MASERU – The Indigenous Printers Association of Lesotho (IPAL) has called for support from the local market and appealed that the ongoing outsourcing of printing jobs to printers outside the country should change. “We call upon Basotho to promote the printing industry in Lesotho as this would help fight poverty and unemployment through creation of jobs for Basotho in the country,” said Mr. Mokhachane Posholi, the Deputy President of IPAL at a press briefing in Maseru last week. According to Mr. Posholi, reducing the number of printing jobs send outside the country and directing those jobs to local printers would not only boost the local printers, but would also help preserve local jobs and protect indigenous printers from unfair competition against foreign multinational companies. He specifically appealed to government departments, parastatals and big private companies who print outside the country to consider contributing to the local economy by investing in local printing through giving jobs to the local printers. He promised the local market that, as members of IPAL, they are developing the industry through embracing new technology and training of staff in the latest technology. Speaking about the environment within which the printers operate, Mr. Posholi pointed out some challenges which include the 1948 Law Of Printing, saying it needs to be reviewed to protect printers from libel litigations as it does not differentiate between printers and publishers as clients. The association, according to Mr. Posholi, will collect printing data for its members so that members can improve their knowledge about the printing market, issues that affect printing, and to learn ways to transform the industry. IPAL was formed in December 2011, but formally launched on June 1, 2013 in Maseru by the then four major commercial printing houses in Lesotho which are: Mazenod Printing Works, Morija Printing Works, Government Printing and Epic Printers. Lena