ARTICLE 0

The Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe takes precedence over this constitution.

ARTICLE I

NAME

This voluntary organization of members shall be known as the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA)

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES

Section 1: To promote, encourage, and develop commercial rabbit breeding, processing and consumption in Zimbabwe.

Section 2: To promote research and development on rabbit breeding, processing and marketing.

Section 3: To lobby for the interests of players in the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe.

Section 4: To promote best practice in rabbit production in Zimbabwe through holding of field days, shows and exhibitions.

Section 5: To encourage and promote rabbit production value-chain and market linkages.

Section 6: To promote employment creation and improve livelihoods by encouraging youth to venture into rabbit production.

Section 7: To offer training to budding rabbit breeders 2

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Any Zimbabwean of good character and reputation may become a member upon payment of dues. The National Executive Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application for membership.

Section 2: Must own and be actively engaged in breeding, rearing and marketing of rabbits.

Section 3: Application for membership shall be made in writing to the Secretary General.

Section 4: Acceptance of membership in the Association shall be acknowledged in writing by the Secretary General.

Section 5: Membership fees and dues shall be set by the National Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Section 1: The National Executive Committee shall institute formal disciplinary procedures against a member upon receiving a formal written complaint. The charges shall be considered along with the Members’ defence. The National Executive Committee may vote by a two-thirds (2/3) vote to suspend or expel the Member from the Association.

Section 2: Any person suspended or expelled or otherwise rejected shall not be eligible for reinstatement for a period of at least one year in the case of suspension and two years for expulsion, and then only upon approval by the National Executive Committee.

Section 3: The President shall request any member of the National/Regional Executive Committee who repeatedly fails to carryout out their assigned tasks after three written warnings to resign. If the member fails to do so, the National Executive Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) shall vote declare the office vacant. It is then the duty of the President to appoint a new Committee Member to fill the position for the remainder of the term of office of the incumbent National Executive Committee/Regional Executive Committee. 3

ARTICLE V

OFFICER BEARERS

Section 1: The National Executive Committee of the Association shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Publicity and Marketing Secretary, Inspectorate and Certification Secretary and 10 (Ten) other committee members drawn from the Regional Committees, namely:

ZICORBA Bulawayo Chapter

ZICORBA Harare Chapter

ZICORBA Manicaland Chapter

ZICORBA Mashonaland Central Chapter

 ZICORBA Mashonaland East Chapter

ZICORBA Mashonaland West Chapter

ZICORBA Masvingo Chapter

ZICORBA Matabeleland North Chapter

ZICORBA Matabeleland South Chapter, and

ZICORBA Midlands Chapter

Section 2: The general conduct of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in the National Executive Committee.

Section 4: The term of office for all Committee Members shall be a maximum of two years. After the two year tenure, the outgoing members of the committee may offer themselves for re-elections in subsequent meetings. A Committee Member may not hold a post for more than 3 (three) consecutive terms and may not serve on the National Executive Committee in different posts for more that 5 (five) consecutive terms.

Section 5: The terms of office of the National/Regional Executive Committees will commence immediately after the Annual General Meeting.

Section 6: If any member of the National Executive Committee vacates office before the expiry of their term, the President, in consultation with other Members of the National Executive Committee, shall co-opt another member to fill that position for the remainder of the term of the incumbent National Executive Committee. 4

ARTICLE VI

ROLE OF OFFICE BEARERS

Section 1: It shall be the duty of all the National Executive Members of this Association to ensure that the Constitution and any duly adopted procedures and rules are upheld by their fellow Committee members and by the members of this Association.

Section 2: The National Executive Committee shall carry out the decisions of this Association and transact all necessary business for the welfare of this Association, shall be in charge of the business affairs and transactions of the Association, and shall interpret any rules, and regulations of the Association.

Section 3: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, appoint, with approval of the National Executive Committee, all committee members and committee chairpersons, and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall fill any vacancies in the National Executive Committee, subject to approval by the National Executive Committee through simple majority vote, and have such other authority as may be conferred upon him/her by the National Executive Committee.

Section 4: The Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the President if the President is unable to carry out the duties of office for any reason. In the event that the Presidency becomes vacant, the Vice President shall automatically assume presidency in an acting capacity, subject to confirmation by the AGM. If the Vice President is confirmed into the presidential role, then elections for vice president will be held at the same AGM and any member is eligible to contest.

Section 5: The Secretary General (SG) shall be responsible for the day to day running of the office, shall keep all records of the Association, keep the minutes of all meetings, keep a record of all members, and, receive all applications for membership and submit to the National Executive to vote to approve or disapprove applicants, and shall notify all applicants of the results. The SG shall maintain the Policies and Procedures Manual. The SG shall ensure communication between the National Executive, Regional Committees and all members. The SG shall ensure that the membership is informed in a timely way of all significant changes in policy, procedure, and personnel. The SG shall communicate any change in the membership of the National Executive to the membership by e-mail to the members’ e-mail or WhatsApp group no later than 3 (three) days after the change is approved by the National Executive Committee. Any such change will also be posted to the web site promptly as an announcement. 5

Section 6: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Association; shall authorise all purchases, pay all debts and transact all business as authorized by the National Executive; shall maintain a bank account in the name of the Association; shall maintain a set of books and records suitable to the National Executive Committee and shall prepare and present a quarterly report to the membership showing the current financial standing and a summary of all transactions for the year to date by submitting a report to the to the Secretary General to share with members. The Treasurer shall send a copy of the monthly bank statement to the Secretary General to keep on record.

Section 7: Other Members of the Committee will be given specific assignments by the President.

ARTICLE VII

ELECTIONS

Section 1: The elections of the President, Vice President, Secretary General and Treasurer, Membership Secretary, , Publicity and Marketing Secretary, Inspectorate and Certification Secretary shall be held every two years at the Association’s Annual General Meeting. The other 10 Committee Members shall be nominated by the Regional Chapters.

Section 2: Elections shall be conducted through a secret ballot or electronic means.

ARTICLE VIII

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Section 1: The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held at a venue, date and time designated by the National Executive Committee. The National Executive Committee shall have the power to call for physical or online meetings.

Section 2: The President shall call members to the Annual General Meeting through a written notice sent out 21 days before the proposed date of meeting.

Section 3: At least 50 percent plus 1 (One) registered members of the Association shall constitute a quorum at the Annual General Meeting. The President may adjourn a meeting to a day and time recommended by the majority of the members present at a particular meeting. 6

Section 4: Members can nominate their proxies in writing at least 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting to ensure voting by proxy for members who will not be present at the meeting.

Section 5: At all meetings, the President shall preside and the Secretary General shall act as the Meeting Secretary. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. In the absence of both, no meeting shall take place. In the absence of the Secretary General, the presiding officer shall appoint a Meeting Secretary.

Section 6: At all Annual General Meetings of the Association, except when otherwise determined by a majority vote of those present, the order of the meeting shall be as follows:

1. President calls the meeting to order

2. Roll Call

3. Recognition of visitors

4. Reading, correction and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting

5. President’s Report

6. Auditor’s Report

7. New Members

8. Discussions

9. Adjournment

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Constitution may only be amended, altered, or added to, by a two-thirds (2/3) of the registered members of the association at an AGM.

Section 2. Proposed amendments are to be in writing and must be submitted to the Secretary General at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual meeting.

Section 3. The Secretary General shall circulate to Members the proposed amendments and method of voting to be used, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. 7

ARTICLE X

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Section 1: Membership fees will be determined by the National Executive Committee, and may be revised as necessary.

Proposed Membership Fees are:

Joining fee for Individual Membership is equivalent to a once off fee of US $10.00 and thereafter, US $36.00 annually or its equivalent in Zimbabwean dollars, payable in four (4) equal instalments of US $9.00 every quarter.

Joining fee for Family Membership is a once off fee of US $15.00 for two people and thereafter US $48.00 per year for two people, payable in 4 equal instalments of US $12.00 every quarter. (This is for a maximum of two members, either husband and wife, or in the case of single parent, parent and son or daughter)

Joining fee for Corporate Membership is a once off fee of US$ 20.00 and thereafter annual fee of $60 payable in 4 equal instalments of US$ 15.00. Corporate will have one voting right at the AGM.

Section 2: Term of Membership

The term of membership shall be for one (1) year, commencing on the date an application for membership is approved by the National Executive Committee and expiring on the last day of the same month a year thereafter.

Fees for membership renewal must be paid on or before the expiration date. Membership not renewed within 30 days following the expiration date will automatically lapse.

Section 3: All membership fees must be paid in United States Dollars or Zimbabwean dollar equivalent.

Section 4: Membership dues are non-refundable. 8

ARTICLE XI

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Membership benefits will include:

Section 1: Exhibitions and shows

Section 2: Training and workshops

Section 3: Access market information and marketing opportunities

Section 4: Breeding stock, semen and stud buck

ARTICLE XII

LEGAL LIABILITIES

The Association is a legal persona with limited liabilities. Members, in their individual capacity, are not liable.

ARTICLE XIII

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

In the event of the dissolution of the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders’ Association after payment of all outstanding bills and liabilities, the balance of the assets shall be donated to a charity agreed upon by members.

ARTICLE XIV

ARBITRATION

Members shall first discuss all disputes and any disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe. 9

This constitution was adopted in Harare on 01 July 2020.

Signed:

Name: Dr. Annamore Jamu Name: Regis Nyamakanga

Interim President Interim Secretary General

*********************