[1] The Botswana National archives was established in 1967 as portfolio responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The 1985 organisation and methods review of the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs led to a revolutionary development in Botswana’s Records Management establishment.

The Permanent Secretary to the President Circular No.4 of 1993 established BNARS as a department and gave it the mandate to provide a Records Management service to Government.

[2] The main function of the Department is to provide records and information management service to government agencies; and to collect, preserve and access the nation’s documentary heritage.

The National Archives Act provides that records which are 20 years and above be open for public access.