Article 1
The Global Zimbabwe Forum (the
‘GZF’) is a non-profit making organization governed by the present Articles of
the Association and, for all matters not covered by the Articles, by Articles
60 and sequent of the Swiss Civil Code.
Article 2
(a) The GZF's registered office is
located in the State of Geneva.
(b) The GZF's life shall be of
unlimited duration.
Article 3
The association shall pursue the
following aim(s):
(a)
To
establish a united global forum for all Zimbabweans civic society organisations
and individuals whose main purpose will be to create and maintain an enabling
climate for promoting people-centered participatory development, influencing
national and international policy development and promoting vibrant
democracy in Zimbabwe.
(b)
To
mobilize resources globally to support the Zimbabwe Diaspora Development
Chamber, set up to tackle poverty among Zimbabweans.
(c)
To
work towards creating an enabling environment by influencing the
legislative framework in which development may thrive.
(d)
To
identify development priorities and seek to influence donors,
grant-makers, organized business and other stakeholders to support the
Chamber’s development agenda, training programs and scholarships.
(e)
To
promote community participation in the conceptualization,
implementation and evaluation of the reconstruction of
(f)
To
conceptualize and implement advocacy programmes aimed at
lobbying for policies which advance the interests of marginalized (e.g.
the poor, women and rural) members of our Zimbabwean society.
(g)
To
initiate discussion and stimulate debate amongst member organizations on
strategic issues affecting the Zimbabwean people.
(h)
To
assist member organizations to identify and address opportunities and threats
in the socio-economic environment, which may advance or constrain the work of
their respective organizations.
(i)
To
promote cross-border networking and cross-pollination of information,
knowledge and development experience in
(j)
To
strengthen and promote developmental leadership by sponsoring management
and leadership development programmes.
(k)
To
promote collaboration amongst civil society organisations working in the
same programme area, national and international sector.
(l)
To
affiliate to international, Zimbabwean, Southern African, African and
international structures which influence socio-economic policies.
(m)
To
collaborate on a principled basis through written agreements with other organs (for example, business chambers, organized
labour and faith-based organizations) in building a strong international forum.
Article 4
The GZF's resources shall derive
from the following sources:
(a)
Donations
(b)
Sponsorship
(c)
Private
and public subventions
(d)
Dues deposited
by members
(e)
Any
other resources authorized by the law.
(f)
The
funds shall be used in conformity with the GZF's purposes.
Article 5
(a) The membership of the GZF
shall constitute of the various lawfully registered regional networks derived
from national forums of Diaspora-based Zimbabwean Civic Society
Organisations or institutions that subscribe to the aims and objectives,
and pledge adherence to the GZF Code of Ethics.
(b) The members shall be
entitled to have their own local constitutions but it is the GZF Constitution
that shall remain as their supreme legal document.
(c) The members shall be
entitled to elect their own public representatives to the
international organs of the GZF.
(d) The members shall through
their elected representatives have full access and be entitled to direct
participation in the activities of the GZF.
(e) The members shall be
obliged to meet all financial and other obligations as shall be determined
from time to time by GZF or any of its
competent organs.
(f) A member shall cease to
be such by resignation by giving notice to that effect, in writing,
at least one month prior to the effective
date of the intended resignation.
(g) A member shall also
cease to be such if its membership is terminated for misconduct, failure
to adhere to the Code of Ethics or for bringing the name of the GZF into
disrepute.
(h) A member against which a
charge of misconduct is laid shall be entitled to a fair hearing, provided
that its membership shall be suspended for the duration of the investigation
and the impending inquiry.
(i) Membership of any regional
network indebted to the GZF for dues or any other
financial obligation shall automatically lapse if the organization in
question fails to meet such obligation notwithstanding a reminder giving such
organization no more than 60 days to fulfill the obligation. The onus
shall be on the members to ensure that the membership fee is duly received and
a receipt issued to prove so.
(j) The GZF may terminate or expel a member or group of members without giving reasons, provided that the expulsion
has been approved by the General Assembly by simple resolution and is duly
recorded in the minutes.
(k) No member who has been expelled shall be readmitted
without prior approval of the General Assembly.
(l) A member who is expelled may be refunded the joining fee only
and in the event of withdrawal the joining fee may not be refunded.
(m) All members will not be able to create any
financial obligations for Global Zimbabwe.
(n) All members shall always abide by the Constitution, policies,
resolutions and programmes of GZF.
Article 6
The GZF's organs shall constitute
of the following:
(a) The General Assembly (GA)
(b) The General Council (GC)
(c) The International Secretariat (IS)
Article 7
(a)
The General
Assembly (GA) shall act as the GZF's supreme decision making body and shall be
entitled to make any final resolutions.
(b)
The GA
delegates shall be derived from the members of all the GCs of the regional
affiliates of the GZF who shall be entitled to send no more than five delegates
each per meeting.
(c)
The GA
shall hold at least two meetings per year, preferably in March and November
that shall be regarded as the AGM.
(d)
In
addition, the GA shall convene Extraordinary Meetings whenever necessary or at
the request of one-fifth of its members.
(e)
The GA
shall have a valid quorum only if there is at least one-third the number of members present.
(f)
The GC
shall send the notice of the meeting, including the proposed agenda, to each
member at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(g)
The GA
may in its meetings approve the annual budget; supervises the activity of other
organs, which it may dismiss, stating the grounds therefore; review the GZF’s
auditors or lawyers; decides on any modification of Statutes; decides on the
dissolution of the association; or fix the annual dues.
(h)
The
decisions of the GA shall be made by a simple majority vote of the members
present. In case of deadlock, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
(i)
The
decisions concerning the amendment of the Articles of the Association and the
dissolution of the GZF must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members
present.
Article 8
(a)
Between
the GA meetings, the decision making process of the GZF shall rest with the
members of the General Council. (GC)
(b)
The GC
shall constitute of members elected at the AGM in line with the GZF’s adopted
electoral procedures.
(c)
Each
member's term of office shall last for two years and renewable a maximum of two
terms per position.
(d)
The GC
shall be composed of the following elected members drawn from the regional
network representatives
drawn from each of the regions as follows :
Africa (outside
(e) The GC may be authorized to carry out any
acts that further the purposes of the GZF and may be authorized to manage its
business.
(f) Representatives of political
parties shall not be entitled to be members of the GC. As such any member of
the GC, who takes office in a political party shall
cease to be a member of GC from the day of acceptance of the political
position.
(g) A vacancy created by such member
shall be a casual vacancy that may be filled by a co-opted member until the
next GA or AGM.
(h) The quorum of any GC meeting
shall be at least half of its members.
(i) The documentation and
resolutions for the AGM will be circulated at least 14 days prior to the
actual meeting date by the IS.
Article 9
(a) Any member of any of the GC or
any other structure or sub-committee or task groups of GZF shall
their position:
(i) If they cease to
be a member of the regional affiliate that nominated them
(ii) If they are
withdrawn or recalled by the regional affiliate that nominated them
(iii) If they cease
to be an elected member or become a full-time employee of their regional
network.
(iv)
If they are
an elected member or full time employee of a regional affiliate that has
lost its GZF membership status.
(v) If they are
expelled by the GZF for a reasonable and just cause
(vi)
If they fail
to satisfy the requirements of any current legislation that precludes the
person from holding office or to perform a fiduciary function through the
commission or omission of any act.
Article 10
(a)
The daily administration of the
GZF’s business shall be done by the GC through the International Secretariat.
(IS)
(b)
The IS shall constitute of all
the full time, part time and voluntary staff and interns as appointed and
contracted on behalf of the GZF by the GC.
(c)
The IS shall be headed by the
Secretary General (SG) who shall be a full time contract employee as appointed
on behalf of the GZF by the GC.
(d) The SG shall be responsible
for:
(i)
Financial affairs including the keeping of books and accounts as may be
required by the GC; the collection of membership fees; the banking of monies
received in the name of the GZF; the preparation and circulation of detailed
monthly financial statements to all the GC members.
(ii) Developing a long-term funding strategy.
(iii) Correspondence
and notices including tabling correspondence at both GC, GA, AGM or any other
meeting or event hosted by the GZF.
(iv) Sending out notices and minutes of all
meetings of both the GC, GA and AGM or any other related meetings of
the GZF.
(v) Drafting GZF
reports including the preparation and circulation of the Annual Financial
Report which must include statements of income and expenditure and the
balance sheet; the circulation of the auditor's report to the GC, GA and AGM;
(vi) Staff activities and progress
achieved in each department or other work programmes related to the GZF.
(vii) General co-ordination and
supervision including office work and administration of the affairs and
activities of the forum; and the appointment and dismissal of all
staff members in consultation with the GC.
(iix) Any
other duties including tasks issued by the GC and AGM.
Article 11
All legal commitments of the GZF
shall be validated by the joint signature of the SG plus any other single
member of the GC.
Article 12
(a) The financial year shall begin
on 1 January and end on 31 December of each year.
(b) The auditor appointed by the
AGM or GA shall audit the GZF accounts annually.
Article
13
All amendments to the GZF
Constitution shall require a majority of two-thirds members of the AGM or
extraordinary meeting of the GA.
Article 14
If the GZF is dissolved, its assets
shall be transferred to another non-profit organization with a similar purpose.
8
July 2008
Daniel
Molokele