National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says parliamentary libraries play a vital role in equipping legislators with the information they need to uphold democracy through transparency, accountability and evidence-based lawmaking.
She said this at the opening of the 22nd Annual Conference of the Association of Parliamentary Libraries of Eastern and Southern Africa (Aplesa) at Swakopmund yesterday.
“Parliamentary libraries are uniquely designed to support legislators with specialised knowledge.
They are not only knowledge repositories, but also guardians of institutional memory. As we embrace digital transformation, we must ensure these libraries are adequately equipped and accessible,” she said.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila highlighted Namibia’s own strides, citing the enactment of the Access to Information Act in 2022 as a landmark moment in promoting government transparency.
She also outlined ongoing digitalisation efforts under the National Assembly’s 2023-2027 strategic plan and the e-parliament strategy, which aim to modernise information services through digitised records and online access to parliamentary documents.
Echoing this sentiment, Aplesa president Isaiah Munyoro praised Namibia for hosting the gathering for the third time, a testament to the country’s enduring commitment to the advancement of parliamentary libraries across the continent.
He reiterated Aplesa’s dedication to developing training and capacity-building initiatives between conferences, with Namibia set to serve as a case study in future workshops.
“Parliamentary libraries are more than repositories of books, they are essential gateways to knowledge, enabling transparency, informed decisions, and civic engagement.
As custodians of parliamentary information services, let us ensure that these libraries remain digitally equipped and relevant in the digital era,” Munyoro said.
National Council secretary advocate Tousy Namiseb reflected on the deeper significance of access to information in a democratic society, challenging common perceptions of libraries as merely quiet rooms filled with books.
“Access to information is the heartbeat of this conference.
When legislators are tasked with complex decisions, they must be supported by libraries that are not relics of the past but dynamic hubs of information, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.”
Themed ‘Parliamentary Libraries and Democracy in the Digital Age’, the event brought together delegates from over 12 African countries to engage in dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and professional development in the realm of parliamentary information services and democratic governance in the digital era.
– Nampa
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