Managing records and archives in the absence of a registered professional association. A Zimbabwe case

This study focused on establishing how records were being managed in the absence of a registered professional association of records management. In came as a result of evidence that in Zimbabwe there was no registered professional association for records management raising questions on how were ideas shared amongst records and archives professionals. The study is qualitative in nature and convenient sampling technique was used to obtain views on how records management activities were operating in an environment where they do not have a registered professional body. The study probed further to establish what records and archives profession was missing as a result of not having a registered professional body. Study findings showed that records management practices were being conducted guided by the National Archives of Zimbabwe (public sector records) while private organisations had the records personnel deciding individually on records management issues. The study also showed that there was lack of a platform to organise effective seminars and workshops that would discuss issues relating to ethics and professional conduct, curriculum development and continuing professional development. The study went on to establish that the absence of having a registered professional association was affecting the growth of the profession, training of records and archives students and the professional progression. It was recommended that there is need for the existing informal professional associations to register and be the mouth and ears of the records profession in Zimbabwe