Midlands State University
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MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY Collection development issues of oral history at the National Archives of Zimbabwe. By Paidamoyo Purity Ganda A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree BA (Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Museum studies) In the Department of Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies NOVEMBER 2015 APPROVAL FORM The undersigned confirm that they have supervised, read and recommended to the Midlands State University for recognition a research project entitled, “Collection development issues of the oral history collection the National Archives of Zimbabwe”, submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies, Midlands State University. Signature................................................ Date............................... Supervisor Signature............................................... Date............................... Chairperson Signature............................................... Date............................... External Examiner ii RELEASE FORM Name of author Paidamoyo Purity Ganda Registration number R114464W Dissertation Title A study of the collection development issues of Oral history at the National Archives of Zimbabwe. Degree programmeBA Honours in archaeology Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies Permission is hereby granted to Midlands State University to reproduce or publish this research if ever the institution deems it necessary. No reservations are held by the author against the Department of Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies and the entire institution at large as long as their motives fall within the Zimbabwean Copyright. ………………………………. ……………………………. Signature Date Permanent address: 5381 Mkoba 15 Gweru Zimbabwe Mobile: 263 773 293 393, Email: [email protected] iii DECLARATION I, Paidamoyo Purity Ganda, declare that this dissertation on Collection development issues of oral history at the National Archives of Zimbabwe is my own inventive work that has not before been submitted to any other university for a degree. I authorise Midlands State University to lend this dissertation to other institutions or individuals for purposes of scholarly research. ......................................... Date …………………………… Signature iv DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my exceptionally amazing mother and children. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge Ms P Katekwe for her support, supervision and guidance on this project. I wish to thank all National Archive of Zimbabwe staff for assisting me to see through thedissertation.Special thanks go to my husband Brighton Mutizira for giving me the financial and social support I needed during the research period. I also thank Nancy Tadzembwa for urging me to keep going during the difficult and tough times. Many thanks to all those not mentioned but who contributed to the success of this project and may the good Lord bless you. vi ABSTRACT Documenting oral history in societies is important because it helps to fill the historical and social gaps in the history of a nation. For effective and efficient documentation of oral history it is important to have stipulated guidelines on what to do and how to do it. These guidelines are found in a collection development policy. So for effective and efficient documentation of oral history archives ought to have a collection development policy which becomes the foundation upon which their activities are done. The research aimed to establish the good practices that can be employed by NAZ to ensure effective documentation of a total oral history collection. The major research questions were what guides NAZ in documenting oral history. What professional and skills requirements are pre requisite for oral history documentation. The study made use of qualitative research and employed the explanatory design. The author gathered that NAZ has no collection development to guide them in oral history documentation. I also gathered that the unit is facing human resources, financial and equipment challenges because it is a unit which is supposed to cover the whole country. If the National Archives does not formulate a collection development policy they risk being criticised for not effectively documenting oral history. This study concludes that NAZ has not been successful in creating a total oral history archive. Therefore they need to have an oral history collection development policy and find means to raise funds to see to the effective operation of the oral history unit. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL FORM ............................................................... iError! Bookmark not defined. RELEASE FORM .................................................................................................................... iii DECLARATION FORM ....................................................................................................... iiiv DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................. x 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the study ...................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Aim of the study................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Objectivesof the study....................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Research questions ............................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Limitationsof the study ........................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Assumptions of the study ..................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Breakdown of the study ....................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2:LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................... 6 2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Collection Development ...................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Purposes of Documenting Oral History ............................................................................... 7 2.3Professional and skill requirements for oral history ........................................................... 11 CHAPTER 3:RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................... 14 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14 viii 3.1 Research Design................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.1 Study Population ............................................................................................................. 14 3.2.2 Sampling ......................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Data collection techniques. ................................................................................................ 15 3.4 Ethical considerations ........................................................................................................ 16 CHAPTER 4:DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS ................................................... 17 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 17 4.2 Interview Response Rate.................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Professional and Skills Requirements ................................................................................ 17 4.3.1 Provision of training and seminars. ................................................................................ 19 4.4 Identification and Filling of Gaps ...................................................................................... 20 4.5 Collection Development .................................................................................................... 22 4.6 Procedures for Documenting Oral History ........................................................................ 23 4.7 Challenges being faced that are affecting the documentation of oral history .................... 25 4.7.1 Lack of human resources ...............................................................................................