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Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
VITAL documents are at risk of being damaged at the Zimbabwe National Archives in Bulawayo following damage by wind that occurred to the building over three months ago.
The damage has not been repaired despite the responsible authorities being informed. Senior archivist in Bulawayo Mr Micheal Kwesu said they were worried as this could affect some of the documents being kept at the building.
“About three months ago, strong winds hit the city and we were unlucky in that our building was affected and the roof was blown off in some sections leaving some of our documents exposed,” he said.
“We have a challenge in that elements of weather are not supposed to come into contact with the records. Like now dust has been affecting us, we are hoping that the rains do not affect us as we are approaching the rainy season. Water will destroy our records.”
At least $5 000 is needed to repair the damages.
“This is a recurring issue, this roof has been damaged for the third time and now, we are not sure what the challenge could be.
The constructor may have used material that is not strong,” he said.
The archives section falls under the Ministry of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage.
The institution does records management with documents that are sourced from parastatals, Government departments and local authorities.
They also house all of the city’s publications including the first edition of Chronicle.
Mr Kwesu said writers of novels are obliged to donate a copy of their published works for record keeping at the institution.
The Bulawayo institution was formed in 1967 as a records centre for the documentation of Government records but a bigger structure was set up in 2002 so as to decentralise the archiving of documents from Matabeleland region.
“This is a special building, the rooms which we keep our records have no windows, they do not need direct sunlight as it damages the records,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter