Paper-Based Records an Obstacle to Service Delivery during Covid-19 Lockdown: A Case of the National Archives of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi Records Centre

Alex Sibanda, Munyika Sibanda and Edward Mupfururi
Additional contact information
Alex Sibanda: Zimbabwe Open University, Lecturer Department of Information Science and Records Management, Chinhoyi Public Service Training Centre, P.O Box 285 Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe..
Munyika Sibanda: National Archives of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi Records Centre: Archivist, Block 4 Old Chinese Complex, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
Edward Mupfururi: Zimbabwe Open University, Administrative Assistant, Zvishavane District Midlands Regional Campus P.O Box 1810 Gweru, Zimbabwe.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2021, vol. 05, issue 09, 257-262

Abstract: This study examined the repercussion and lessons learnt on failure to automate records at the National Archives of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi Records centre. The study used a mixed methodology with the intention of triangulating the results. Data were collected from the National Archives of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi Records centre staff, government departments and other users through interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis. The study sample included six (6) employees from the National Archives of Zimbabwe and four (4) Record Management Supervisors from the government departments who were operating during the lockdown. The purposive sampling technique was employed. The study findings revealed access to records and archives was affected especially at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) where the use of electronic technologies is still at its infant stage and automation of records and archives is moving at a snail pace. According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) under national objectives government units must adopt and implement procedures to develop efficiency and competence. However, this was not the case with the NAZ Chinhoyi Records Centre during Covid-19 lockdown from 29 March 2019 to July 2021. The study findings revealed that Government departments, local authorities and parastatals that were operating during the Covid 19 lockdown failed to access their records on time as the archival institution was temporarily closed in a bid to control the spreading of coronavirus. The study recommends that NAZ need to adopt an Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS). In addition, the NAZ must also develop a cloud storage for its records as well as making sure that records and archives can be accessed virtually by government departments and other users who deposits their materials at the Centre.

Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ ... -issue-9/257-262.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/virtual-library/pape ... hoyi-records-centre/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bcp:journl:v:5:y:2021:i:09:p:257-262

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science is currently edited by Dr. Nidhi Malhan

More articles in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science from International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Pawan Verma ().