This study focuses on the opportunities and challenges in the management of electronic records in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It explores the background to information communication and technology (ICT) development and how it impacts on recordkeeping practices in the three countries. In addition, it examines strategies employed by the national archives of the three countries in the management of electronic records. ICT is impacting on the way organisations function and is playing an important role in the information society. In spite of this, the information and records generated by use of this technology are not properly managed. This is posing a threat to accountability and good governance. This study outlines and examines the environment in which ICT in the three countries is developing. Further, the study exposes the computerisation strategies in government agencies and examines the role of the national archives in the management of electronic records in these countries. In doing the above, data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and discussions with key personnel within the ICT industry, government agencies and national archives in the three countries. ICT infrastructure was found to be limited in rural areas resulting in a need to bridge the urban-rural divide. A need to review policies and coordination frameworks in ICT development was identified. Further, ICT development was limited due to scarce human and financial resources. However, governments in the three countries, together with the private sector were making significant efforts. The increasing use of ICT in the three countries has impacted on recordkeeping practices in government agencies by enabling creation, capture, maintenance, use and disposition of electronic records. In Botswana and Namibia no policies and procedures were found to be in place to enable the management of electronic records whereas these were present in South Africa. Gaps were identified in staffing levels and professional training for the management of electronic records in the three countries. It was found that Botswana and Namibia do not have clearly laid out strategies for managing electronic records whereas such strategies do exist in South Africa. Amongst the three countries, South Africa emerged as a good model of a country that has updated its legal provision to enable the management of electronic records. In spite of the challenges faced, ICT has developed well and impacted positively in recordkeeping in the three countries. South Africa has taken great strides in developing policies, procedures, strategies and legislation for the management of electronic records in government agencies. Botswana and Namibia are seen as lagging behind in these areas. The study end, by making a number of recommendations, including the need for training and human capacity building for the management of electronic records.

A number of digitization projects undertaken by archival organisations in Africa failed to realise their goals of ensuring preservation and access of records. This is partially due to the lack of strategies to move from analogue to digital records. Despite many guidelines, standards and software systems developed by national archives, coalitions, professional associations, research groups and commercial organisations, digital records are still a challenge to manage. This study explored the strategies adopted by the African National Congress (ANC) in digitizing its liberation archives with a view to capturing lessons learnt. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with purposively selected employees of the African National Congress, Multi Choice, Africa Media Online and Nelson Mandela Foundation who were involved in the repatriation and digitization project of the liberation archives. Interview data were augmented through document analysis and observation. The key findings revealed that the ANC established an archives management committee that played an important role in the repatriation and digitization of liberation archives. The committee utilized former liberation struggle members to identify records in various ANC missions in different countries. It was established that although the ANC was aware of where its records were abroad, not all its records were repatriated to South Africa after the unbanning of the liberation movements. Furthermore, the finding revealed that the ANC relied heavily on Multi Choice and Africa Media Online as its archivists were not trained in digitization. A number of lessons learnt with regard to digitization of liberations archives are captured. The study concludes by demonstrating the importance of having a strategy in digitizing archival holdings. It is recommended that this study should be extended to other liberation movements in eastern and southern Africa. / Information Science / M. Inf.