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This study aims to employ informetric research techniques to investigate the research production in archives and records management in the East and Central African Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ECARBICA) since its inception in 1969 until 2018. A search query "archive'* or 'record*management'", limited to ESARBICA member states between 1969 and 2018, was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and AJOL databases. The results suggested that there has been a significant increase in the production of research in archives and a few authors produce research in records management in the region over the past ten years, but the bulk of this knowledge, and not all countries in the region produce knowledge. The key producers of knowledge published their work in journals indexed by databases that may require subscriptions, which may limit access to many in the region. It is recommended that archives and records management scholars in Africa consider publishing their work in open access journals to ensure that the research is accessible to all in the region. The importance of research in archives and records management cannot be overemphasised, because public records have a direct impact on individuals' lives. Research suggests that the most obvious way for archivists and records managers to enhance their resourcefulness is through education and research. Furthermore, research in archives and records management can help to inform education and solve societal challenges. That said, the ESARBICA region is experiencing challenges when it comes to human resource development and capacity building, among other things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cloud-based services are increasingly used by organisations around the world and Africa is no exception. Literature has revealed that organisations adopt them as they offer efficient and cost-effective services. Notably, Africa is generally at an infant stage in the adoption of cloud-computing services in records management. Objectives: This article presents and deliberates on the implications of cloud-computing services in archives and records management in Africa and determines whether such services are challenged by the inherent weaknesses faced by Africa in the digital age. Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach. It utilised content analysis of the reviewed literature related to cloud computing in records management. Results: Cloud computing offers good tools for organisations to conduct businesses efficiently and improve their records management practices. However, issues related to records storage, jurisdiction, privacy, security and the digital divide, to mention a few, are a challenge that need to be surmounted if Africa is to benefit fully from cloud-based records management services. Conclusion: Although cloud-computing services in records management promise huge benefits for Africa, the continent is not ready to fully embrace such technologies and benefit from them. Actually, cloud-based records management services are an Achilles heel for Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backlog challenges are topical issues in archives across the globe. Currently, the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ), has a backlog estimated to be above 22 000 cubic feet and this has adversely affected its mandate to provide access. This article argues that the processing backlog being faced today by NAZ is not a new phenomenon that emerged recently but it has developed over time, it is as old as the existence of the archival institution itself. The article reviewed NAZ Director's annual reports on the Harare Records Centre and the Public Archives and Research sections of NAZ. An analysis of the National Archives Act, No. 8 of 1986 was done to assess the guiding legal framework under which the backlog increased. It also explores and assesses the effectiveness of some of the measures that were put in place to try and deal with backlog challenges in both the colonial and postcolonial periods. The article goes on to suggest possible strategies on how processing backlogs can be dealt with to promote increased access to public records. It also looks at the structural challenges of the institution juxtaposed to a rising tide of public offices. To date, NAZ remains one of the smallest departments in Government despite the pressing reasons demanding its expansion. The backlog challenge at NAZ is depriving the researchers their right to access information and it goes against the national goal of promoting research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even after 20 years of democracy in South Africa access to archives is still facing many challenges and continuously going through process of transformation. This article concentrates on the present state of accessibility of archives in South Africa. It also exposes the limitations of this process caused by the government's control over them whilst only serving the state in the apartheid era. The exclusion of the general public as users during this time was one of them. The article makes an attempt to compare the specifics of accessing archives between two important chapters of South African history, prior and post- 1994. A short description of the impact of the new legislation developed and implemented after 1994 on the functioning of archives in the new environment is provided. It also presents the significant changes in the role of archival institutions in the new era of democracy in South Africa from the role of traditional records keepers to the more user friendly places more easily accessible to the public. Despite, the great improvement in the accessibility of the archives in South Africa, these institutions still face many daily challenges which impact on their proper functioning. The major issues are: lack of resources, shortage of professional skills, lack of interest and support from the government. They need urgent attention and implementation of some strategies to eliminate those problems. There is still much work to be done in this sector which requires the involvement and cooperation of all country wide archival institutions and plenty of support from the South African government. The contents of the article are based on an extensive literature review. However, the author's personal professional experience in the archival field has also substantially contributed to the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author highlights some of the issues that have drawn the attention of records and archives management professionals in sub Saharan Africa. The article draws from the author's experiences as a practicing archivist, administrator and educator over a period of thirty years in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. A look at the resolutions of the East and Southern African Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA) conferences over the years, tell a story of a profession that is still grappling with the old challenges of managing records and archives. These include poor records storage, lack of records management policies or where they exist, a failure to implement the policies, failure to follow the basic procedures involved in managing records throughout their entire life cycle such as none existence of or failure to implement filing systems and retention schedules. Audit reports still paint a gloomy picture over the poor state of records and records keeping systems. These issues are repeated in almost every ESARBICA resolution document and reiterated by many studies as presented in research reports and publications. The article argues that some of these challenges seem to have persisted and have transcended time and space, from the past into the present and affect many of the sub Saharan Africa countries, albeit in varying degrees. If not put in check these issues will be carried over into the future. The author acknowledges the growth that the profession has experienced in terms of training and the impressive number of Diploma, Degree, Masters and PhD holders. It even boasts of a sizeable number of Professors. The question is: What can the professionals do to make their research and studies have more impact in solving these records keeping problems? This is a theoretical study based on some desk research which looked at ESARBICA resolutions as well as some reports on studies conducted on records and archives management in sub Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses the preservation of historical sources and archival materials related to liberation struggles in east and southern Africa in the latter half of the twentieth century. It examines the management of these archives by political parties, such as the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa and the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). Topics include the role of national archives in managing these sources and the physical security and digitization of archival materials.

The article discusses the acquisitions of archival materials for the archives at the University of Botswana (UB) Library and the Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (HOORC) in Maun, Botswana. The author begins by describing the UB Library's collection development policy, which focuses on obtaining previously published materials, and provides a brief history of the institution. The archives hold university documents, UB photographs and images, and the papers of various individuals, including teacher Sheila Bagnall, politician Tshekedi Khama, and linguist Jan Snyman. The author comments on access to personal archives, digitization of private papers, and the need of networking among libraries, archivists, and the university's research community.