Vice President of the Republic of Zambia to Grace XXVII SCECSAL Conference as Guest of Honour

The Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ), host of the XXVII Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL), is pleased to announce that Her Honour, Dr. W. K. Mutale Nalumango, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, will grace the conference as Guest of Honour.

The XXVII SCECSAL Conference will take place from 27 April to 1 May 2026 at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort in Livingstone.

Held under the theme “African Libraries and Information Services at the New Crossroads", the conference will bring together library and information professionals, academics, LIS students, policymakers, development practitioners, private sector actors operating in the LIS sector, and innovators from across Africa and beyond. Participants will explore the evolving role of libraries and information services in advancing Africa’s development agenda in an ever-changing environment shaped by digital technologies.

The presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia as the Guest of Honour underscores the growing national and regional recognition of libraries and information services as key pillars in education, research, innovation, and inclusive development. Her participation highlights the importance that the Zambian government places on access to information, knowledge sharing, and the role of libraries in shaping informed and empowered societies.

The SCECSAL Conference is a flagship biennial gathering that provides a platform for high-level dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on key issues shaping the future of the library and information profession across the continent.

First held in 1974 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the SCECSAL Conference is the oldest continuously running regional conference for library and information professionals in Africa, and since the first conference in Dar es Salaam, it has been held biennially without missing a single cycle.

Delegates can look forward to a rich and engaging programme featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, research presentations, training workshops, exhibitions, and valuable networking opportunities with peers and professionals from across the information, education, and technology sectors.

With the venue set in Livingstone, the tourism capital of Zambia, participants will also enjoy the unique setting of a city that is home to the world-famous Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Don’t be left out!

Register today and be part of this important continental conversation shaping the future of African libraries and information services.

Register now: https://conference.scecsal.org/