Dealing with Backlog Accumulations of Archival Materials in Eastern and Southern Africa

Mnjama, Nathan

doi:10.1177/0266666906062691

Cited by 7 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Ramokate and Moatlhodi (2010) observe that access to records is problematic due to loads of noncurrent records which are not appraised. Dealing with the backlog extending as far back as a century, is a challenge for archival agencies in the ESARBICA region (Mnjama 2006). Wamukoya (2001) notes that in many African countries, much of the information required by public servants to discharge their duties is inaccessible because of the huge backlogs of non-current paper-based records.…”

Section: Appraisal Backlogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yuba (2013) states that the National Archives and Records Services of South Africa was unable to perform its activities fully due to a shortage of staff. Mnjama (2006) remarks that "due to shortage of staff, archival institutions have been unable to appraise closed records in ministries and departments, resulting in huge accumulation of closed records in these institutions." Similarly, regarding the situation in South Africa.…”

Section: Appraisal Backlogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ramokate and Moatlhodi (2010) observe that the backlog of unprocessed records at BNARS presents challenges of denying access to information which, in terms of legislation, should be availed. The workshop approach proposed by Mnjama (2006) can deal with unprocessed records in the ESARBICA region in a shorter time. Lack of archivist capacity is one of the reasons for the accumulated backlogs and therefore, in such instances, it is appropriate.…”

Section: Clearance Of Accumulated Backlogs Of Unprocessed Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Failure to manage records has weakened accountability, clearly an impediment to good governance. Mnjama (2006) argues that a backlog of unprocessed records was a major challenge for archival repositories in the ESARBICA region as it hindered access to information. BBC News (2018) reported that following an audit of public service records, 30 000 ghost workers were busted who were fictitious, dead or simply someone who has not worked.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of records management in ensuring good governance in Africa

Mosweu

Rakemane²

2020

J. South Afr. Soc. Archiv.

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Proper records management is central to the promotion of good governance. Africa is a continent which has generally been riddled with poor governance. Principles of good governance such as accountability, transparency and the rule of law are ascertained with available records. Poor records management practices promote bad economic practices such as corruption and fraud. An assessment of the performance of government can thus be realised through proper records management and access to information. Good records management practices therefore lead to good governance and vice versa; thus, the role of records management in promoting good governance cannot be overemphasised. However, there are some likely impediments that may hinder the promotion of good governance through records management in the African context. This paper explored the role played by records management in ensuring good governance in Africa. It then suggests strategies to promote good governance through proper records management practices. The paper contends that outdated archival laws, backlog of unprocessed records and absence of access to information laws in some African countries are the major impediments to the promotion of good governance. The paper recommends an amendment of outdated laws and the promulgation of access to information legislation as major initiatives, among others, which put records management in the forefront of promoting good governance in the continent.

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Section: Appraisal Backlogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Appraisal Backlogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Clearance Of Accumulated Backlogs Of Unprocessed Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of records management in ensuring good governance in Africa

Mosweu

Rakemane²

2020

J. South Afr. Soc. Archiv.

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“…In many countries, the retrenchment of the public service had a negative impact on National Archives. The consequent difficulties in obtaining permission to fill vacant posts led to the development of large backlogs of archive cataloguing and made it difficult for some national archives to meet rising expectations in respect of records management services (Mnjama 2006;Ngulube and Tafor 2006). Some leaders subverted SAP agreements that they had signed but never intended to honour.…”

Section: The 1990s Onwardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archives in sub-Saharan Africa half a century after independence

Tough

2009

Arch Sci

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This article focuses on the Commonwealth and other mainly Anglophone countries in East and Central Africa. This is an area that has tended to be neglected in recent discourse and debate. The relationship between accountability and record keeping systems is a major theme. Other challenges that have emerged over the last half century are analysed and commented on. An attempt is made to place developments in a wider political and economic context. In addition, the question is posed whether transformation discourses generated in post-Apartheid South Africa 'fit' with the experiences of countries north of the Limpopo. A great many setbacks and obstacles to success are described. The focus, however, is on identifying paths to progress rather than surrendering to cynicism.

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Zimbabwe’s Economic Decline, Archives Access Regimes, Professionalism, and Their Impact on Researcher-Archivist Relations at the National Archives of Zimbabwe

Bishi

Muchefa²

2022

Hist. Afr.

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This article discusses the manner in which Zimbabwe’s faltering economy affects the functioning of the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ). It also looks at the NAZ access regimes, ethical and professional issues, and their ramifications on archivist-researcher relations. It observes that the conflict of interest between the mandate of archivists to preserve and conserve archives and researchers’ need for access to archives at the NAZ occasionally complicates researcher-archivist interaction. This is because, as professionals and government employees, archivists must follow ethical standards and archival regulations governing the preservation, conservation, and access to archives, even if the same access guidelines and archival practices are not always in the best interests of researchers. This article uses the term “archivists” to explicitly refer to the NAZ staff members who assist researchers at the control desk by identifying, retrieving, and acquiring photocopies of required archives/documents, whilst the term “researchers” refers to both academic and non-academic users of the archives. The issues discussed in this article are pertinent to professional archivists as well as local and foreign researchers, both seasoned and junior, who want to do research at the NAZ and other African archives.

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Dealing with Backlog Accumulations of Archival Materials in Eastern and Southern Africa

Cited by 7 publications

References 2 publications

The role of records management in ensuring good governance in Africa

The role of records management in ensuring good governance in Africa

Archives in sub-Saharan Africa half a century after independence

Zimbabwe’s Economic Decline, Archives Access Regimes, Professionalism, and Their Impact on Researcher-Archivist Relations at the National Archives of Zimbabwe

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