12 Jun 2023

Plans are afoot to develop a National Policy on Archives and Record Services to guide on the proper management of archives and records, says the Assistant Mnister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Buti Billy.

Mr Billy who was addressing the 2023 International Archives Day Commemoration in Francistown Friday said the process was currently at bidding stage.

He said government had for the current financial year disbursed funds that would help to set up an audio visual archives centre.

Also, Mr Billy said his ministry through the Botswana National Archives and Record Services was implementing an electronic record management system, which ultimately would fast track and create an enabling environment for knowledge society to thrive.

He said the youth ministry was therefore challenged to continuously transform and cope with the diverse demands of society.

“That is, it should address gaps, build capacity to have equitable access to the source of knowledge which is in this case, the archives, as they are central to research and development,” he said.

Mr Billy said computerisation of archives and records management had been a growing development strategy for the preservation and proper management of records and archives.

“With this, coupled with other strategies that are comprehensive and developmental in nature, societal cohesion will be realised, thereby adding an impulse to enriching the knowledge society,” he observed.

The assistant minister said more needed to be done in terms of capacity building. He said archives and record managers in this time and age should learn, develop their potential abilities to effectively facilitate and take part in knowledge society.

Further, he implored all professionals in the field including relevant institutions to be consistent with the current trends.

“I acknowledge and concede that my ministry through the Botswana National Archives and Record Services must fast pace and initiate a dialogue with relevant stakeholders offering capacity and skills training, strengthening the existing legislature among other things, to be responsive enough to emerging trends obtaining in the fields of archives and records management,” said Mr Billy.

He said in the pursuit to enhance knowledge society, his ministry was making steady progress in the implementation of National Archives and Records Services (NARMS) project.

“We will be rolling it out to other government ministries during this financial year,” he said.

He said they were also in the process of working with other stakeholders to integrate transactional services in the project in question.

“These initiatives, among others are necessary to create a gateway as a ministry in enriching the knowledge society. Changes that are occasioned by the era of knowledge society have numerous effects for the archives,” said the assistant minister.

He further indicated that to translate the ministry’s plans into tangible impactful projects, all stakeholders must put their shoulders to the wheel.

“Our collaboration would ultimately ensure we are pragmatic and innovative in our response in a timely manner,” explained Mr Billy.

The theme for this year’s commemoration was Enriching Knowledge Societies, which the assistant minister said featured a riff which was identical to Botswana transformational agenda of a Knowledge based economy and the Reset Agenda that related to digitisation.

The International Archives Day is special this year in that the International Council on Archives (ICA) is turning 75 years. The organisation was formed in 1948 to promote the effective management of records and their preservation as well as the care and use of the world’s documentary heritage. ENDS