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An annual general meeting to elect a new board to run 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 on Thursday last week.
Members who spoke to Chronicle 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.”
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 has failed to develop the library.
“The board members are failing to bring innovative ideas to the library so that it runs smoothly. They are failing to keep pace with the ever changing technology such that some of the resources in the library are out of date. We don’t want them anymore hence they should desist from imposing themselves,” said a member, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
Board chairperson Mr Joseph Sigola defended their move, saying it was constitutional.
“Our move is constitutional and we cannot handover the library to newcomers because they do not understand how it should be run. We have re-elected into the board people who are capable of running the affairs of the library. We will continue with our term of office despite opposition,” said Mr Sigola.
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