What is it about?
This chapter draws from an analysis of key laws and regulations concerning records and archives management in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The purpose of this examination was to offer practical recommendations based on solid evidence that can be used by those responsible for implementing recordkeeping practices, including practitioners and educators.
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Why is it important?
Archives and records management (ARM) professionals are closely tied to the legal field. The law often dictates crucial aspects of records management such as which records should be created, their format, who can access them, how long they must be retained, and how they should eventually be disposed of. At every step of the archival process - from selecting and evaluating materials to providing access - ARM professionals must take into account not only archival principles but also legal requirements. This places archivists without a background in law in a challenging position when determining which records fall within the scope of an access to information request. Moreover, this challenge is exacerbated by the fact that legislation tends to view records not as distinct entities themselves but rather as documents or sources of information or evidence.
Perspectives
This research identified significant patterns where law, records, and archives intersect in the countries examined. The findings of this study can be a valuable starting point for professionals involved in records management to establish benchmarks not only within these countries but also beyond.
Dr Shadrack Katuu
University of South Africa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Law and recordkeeping, May 2022, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.4324/9781003203155-2.
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