they outsource.”
Mr Guzha said the development meant book publishers may end up closing shop.
Many publishing houses, including major players such as College Press and Longman, have either downsized or closed due to piracy.
This also has an impact on Government as it means lost tax revenue. While pirated books are cheaper, they can come at the cost of the learner’s education.
Educationist and director for Education Coalition Zimbabwe, Mr Maxwell Rafomoyo, said pirated books often lose their authenticity and quality during reproduction.
“The obvious disadvantage which is there is the issue of authenticity . . . you are not guaranteed that the contents of the book are as the same as those in the original,” he said.
“Then there is the issue of quality. The text may lose its quality or get distorted during the reproduction process and that compromises the quality of education a student is getting.
It has been established that some pages are omitted or mixed up during the mass assemblage of counterfeits.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said although most schools were pirating learning material with the honest motive to cut costs, their participation in piracy was not condoned and would be punished.
“We encourage our schools to follow our procurement procedures and buy books and the rest of their learning material from legitimate organisations. But the few who are playing truancy by buying material from pirates will surely end up in courts.
“I have personally travelled to Marondera to deal with such a matter and it is now before the courts.”
A survey by The Sunday Mail of major bookshops in Harare last week showed that key books for O-Level subjects cost an average of US$15 per copy.
Step Ahead English sells for US$12, while Denhe Reruzivo costs US$12 and New General Mathematics costs US$18. Step Ahead Geography is US$19 and Step Ahead History costs US$14.
Parents, guardians and pupils view the prices as exorbitant, especially when pirated books sell for US$3. NEWS
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