07 Jun 2022

Kanye Records Centre will tomorrow host information science management professionals and the general public for commemoration of International Archives Day.

The event, organised by  the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs through Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS), will include the launch of the 2019-2021 archives booklet.

Mr Jimmy Opelo,  the ministry’s permanent secretary,  underscored the importance of archives during a media briefing in Gaborone on Tuesday.

He said archives constituted a major cultural heritage and information resource. 

Mr Opelo said the event, themed: Archives are you, aimed to strengthen the importance of archives in relation to society’s collective memory, and protection of people’s rights, property and identity. 

He defined archives as documents created, received and maintained as evidence and information by an organisation or person in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of business. 

“To ensure the preservation of these sources, a comprehensive approach that considers all types and formats of archives is required,” he said. 

Mr Opelo said the event was dictated by the realisation that archives utilisation was low.

 Profiling them would ensure that financial and human resources were appropriate and adequate., he said.

 According to BNARS director Ms Dineo Phuti, the main objective of the commemoration was to raise awareness among the public on the importance of records and archives.

“It will also alert decision-makers on the benefits of records management for good governance and development,” she said. 

Ms Phuti said the event would in addition improve the image of records and archives and enhance their visibility globally thereby bridging generational gaps between the past, present and future. 

To that end, a series of pre-event activities had been taking place since June 3 to create awareness about the day, she said. 

In addition to information science management professionals, the event is also expected to attract historians, researchers and students.ends