Dlamini, Julius Siqwayi; (1993) Evolution of records management and archive administration in Swaziland. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to review record-keeping practices in the Ministries/Departments of the Government of Swaziland in order to determine how records are presently organised and how they could be better organised. The findings of the study should help to determine what changes are necessary and what improvements are needed to establish an effective and efficient records management programme for Swaziland. As a background to the study, the thesis begins by looking at the development of record-keeping historically, culminating in the post World War II development of records management as a distinct area of management in the United States of America. It then discusses the evolution of administrative practices in Swaziland. It examines the administrative history of institutions which created the records, the records they created and how records are presently kept. The main body of the thesis deals with the management of the total record cycle, i.e. active, semi-active and inactive records. One chapter deals with active records. It looks at the involvement of management in the keeping of records, the creation phase, maintenance and use and the protection of vital records. It assesses the state of current record-keeping in Swaziland and possible solutions. Another chapter deals with semi-active records. It examines the retention of records, appraisal of records, how a record centre works and the need to apply these concepts in Swaziland. The following chapter covers inactive records. It discusses the role of a National Archives, the archives building, the arrangement and description of archives, staff and budgeting, and the existing archival legislation. It reviews possible solutions to the problems of administering archives in Swaziland. The study concludes that there is a need for new legislation, for registry manuals, and for a records centre. Training for registry staff, records managers and archivists is also essential. All this can only be achieved through the creation of an integrated programme for managing records in all phases of their life cycle and through involving management in the design and implementation of this programme.

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