30/04/2026
𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐀𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥, 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: "𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬"
Zambia Library Service under the Ministry of Education responsible for library services in Zambia, had the privilege to support the prestigious 27th Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) held at Avani hotel in Livingstone.
𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
During the opening, Southern Province Minister Hon. Credo Nanjuwa welcomed the delegates, emphasizing the importance of libraries and encouraging all attendees to feel free, safe, and at home in Livingstone.
Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima, represented by Permanent Secretary - Educational Services, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe underscored the relevance of libraries in the digital age of artificial intelligence. He noted that the theme, “African Libraries at the Information Crossroads,” speaks directly to our current time. Across Africa, libraries are being called upon to redefine their role amid rapid technological change, the rise of AI, increasing information demands, and evolving user expectations.
SCECSAL president Mrs. Jacinta C. Were - reaffirmed the mandate of librarians to be more than custodians of books, but that of being gateways to knowledge, champion against misinformation, and partners in national development. She thanked her Honor, the Vice President, for taking the time to officiate at this important conference of Librarians.
Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) President Mr. Mubanga Lumpa highlighted the power of unity and inclusiveness in advancing the library agenda. He called on African library professionals to “speak with one voice” when championing the importance of libraries.
𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
The vice president of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. W.K. Mutale- Nalumango officiated at the conference. In her keynote address, she challenged librarians to be "libraries themselves" stating: "When libraries stop existing, we may lose our history and present."
She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to library development in line with SDG 4, citing the approval of the National Library Policy in August 2025 and the introduction of a dedicated library period on the school timetable
Addressing global challenges, the vice president highlighted the threat of misinformation and disinformation, which can destabilize societies and erode public trust. She posed a critical question to delegates: "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞?"
Her call was clear: librarians must continue adapting to a dynamic world. For libraries to remain relevant, they must :enhance digital literacy, embrace technology, and strengthen community engagement.
