Story by Tichaona Kurewa
VICTORIA FALLS-ZIMBABWE’S commitment to advancing records and archival management is once again in the spotlight as the country hosts the 28th Biennial Conference of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA) in Victoria Falls.
The five-day conference, which has attracted more than 500 delegates from the 16 ESARBICA member states, provides a strategic platform for archival professionals, researchers, and policymakers to exchange ideas, address emerging challenges, and shape the future of records management in the digital age.
Zimbabwe, a founding member of ESARBICA, has received accolades for its continued investment in archival infrastructure and systems. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, ESARBICA Vice President Mr Francis Mwangi commended Zimbabwe’s progress.
“Zimbabwe is doing very, very well. It has been a founding member of ESARBICA and has built its archival institutions to a very high level. Since we were last here in 2015, Zimbabwe has made significant progress. Its standards of archiving are now among the best in the region. Congratulations to Zimbabwe,” he said.
The conference is themed around the transformative role of digital technology in modernising archival systems, particularly in how records are stored, accessed, preserved, and repurposed.
Delegates are discussing the shift from traditional paper-based systems to electronic records management (ERM), a transition that Zimbabwe and several other member states are actively implementing.
Director of the National Archives of Zimbabwe, Ms Brenda Mamvura, said the conference has opened up new possibilities for regional cooperation.
“Bringing professionals from different countries to Zimbabwe promotes interaction and paves the way for future partnerships, collaborations, and benchmarking visits. It is a chance to learn from others and to share what we are doing right here at home,” she said.
The ESARBICA conference is expected to strengthen archival policy harmonisation across member states while enhancing regional capacity-building initiatives and knowledge sharing.
For Zimbabwe, the event reinforces its reputation as a key player in archival innovation and policy leadership on the continent.
