Library Association crafting a Strategic Plan

The Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) recently held its annual conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Victoria Falls from 23 to 28 June 2014 at the magnificent A’Zambezi River Lodge. The conference run under the theme “Working Smarter and Adding Value: Library services in a new Paradigm” was attended by close to 70 delegates including exhibitors and regional participants from Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

The conference papers tackled various sub-themes including Social media and libraries, library partnerships and innovation. Besides the presentation from 20 presenters, the AGM was an important part of this conference that elected a new leadership for ZimLA National Executive Council (NEC). The elections were held for the National Executive Council (NEC) as required by the ZimLA Constitution for the President, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Editor and Advocacy Officer. The outcome of the elections is as follows: President, Lantern Fusire, the Vice President is Wadzanai Chihombori whilst Harriet Ncube retained the Secretary General position. Hosea Tokwe retained the Treasurer’s position and Jasper Lee Maenzanise was elected to the Advocacy Officer position with Kenneth Mangemba being the Editor. Their office term shall run to 2016.

Zimbabwe Library Association National Executive Council (ZimLA NEC) and branch chairpersons who participated the strategic planning workshop that was held at the A’Zambezi River Lodge after the 48^th ZimLA Conference and AGM. From left: Jerry Mathema (Matebeleland Branch Chairperson), Lantern Fusire (ZimLA President), Hosea Tokwe (ZimLA Treasurer), Lewis Mukucha (NLDS Deputy Director), Mrs Tesah Stima (NLDS Acting Director), Kenneth Mangemba (ZimLA Editor), Harriet Ncube (ZimLA Secretary General), Ujala Satgoor (LIASA President and workshop facilitator), Wadzanai Chihombori (ZimLA Vice -President) and Shadreck Ndinde (Masvingo Branch Chairperson). (Picture Courtesy of ZimLA 2014.)

The strategic planning workshop was a critical exercise after the conference that was attended by NEC, ZimLA Branch Chairpersons and National Library and Documentation Services (NLDS) representatives, Acting Director Tesah Stima and Lewis Mukucha, the Deputy Director. However, Manicaland was not present at the strategic workshop. The workshop was facilitated by Ujala Satgoor, a Director of Library Services at Rhodes University and President of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) who has vast library leadership experience. The strategic workshop came at a time when ZimLA was struggling to find feet in its operations.

Ujala Satgoor LIASA President and Director of Library Services at Rhodes University during the ZimLA strategic planning workshop sponsored by IFLA held recenlty n Vic Falls. (Picture by ZimLA, 2014).

ZimLA is making frantic efforts to make the working document available to its constituency once consultations are done. The valuable document shall define a new Vision, Mission statement and Core values for the library association. It shall identify the position of ZimLA among its membership guiding the library association in its effort to meet membership expectations.

Satgoor’s vast experience in library leadership provided a sound background for the exercise and was instrumental in driving ZimLA participants to a desired outcome. The participation of Satgoor strengthen relationship between LIASA and ZimLA that started back in 2012 when the immediate past President Naomi Haasbroek attended the 46^th ZimLA Conference in Kadoma and mooted the crafting of a strategic plan for ZimLA. The draft strategic plan is expected to be made public soon before its adaptation to allow wider consultation with stakeholders.

LIASA immediate past President Naomi Haasbroek (centre)  flanged by past ZimLA President T. G. Bhowa and the then Kadoma Mayor during the opening of the 46th ZimLA Conference in 2012 in Kadoma at the Kadoma Hotel. (Picture Courtesy of ZimLA) 

Once the strategic plan is available the association is expected to increase its drive for visibility. This would also build on the success of the 49^th ZimLA Conference to be hosted by the Mashonaland branch slatted for Kariba on dates to be advised soon.