The National Archives of Malawi is a Government Department in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife. It was established in Zomba in July 1947 as a Regional Branch of the then Central African Archives. Later in 1953 it was known as the National Archives of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The responsibility of this Branch was to be the official repository of Government records as well as records belonging to private institutions and individuals, who related to the territorial activities. When the administrative links of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland severed in December 1963, the Zomba Branch was in January 1964 declared the National Archives of Malawi.
- +MANDATE, VISION, MISSION STATEMENT
- Mandate
The mandate of the National Records and Archives Services is to collect, classify, conserve, store, control and appraise public, historical, and general records for research, Storage, and posterity as derived from two statutory obligations of the laws of Malawi: The National Archives Act (Chap. 28:01) and the Printed Publications Act (Chap. 19:01)
Vision
To be the leading archival institution in the region and beyond.
Mission
Preserve and provide access to the country’s documentary heritage through the establishment and promotion of economic and efficient records and archives management systems in Malawi.
- +FUNCTIONS
- To regulate the preservation of public records of enduring value and disposal of ephemeral records.
- To serve as a repository for the economic storage and preservation of government records.
- To promote sound and proper records management practices in government departments, corporate bodies and private institutions through the provision of advisory services regarding the creation, maintenance and disposal of records.
- To conserve archival documents with a view to enhance their lifespan through binding, microfilming, lamination, etc.
- To provide reference services for government records and published information resources deposited in the National Archives of Malawi.
- To provide authorized access to public archives and historical manuscripts to researchers, scholars and the general public.
- To preserve historical manuscripts and oral history research programmes for Malawi.
- To register newspapers and preserve printed works published in Malawi.
- To promote bibliographic services and research through the publication of the Malawi National Bibliography and other select bibliographies on issues of national interest.
To administer the use and application of the International Standard Book Numbering (ISBN) system in Malawi and provide advisory service to publishers in the country with regard to the application of the system.
- +CONTACTS
- The Director
Department of Museums and Monuments
P/BAG 384
Lilongwe
Phone number (s): +265 1
The Director
Department of Arts
Area 5, Off Paul Kagame Road,
P.O Box 264
Lilongwe
Phone number: +265 1 754 911
The Director,
National Records and Archives Services,
Mkulichi Road,
P.O. Box 62,
ZOMBA.
Tel/Fax: 01 525 240