Library war

Bulawayo Bureau
An annual general meeting to elect a new board to run the Bulawayo Public Library turned chaotic when members walked out after the old board announced it would remain in office for another term. Disgruntled members accused the board of imposing itself and stormed out of the venue of the meeting in protest last week. Members accused the board of applying dictatorial tendencies by imposing themselves back into office without the blessing of the entire membership.

“The library does not belong to individuals who are only after clinging on to power. They have to go and pave way for new people with fresh ideas so that they develop the library,” said one of the members.

Another member accused the board of flouting the rules and regulations governing the library when they included themselves in the nominating committee and cancelled elections.

The committee chooses the candidates that would then contest in the elections for a new board. “It is unconstitutional for the previous board members to be part of the nominating committee because there is conflict of interest,” said Mr Mandla Ndlovu, a member of the library.
The members said they did not want the returning board because it failed to develop the library.

Board chairperson Mr Joseph Sigola defended their move to stay in office, saying it was constitutional.