Reports l APLESA Newsletter

CALENDAR

DAILY SUMMARY - Session 5 - Information Services for Members of Parliament managing the political environment - Mr. Shonhiwa, Zimbabwe

RAPPORTEURS - Ms M. Lenyatso
(Senior Clerk Assistant)

Mr T. L. Moipolai
(Clerk Assistant)

Type setting: K. S. Ramonyai
(Senior Typist)

The presenter, Mr. Shonhiwa, started by giving background information on the Zimbabwe political environment. With that he outlined the following historical perspective.

1. The Zimbabwean situation prior to the year 2000 was rather a hectic period. Rhodesia front, , zapu and the ruling zanu (pf) were the three political parties. The political strategy used was laissez-faire and socialist oriented.

2. 1987 - unity accord came about and it ushered a one party state.

New era

3. 1990 - there was a new dispensation at the emergence of intellectuals i.e. The current awareness service.

4. 1995 - there was an increase in the intellectuals desires and the emergency of voice of dissent.

5. 1997 - there was transformation of parliament and the formation of reform committee. The desire to establish the information needs of the oppressive constituency.

6. Mixed grill period - the year 2000 plunged into a situation of strong opposition where zanu (pf) lost 57 seats to m.d.c.

7. There was a feeling that staff was zanu and vise versa

• Library committee chosen on interest
• Legal deposit
• User friendly environment
• CPA donation of book scheme - write to CPA
• Book world in united kingdom

Managing the political environment and offering information service has not been smooth in Zimbabwe. For the collection development to be done the librarian had to think of what members needed.

Materials available in the library were from the war. This material did not capture the interest of the young generation and the intellectual. After independence the librarians were able to acquire material under socialism. In order for the library to attract members of parliament. The library created an awareness system through which they came out with newspaper clips, selected headlines and distributed them to members of parliament. They also made a list of periodicals and manuals then circulated them to the members in or to choose the one to read. By 1990 there were still trials and tribulation but the new situation calmed the library situation and because of the problems of obtaining official documents from government department members of parliament were now able to get to the library for assistance.

Most people especially the intellectuals and the young generation needed information. A new dispensation resulted in the transformation strategies where a lot of change was done to meet the standard of other parliaments.

The presenter pursued a research which enable the library to acquire new information. The situation became tense in the year 2000 as the newly formed political party was aggressive.

The way forward is that the parliament of Zimbabwe is increasingly being called upon to play a leading role in its parliamentary democracy. This process obviously involves considerable change of the institution's structure and its working methods. This calls for members of parliament to acquire new technical skills, better understanding of their roles, responsibilities and rights so as to enable them to perform their duties efficiently as legislators and be able to hold the government to account.

Discussions and contributions

• South Africa wanted to know if the Zimbabwean library led the political environment or it managed it.
• In response Zimbabwe stated that they tried by all means to manage the environment.
• Botswana wanted to know what they should expect when opposition becomes strong. Does library become activated when there is no opposition.

In response Zimbabwe stated that it can be difficult in the case where there are two levels which are not the same thus the young and old intellectuals. Reading books and newspapers are two different things.

• Concern was raised that everytime the participants have to attend to APLESA conference there is struggle with the clerks in acquiring the sponsorship. Everytime APLESA become a new thing to the clerks.
• it was then suggested that the executive committee should write a letter to all the clerks of APLESA countries on the seriousness of the association.
• The other suggestion was that the executive committee should come up with a marketing strategy which will help alleviate the problem. However, not all the APLESA countries face problems with their clerk, Malawi and South Africa do not seem to have problems in getting support from their clerks.

Malawi proposed that other members of the library staff should be given the opportunity to attend APLESA conference.

• Regarding IFLA there was a proposal that APLESA conference should be held at the same time and venue with IFLA to minimise the costs. In this case the participants voiced concern over the above proposal, the concern was that they have difficulties in acquiring sponsorship within the region hence they have serious doubt whether they will get funds to attend a conference outside the region.