Rwanda, currently, does not have National Book Policy although the government has initiated its development. National Book Policies (NBPs), according to the UNESCO, aims to ensure that books and other reading materials are developed and made commonplace for the purpose of supporting education, literacy and lifelong learning. As a concept, it was propagated in 1970’s by the UN organisation ostensibly to urge member countries to formulate and adopt book and reading policies. According to Robert Masozera, Director-General of the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA), the National Book Policy is being developed by the institution together with the Ministry of Education. He said that they have consulted different stakeholders that are involved in the book industry and have considered their suggestions, adding that the policy will define the roles of every person involved and provide a working line to ensure that the industry thrives. Mutesi Gasana, CEO of Ubuntu Publishers and author, emphasized the need for the policy, declaring that any venture without a guiding policy does not get investors because many can’t risk their investment towards it. She said that book policy should also be established to define the roles of the key players in the book industry which can tackle conflicts that may result when any player forsakes responsibilities, adding that without policy, assessing the industry’s growth is difficult. According to Gasana; “Because there is no book policy, some authors don’t even know their rights. It’s not defined who is author, publisher, printer – anyone can be anything because the industry is not regulated,” she said. Fred Mfuranzima, author and publisher of Imfura Heritage Rwanda noted that in case the policy is set without a way of helping the players in the book industry financially, it will not be effective, adding that investment is highly needed even from government side because book industry is important and can highly contribute to the development of the country. “There should be a way writers and publishers are supported financially. The government institutions that have interest in a certain book can help the author market it,” he said. “Publishers set a line regarding the kind of book they need and if the author has a different book, they don’t publish it and yet there are many. If book policy doesn’t address that problem, it is risky that some authors can quit writing.” He said that establishing an institution that brings together publishers, authors, editors and other players in the book industry together with the government and private sector as well as setting a policy to promote those who write Rwandan stories as done for other Made in Rwanda products, can be of big help to the book industry. According to UNESCO, NBPs require legal action through the Ministries of Education or Culture, because a law needs to be enacted for setting up a National Book Development Council (NBDC). This body is necessary for regulating the book industry, which is by nature complex. With the government being at the centre, it involves authors, publishers/printers, distributors/wholesalers, booksellers, libraries/archivists and last but not least the user/consumer. Today, the book chain is even more complex as all actors involved in publishing digital materials would need to be added.
