Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE country’s transition to e-Government, marked by a shift from paper-based records and documents management to electronic systems, is at an advanced stage following the acquisition of the requisite hardware and software.
The exercise is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
e-Government documents are digitised public records and administrative files shared between Government, citizens and businesses.
Speaking on the sidelines of the first annual symposium for records and archives practitioners on Monday, National Archives of Zimbabwe director, Ms Brenda Mamvura confirmed the progress.
“We are happy to announce that the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has supported us well. We can say the whole-of-government approach has benefited us greatly. As the regulator, the National Archives of Zimbabwe has acquired an electronic records and documents management system. We are now in the second phase of procuring the appropriate hardware; the software is already with us. We have the licence for this system to roll out. We believe by year-end, the system will be live,” said Ms Mamvura.
Plans for piloting the programme are in place.
“We have engaged the tripartite to ensure they are ready with the relevant policies and are e-ready to pilot the project as we roll it out. I can say there is significant progress in migrating from paper-based records management to an electronic system,” she added.
Ms Mamvura allayed fears among some officials in Government ministries, departments and agencies that jobs could be lost, which has fuelled resistance to the transition.
“There is need for engagement with officials in ministries and departments so that they can handle the new systems through user orientation. They must also be aware that no jobs will be lost through this transition. At times some people are reluctant to learn new things because they fear their jobs are on the line. That is not the case,” she said.
Globally, June 2, marks International Archives Week.
In Zimbabwe, stakeholders led by NAZ opted to hold a symposium in Nyanga, bringing together Government MDAs, local authorities and State enterprises to discuss topical issues affecting the profession.
Five hundred records practitioners from MDAs, local authorities and State enterprises this week gathered in Nyanga for the first annual symposium for records and archives practitioners.
On the purpose of the Nyanga indaba, Ms Mamvura said: “We are moving towards e-Government, and must migrate from paper-based records systems to electronic documents and records management systems. We want to discuss and conscientise professionals to embrace this new system and to be aware of the threats or risks affecting electronic documents and management systems.”
She said various seasoned professionals were invited to lead discussions on artificial intelligence, the migration of paper records to electronic formats, cyber security and other relevant issues.
The symposium also seeks to measure organisational readiness to adopt new formats and systems of records keeping in a fast-changing digital era.
NAZ, whose mission is to acquire, preserve and provide access to documentation in whatever format, comprising legal and historical records of Zimbabwe’s past and present, is hosting the symposium.
The theme is: “Digital records and archives for the future: Preservation, Access and Security”.
