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.
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| 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 48th 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.
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| 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 46th 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.
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| 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 49th
ZimLA Conference to be hosted by the Mashonaland branch slatted for Kariba on
dates to be advised soon.
