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Historical Background

Mambo Press started operations in 1958 under the name Catholic Mission Press. At that time, it was simply envisaged as a press capable of supplying the literary needs of the local catholic mission stations and schools. Even within the confines of this narrow scope, the press met a real need in providing the first meaningful translations of vernacular liturgical books and supplying vernacular readers for students. The establishment of the press coincided with a large expansion of mission schools of which the Catholic Church was managing the greatest proportion.
The change over from Catholic Mission Press to Mambo Press was more than just a change of name as the new director, Father Mike Traber SMB drew up in 1962, a whole new publishing programme that redirected Mambo Press from being merely concerned with Catholic and liturgical literature to a broader vista of a Christian humanism seen against the background of both traditional and modern Zimbabwe.
Independence in April 1980 ushered in a new social order in Zimbabwe and Mambo Press became fully committed to a publishing programme supporting a new cultural awareness and identity of a people so long suppressed as well as addressing the problems of reconstruction, particularly in the area of formal and informal education against a new social and Christian order.
The newspaper, MOTO (which is no longer in circulation), lent itself more to a critical review of current affairs whereas books and pamphlets concetrated more on analysis and research.

Mambo Press in the 3rd Millenium

Mambo Press remains focused on its rich historical publishing philosophy and has for that reason tried to maintain a lavish publishing programme (see our catalogue).
This, therefore, is the vision and spirit that continues to give Mambo Press its distinctive character and direction.

WHAT WE DO ?

Mambo Press views itself as a three in one corperate organisation

Publishing Services

We are a general publisher and for that reason the organisation regards publishing as the 'heart and souls' of its brand and its operations. The editorial and printing operations are conviniently under one roof. We have also ready distribution points of our publications through our wholesale (at head office) and bookshops.

Printing (binding) Services

We do state of the art Digital Printing and Offset Lithography at very competitive prices. Our staff is very competent and will deliver your prints right on time.

Our Binding services are excellent coupled with our letter press facility we offer you the best in executive binding for your projects, bibles, diaries and office documents.

Bookselling Services

We have bookshops in three towns (Harare, Gweru Masvingo and MSU Campus) and sell anything from children's literature, educational and academic books to christian and liturgical books. Our book distribution network adequately satisfies your book needs. We are also making good progress towards availing our books to you on the internet and through online bookshops.