Byo Public Library members demand ouster of board

A storm is brewing at Bulawayo Public Library as members have joined hands in voicing their displeasure towards the board which they accuse of bringing chaos to the once-glamorous library.

Library members have written a petition defying the board's decision to cancel elections and impose itself into office during the tri-annual meeting which was held on 12 September 2013.

In a petition which was shown to Chronicle, readers are accusing the board of mismanaging the library since three of its branches were closed during their term of office.

"We want new board members who will bring fresh ideas into the library. The library needs innovative ideas and clearly this board cannot do so since they have failed to refurbish the library in the past four years," said a member who preferred anonymity on fears of victimisation.

Members said the selection of the board lacked transparency and democracy. "The board was unconstitutionally part of the nominating committee and they eliminated candidates who wanted to contest in the elections for a new board. They then elected themselves into the new board without majority vote," said another member.

Members said when the board elected itself into power they approved themselves as a legally constituted body and claimed that there was no need for elections.

Members also expressed concern over the composition of the board saying it was not gender-balanced and that it had no representative for the disabled people.

"The committee is not gender balanced. It has more males than females. The board has no representative for people with disabilities hence they are left out in the key decision making structure of the library," said a member.

Members are demanding a credible election process over which the contested board would have no influence.

When contacted for comment, board members refused to talk saying that the media had nothing to do with the petition and library affairs