Statement by Senator David Coltart regarding Zimbabwe’s breach of UNESCO’s Florence Agreement
September 15 2015
On December 1 1998 Zimbabwe signed and ratified UNESCO’s “Florence Agreement” – the agreement “on the importation of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials”. Proof of Zimbabwe’s ratification is found on the UNESCO web site at the following link:
http://www.unesco.org/eri/la/convention.asp?KO=12074&language=E&order=alpha
Article 1 states:
“1. The contracting States undertake not to apply customs duties or other charges on, or in connection with, the importation of:
(a) Books, publications and documents, listed in Annex A to this Agreement;”
Annexure A includes all “printed books, newspapers and periodicals” which are not “essentially for advertising purposes”. That means that all novels, educational textbooks and the like are included.
In a nutshell the Florence agreement prohibits State parties, in this case the Zimbabwean Government, from raising customs duties or other charges on books which are imported into Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, recently published a law doing just this – raising 40% duty on books – in direct breach of the Florence Agreement.
The law is outrageous. Not only does it breach this UNESCO agreement but it will also undermine our already battling libraries and seriously undermine the quality of education in Zimbabwe.
I call upon Patrick Chinamasa to repeal this new law immediately. I trust that UNESCO will also complain to the Zimbabwean Government and take whatever action it is allowed to if the Zimbabwean Government remains in breach.
Senator David Coltart
Bulawayo
September 15 2015