Uphold ethics – records, archives officials tasked

DODOMA: ZANZIBAR’S Second Vice-President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, has urged records and archives managers to uphold ethical standards and maintain professionalism, emphasising their vital role in preserving the integrity of institutions across the country.

Speaking on behalf of Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi at the 12th annual general meeting of the Tanzania Records and Archives Management Professionals Association (TRAMPA) in Dodoma, Mr Abdulla highlighted the importance of ethics in records management.

“It is the responsibility of professionals in this field to ensure the proper preservation of records and documents, adhering to ethical standards and legal requirements. This contributes to informed policy and governance decisions within our institutions,” he stated.

The Second Vice-President encouraged records professionals to exercise discretion and composure to uphold the dignity of their profession and promote the development of institutions nationwide.

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He also called on government leaders to hold regular meetings with TRAMPA leadership to better understand the challenges facing practitioners and enhance their performance.

Mr Abdulla assured TRAMPA members of the government’s continued support in strengthening the association’s objectives. He encouraged TRAMPA to recruit more professionals to broaden access to development opportunities.

Reflecting on the event’s theme, “Good Record and Document Management is the Foundation for Economic Growth and Investment,” Mr Abdulla emphasised how efficient document management can drive national development. He noted, “The government and private institutions use records to plan, assess and implement development programmes. Effective record management also supports revenue growth, enables oversight of public spending and assists the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) in auditing public expenditures.” He urged attendees to use the meeting as a platform to share insights and become catalysts for change in records management within their respective workplaces.

The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance), Mr George Simbachawene, announced that in the financial year 2023/2024, the government approved 275 new records management positions along with an additional 305 alternative roles.

For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the government plans to recruit 1,056 professionals in the records sector, demonstrating a commitment to expanding the field. Regarding promotions, Mr Simbachawene reported that 1,611 promotions were granted in 2023/2024 and 219,042 employees across sectors, including records managers, will be eligible for promotions in 2024/2025.

He emphasised that promotion criteria are based on performance, requiring a score exceeding 60 per cent. Additionally, he noted that the government has recently settled outstanding debts for 327 employees in the records sector, amounting to 373m/- and remains committed to addressing further repayments.

Mr Simbachawene encouraged records managers to use TRAMPA as a platform to communicate their challenges to both institutional and central government levels.

He also urged TRAMPA members to participate in the upcoming local government elections on November 27.

Zanzibar’s Minister for Constitution, Legal Affairs and Public Service, Haroun Ali Suleiman, echoed these sentiments, encouraging collaboration between management ministries to strengthen the records management sector, including allowing employees to attend relevant conferences.