All set for ESARBICA indaba in Victoria Falls
SAMUEL NJINGGA
Zimbabwe is set to host the prestigious 28th Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA) Conference in the resort city of Victoria Falls from June 16 to 20, 2025, an event expected to unlock wide-ranging opportunities in the cultural and data economy spheres while positioning the country as a regional leader in archival innovation.
The National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) said the indaba is a call to action for inclusivity, openness, and the integration of technology in the management and dissemination of archival records.
The conference will be hosted at the Elephant Hills Hotel, one of Zimbabwe’s leading conferencing venues, located in the heart of the country’s premier tourist destination.
The event is expected to attract delegates from more than a dozen countries, including archivists, librarians, historians, academics, policymakers, and stakeholders from the technology and cultural heritage sectors. It is set to be a major milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to assert itself as a hub for digital archiving, historical research, and information governance in the region.
Beyond its academic and professional significance, ESARBICA 2025 is anticipated to generate significant economic activity, particularly in the hospitality, tourism, and ICT sectors. Hotels and lodges in Victoria Falls are preparing for increased bookings, while restaurants, tour operators, and transportation services are gearing up for strong demand during the five-day event.
Economic commentators view the conference as consistent with Zimbabwe’s national development strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy by expanding cultural industries, knowledge production, and digital infrastructure. With global interest intensifying in data-driven decision-making, digital preservation, and heritage-based innovation, Zimbabwe sees this event as a platform to showcase its archival capacity and technological readiness.
“Archives are no longer just about dusty shelves and locked cabinets. They are now part of the data economy offering raw material for research, innovation, and even commercial application,” said an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, under which NAZ operates.
The conference will delve into the transformative role of digital technology in reshaping how archives are stored, accessed, and repurposed. Sub-themes include systems integration, artificial intelligence, repatriation of records, harmonisation of standards, climate change resilience, and inclusive access for persons with disabilities and marginalised communities.
Pre-conference workshops will run from June 16 to 17, providing practical training and peer-learning opportunities. The main conference sessions are scheduled for June 18 to 20 and will feature academic paper presentations, roundtable discussions, interactive technical sessions, and exhibitions.
Established in 1935, the National Archives of Zimbabwe has undergone significant modernisation.
It now hosts a vibrant Audiovisual Unit, supports records management across all ten provinces, and has steadily expanded its digital collections. Hosting ESARBICA 2025 signals the institution’s growing stature as a continental leader in archival governance and innovation.
The private sector is also expected to benefit. ESARBICA 2025 opens the door to strategic collaborations between Zimbabwean businesses and international partners in fields such as document digitisation, cloud-based storage, data protection, and archival software development.
ICT firms are already exploring partnerships with government departments to enhance the country’s capacity in digital preservation and information retrieval.
Exhibition space at the conference is being offered at US$250, while registration fees range from US$100 for students to US$300 for non-members. Participants are expected to fund their own travel and accommodation, but the long-term return on investment—through knowledge-sharing, partnerships, and exposure—is expected to be substantial.
Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and regional air transport hub, is ideally positioned to host an event of this scale. With its scenic beauty, modern conferencing infrastructure, and central location, the city is set to gain enhanced international visibility and increased tourism spend during and after the event.
Importantly, the ESARBICA 2025 conference coincides with International Archives Week, observed globally from June 9 to 13 under the same theme. This alignment further positions Zimbabwe as a serious player in the global archival movement and demonstrates its commitment to the professionalisation of record-keeping and information access.
As more governments embrace data as a key tool for accountability and innovation, Zimbabwe’s ability to blend its rich archival heritage with cutting-edge technology may prove to be a critical differentiator in the emerging information economy.
“Archives are no longer just about dusty shelves and locked cabinets. They are now part of the data economy offering raw material for research, innovation, and even commercial application,” the ministry official reiterated, highlighting a shift in how archives are perceived—as both cultural assets and economic drivers.
ESARBICA 2025 is not just a conference. It is a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and economic transformation. For Zimbabwe, it presents a timely opportunity to showcase how accessible historical knowledge, when matched with modern tools, can spark new industries and forge meaningful cross-border connections.
This June, Victoria Falls will not only host regional delegates, it will host the future of African archives. In the process, Zimbabwe will stake its claim as a regional powerhouse in cultural stewardship, digital innovation, and knowledge-driven economic development.
