Niël Terblanché
The 22nd Annual Conference of the Association of Parliamentary Libraries of Eastern and Southern Africa opened in Swakopmund on Monday with a call to strengthen the role of parliamentary libraries in democratic governance amid rapid technological change.
Themed “Parliamentary Libraries and Democracy in the Digital Age”, the week-long gathering drew more than 40 delegates from across the eastern and southern regions of the continent.
Addressing delegates at the opening, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, spoke about the evolving function of parliamentary libraries.
She said these institutions are not merely book repositories but serve as critical support systems for legislators.
“They act as repositories of institutional memory, housing everything from legal documents and historical records to expert research and policy briefs. This body of knowledge ensures that Legislatures operate effectively,” she said.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila pointed to the country’s Access to Information Act of 2022 as a clear affirmation of the country’s dedication to transparency and democratic participation.
She said the law reinforces the right of every Namibian to access information and that digital platforms are key to achieving this.
“Namibia’s Parliamentary Library is embracing digital transformation through several strategic initiatives aimed at modernising information services and enhancing public access,” she said.
Among these are the National Assembly strategic plan for 2023–2027 and the E-Parliament Strategy, which support the digitisation of parliamentary processes.
According to the Kuukongelwa-Amadhila, these efforts include making committee reports, order papers and other legislative documents more readily available online.
She cautioned that the shift to digital platforms comes with difficulties.
“This, in turn, affects our efforts to adapt to rapid technological changes,” she said, mentioning constraints such as limited ICT infrastructure funding, copyright issues, and the shortage of specialised personnel.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called for continued collaboration among parliaments in the region, adding that such conferences create opportunities to share solutions and improve institutional efficiency.
