ASSESSING RECORDS MANAGEMENT AT TANZANIA ROADS AGENCY REGISTRY

Description

The study was undertaken to assess records management at Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) headquarters, Dar es Salaam. It was centered on the following objectives below; to establish the current status of records management, find out how records are managed, identify challenges of managing records and to make suggestion for the best practices in managing records at TANROADS. The study adopted a case study design. Data was collected using interviews, observation and document analysis. A sample size of ten respondents was selected using purposive sampling where 2 human resource officers, 2 records officers, 2 secretaries, 2 accountants and 2 contractor engineers. The study findings revealed that there were no enough records staff and few respondents were aware of policy and procedures of records management at TANROADs. The facilities used to store records included; files, filling cabinet, computers and shelves. However, records storage facilities were not enough to meet the need of TANROADs. Also space was not enough to keep both current and semi current records at the same place. There was misplacement of files due to poor tracking system, however. The study recommended that TANROADS should consider re-allocating or expanding the registry, increasing registry funding and fully automating and computerizing its records management functions to enhance service delivery to all its stakeholders. More so, TANROADS should consider training for all staffs within the department and also implementation of electronic records management system to ensure there is proper and timely information delivery.