Open Access initiatives in Zimbabwe: Case of academic libraries

Globally library consortia activities are gaining momentum and Africa is not an exception. The Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) dispensation has ushered in a transformative era characterised by the open access initiatives (OAI). Technologies development has added a new dimension to how academic libraries manage scholarly content. This article seeks to explore how academic libraries are progressing in their open access initiatives in Zimbabwe. This article also examines the extent to which open access has been adopted in Zimbabwe's higher education institutions (HEIs). The article seeks to find out how academic libraries can benefit from open access initiatives. The article also analyses the roles of stakeholders in strengthening the open access initiatives among academic libraries in Zimbabwe. The paper will suggest strategies to strengthen the open access initiatives in Zimbabwe. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.