NAMIBIA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(NCCI)
CONSTITUTION
as adopted at the AGM
September 1998
1.1 Name
There is hereby established a voluntary, countrywide membership organisation to be known as the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (hereinafter referred to as "NCCI").
1.2 Purpose
The NCCI shall cater for the needs of all Namibian business persons, especially for the purpose of furthering the development of commercial, industrial, craft and service enterprises and shall promote prosperity for all Namibians by ensuring balanced private sector growth, enterprise development and global competitiveness.
2.1 Organisation
NCCI shall be organised in local or
regional business communities in Local Councils (hereinafter referred to as
"Councils") or Business Fora (hereinafter referred to as "Forum
or Fora").
2.1.1 The NCCI shall have an office at national
level (hereinafter referred to as "Head Office") and offices at local
and/or regional levels (hereinafter referred to as "Branch Offices").
2.1.2 Several Councils and Fora together form
Chamber Districts (hereinafter referred to as "District"). Each
District is served by one Branch Office.
2.2 Affairs and Business
The management of the affairs and business of the NCCI shall be vested in the National Council (hereinafter referred to as "National Council") and delegated to the National Executive Committee (hereinafter referred to as "National Executive").
2.2.1 All property, whether movable or immovable
and of whatsoever nature or kind of the NCCI, shall vest in the National
Council, subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
2.2.2 The income and property of the NCCI from
wheresoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main
objects and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or
indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever, to the members of
the NCCI; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in
good faith of reasonable remuneration to any Officer of the NCCI or to any
member thereof in return for any services actually rendered to the NCCI.
2.3 Seat
The seat of the NCCI shall be located at such place as the National Council may from time to time determine.
The main objects of the NCCI
shall be:
3.1 Interest
representation
To
defend and promote the interests of all members, and in particular:
3.1.1
To promote and foster trade,
commerce and industry of all descriptions whatsoever in and outside Namibia.
3.1.2
To promote and foster such trade,
commerce and industry in such manner as shall be in the mutual interest of all
members engaged in commercial, industrial and related activities.
3.1.3 To promote, support or make
representation in relation to legislative or other measures affecting the
interest of members.
3.2 Services
To create an awareness throughout
the business community of the existence, purpose of and services available from
the NCCI, and in particular:
3.2.1 To arrange, hold and/or participate in
local and international trade fairs, exhibitions, symposia, lectures and
advertising campaigns, at such places as may be advisable with a view to
improving trade, commerce and industry.
3.2.2 To inform all members on social,
political, technological and economic matters of interest as it relates to
their businesses.
3.2.3
To produce, publish sell and issue
documents and certificates in respect of goods obtained or produced in Namibia,
or of the movement of goods into and/or from Namibia.
3.2.4 To collect, classify and disseminate
statistical and other information of relevance and interest to all sectors of
activities of the Namibian economy.
3.2.5 To undertake research in order to enable
the NCCI to formulate appropriate strategies for resolving perceived
challenges.
3.2.6 To provide NCCI members with an advisory
service such as they may require within the scope of the mandate of the NCCI.
3.2.7 To organize and run training courses and
seminars for the benefit of members; and, extended to all Namibian business
persons or aspirant business persons.
3.2.8
To produce and distribute,
booklets, information bulletins and newsletters so as to keep the business
community aware of current business conditions, impending legislation, new
business methods and techniques and thereby provide a link between the NCCI and
its members.
3.3 Networking
and Partnership
To establish and maintain networks
and partnerships with private sector, public sector non-governmental
organisations, and in particular:
3.3.1
To establish and maintain contacts
with Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and various other institutions
throughout the world in an endeavor to cooperate with them, and derive benefits
from such cooperation.
3.3.2 To participate in any discussions and any
activities, and to be part of any forum, the objectives of which are to allow
commerce and industry to liaise with the public sector in the planning and
development process.
3.3.3 To promote 'Smart Partnership' concepts
as a means to maximise development efforts, avoid overlap and duplication and
make maximum use of resources, and in particular promote the cooperation
between Government and the Private Sector.
3.4 Development
To actively promote and support
development issues, and in particular:
4.4.1
To promote the well being and image
of the small business sector so that it becomes a sound, efficient and cohesive
element in the overall economy and an influential sector in national affairs.
3.4.2 To promote the well being and environment
of women so that they have an opportunity to share in the economic development
of Namibia.
3.4.3
To promote Affirmative Action in
compliance with A23 of the Namibian Constitution.
3.4.4 To promote and advance the efforts of
young women and men in enterprise and provide them with the opportunity to
acquire skills, abilities and attitudes required to fully participate in the
economy, and in particular to cooperate with and support the Junior Chamber
Namibia (JCN).
3.4.5 To actively promote and participate in
national efforts and strategies to overcome the high levels of unemployment.
3.5 Disputes
To settle disputes by arbitration according to arbitration procedures.
4.1 Purpose
The NCCI shall have all such powers as may be necessary to further its purpose and objects.
4.2 The NCCI shall further have the powers:
4.2.1
to purchase, alienate and sell movable
and immovable property of whatsoever description and wheresoever situate;
4.2.2
to expend the NCCI's funds on
maintenance, construction, improvement, alteration or demolition of buildings
on land either belonging to the NCCI or any other party;
4.2.3
to invest or deposit any moneys not
immediately required for any of its objects in such a manner as may from time
to time be determined by the National Council, provided that the interest,
increment or profit deriving from such investment shall be applied to the
furtherance of its objects;
4.2.4
to borrow money and if necessary
mortgage the immovable property or pledge the leasehold or movable property of
the NCCI as security thereof;
4.2.5
to let and hire property;
4.2.6
to allow any person to occupy any
building belonging to the NCCI free of charge or at a rental;
4.2.7
to pay all rates and taxes and other
expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the NCCI;
4.2.8
to employ persons to carry out the
objects of the NCCI and pay them out of the NCCI's funds;
4.2.9
to appoint an agent or agents to
represent the NCCI for any specific purposes;
4.2.10 to take action in a Court of Law for the recovery of the amounts due to the
NCCI or to compel fulfillment of obligations in its favour, and also to defend
any proceedings that may be instituted against the NCCI;
4.2.11
to allow time for payment of debts to
the NCCI and to compromise claims by the NCCI in their discretion;
4.2.12
to accept and receive donations from
any person or body corporate and to work for and obtain sufficient capital for
the purpose of carrying out and promoting the objects and aims of the NCCI; to
administer donations subject to the terms and conditions laid down by the
donors or testators, provided that such conditions are not inconsistent with
the terms and objects of the NCCI.
4.2.13 to fix, collect from and enforce the payment
by members of subscriptions, annual or otherwise.
5.1 Members
Membership of the NCCI shall be open
to the following:
5.1.1 Businesses of all sectors of the economy
registered in the Republic of Namibia shall be members of the NCCI. They shall
be registered as members of NCCI in a Council or Forum in the District where
their business is located. If in their District there does not exist a Council
or Forum such Member chooses a Council or Forum where its business should be
registered;
5.1.2 Membership organisations of the informal
sector (hereinafter referred to as "Association Members");
5.1.3 A limited number of large companies,
companies of national importance and/or companies which have several branches
in different parts of the country (hereinafter referred to as "National
Corporates");
5.1.4 Offshore Companies
5.2 Acceptance
Acceptance of membership will be
done in the following manner:
5.2.1 Application for membership of the NCCI
may be done either directly to the Head Office or through the Branch Offices.
5.2.2 Applications of Association Members shall
be submitted to the National Executive for approval, based upon the
recommendation for acceptance from the Chief Executive Officer (hereinafter
referred to as the CEO) of the NCCI.
5.2.3 Applications and annual renewals from
National Corporates shall be submitted to the National Executive, based upon
the recommendation of the President of NCCI.
5.3 Termination
Termination of membership may occur
in the following manner:
5.3.1 By declaration of a member to terminate
membership which shall be in writing to the CEO of the NCCI;
5.3.2 Through failure to pay the membership fees,
as regulated under 5.4.2;
5.3.3 Expulsion from membership of the NCCI may be
done by the National Executive if such member is found to willfully having
brought the NCCI into disrepute.
5.4 Membership Fees
Members of the NCCI shall pay an
annual membership fee (hereinafter referred to as Membership Fee) as provided
for in this Constitution under 16 and Appendix 1. Fees payable shall be fixed at the AGM, and
members shall be notified of the amount so fixed.
5.4.1
All annual fees shall be due and
payable to the NCCI within 30 (thirty) days after acceptance or renewal date of
membership.
5.4.2 Payment of the annual fees will be a
condition of membership and failure to pay such fees within 30 (thirty) days of
due date, will deprive a member of his/her right to vote at any meeting and
failure to pay annual fees within 90 (ninety) days of due date, will result in
the member ipso facto losing its membership.
5.5 Honorary Membership
The NCCI, at an Annual General
Meeting may bestow honorary membership to an individual or an organisation.
Such honorary members may attend any meeting of the National Council, any
Council or Forum with the right to speak but without voting right. Honorary
members are exempted from the payment of membership fees.
6 LOCAL
COUNCILS & BUSINESS FORA & CHAMBER DISTRICTS
6.1 Roles and Functions
Councils and Fora are the local
organisations of NCCI. They perform roles and functions of the NCCI in their
respective District.
6.2 Registration of Members
Members registered in local or regional
business communities constitute Councils or Fora.
6.2.1 The number of members registered, determines
whether such business communities are recognised as either Councils or Fora
according to a formula laid down from time to time by the National Council and
regulated in Appendix 2 of this Constitution;
6.2.2 National Corporates with several businesses
in the country are automatically registered as members in a Council or Forum
where their business is located. They shall be eligible to be voted into positions
of the Council or Forum, but they shall not be eligible for nomination as
delegates to the National Council (due to the special regulation for National
Corporates under 7.2.2).
6.3 Chamber Districts
A District shall be the area of
operation of a Branch Office. The Districts shall be demarcated from time to
time by the National Council and their number and area of operation may be
altered when new or additional Branch Offices are set up.
6.4 Council Executive Committees
Councils elect Council Executives
Committees (hereinafter referred to as "Council Executives");
6.4.1 Council Executives consist of Chairpersons,
Vice Chairpersons and Treasurers
(hereinafter referred to as "Council Officers") plus four additional
members. In addition, the General Managers (hereinafter referred to as
"GM") of Branch Offices responsible for a given District shall be
ex-officio members of the Council Executives.
6.4.2 Council Officers are elected for a two-year
term and can be re-elected for two additional two-year terms.
6.5 Delegates to the National Council
In addition, or as part of the
Council Executives, Councils nominate a number of delegates to the National
Council of NCCI according to a formula laid down from time to time by the
National Council (as provided in Appendix 2 of this Constitution).
Delegates of the Council to the
National Council are nominated for a two-year term and can be re-nominated for
any number of additional two-year terms.
6.6 Duties
The Councils, through their
Council Executives shall:
6.6.1 bind themselves to conduct the affairs of
the Council according to the NCCI Policy and Procedures Manual (hereinafter
referred to as the "Manual") which shall be the official management
document of the NCCI, adopted by the National Council;
6.6.2 carry out the mandate of the members
registered in the respective business community;
6.6.3 participate in the management of the NCCI
as laid down in the Constitution.
6.7 Fora
Fora elect a Committee (hereinafter
referred to as "Forum Committee").
6.7.1 The Forum Committee shall consist of a
Chairperson (hereinafter referred to as "Forum Chairperson"). In
addition, a Forum appoints a Secretary (hereinafter referred to as "Forum
Secretary").
6.7.2 Forum Chairpersons are elected for a two-year
term, after which they can be re-elected for two additional two-year terms.
6.7.3 A Forum shall only nominate delegates to the
National Council if recommended and adopted by the National Council, whereupon
the Forum receives the status of a Council (as regulated in Appendix 2 of this
Constitution).
6.8 Meetings of Councils and Fora
6.8.1 Councils shall hold a minimum of four
General Meetings of its members in every year. One of these meetings shall be
the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM shall be held two months before the
AGM of the NCCI National Council.
6.8.2 There shall be at least six Council
Executive meetings, which shall be held between General Meetings.
6.8.2 Fora shall hold meetings whenever they
require such meetings. One meeting every year shall be the Annual General
Meeting (AGM). The AGM shall be held two months before the AGM of the NCCI
National Council.
7.1 Status and Powers
The National Council is the
'Parliament' of businesses in Namibia. It is the highest policy and decision
making body of the NCCI.
7.1.1 The National Council may exercise all such
powers and do all such acts and things as the NCCI is authorized to exercise
and to do and that are not directed or required hereby or in virtue of any
regulation existing under the country's legislation, to be exercised or done by
the NCCI in General Meetings or by Special Resolution at General Meetings.
7.1.2 The functions of all the members of the
National Council shall be honorary.
7.2 Composition of the National Council
7.2.1 The members of the National Council of
the NCCI shall be Delegates of Councils, representatives of the Association
Members, National Corporates, Co-opted Members and Past Presidents of the NCCI.
The Councils and Association Members have one or more votes each on the
National Council according to a formula, laid down from time to time by the
National Council, as regulated in Appendix 2 with the proviso that Council
delegates shall always have a two thirds majority vote on the National Council.
7.2.2 National Corporates have one vote each on
the National Council. The number of National Corporates is limited to a number
decided from time to time by the National Council as regulated in Appendix 2 of
this Constitution.
7.2.3 The National Council may co-opt up to
five members in good standing to the National Council on the recommendation of
the three immediate Past Presidents and the President of the NCCI. Co-opted
members shall be selected before the AGM and shall form part of the newly
constituted National Council.
7.2.4 The immediate three Past Presidents of
the NCCI shall have one vote each.
7.2.5 At least thirty days before the date
fixed for an Annual General Meeting of the NCCI, each of the Councils,
Association Members and National Corporates shall forward to the CEO of the
NCCI the names of its delegates, together with their address and their position
within their Councils, Associate Members and National Corporates.
7.2.6 Following the emergence of new Councils,
Association Members and/or National Corporates, or the disappearance of one or
more, the Annual General Meeting of the NCCI shall update the composition of
the National Council in consequence.
7.3 Vacancies
Any vacancy occurring in any year
for any reason shall be filled through the appointment of a new delegate from a
Council and/or Association Member, replacing the previous delegate who caused
such vacancy to occur.
7.4 Guest and Observer Status
The President, in consultation with
the National Executive may bestow permanent and/or temporary guest status to
any individual, organisation, association, government authority and NGO.
7.3.1 Forum Chairpersons have permanent
observer status on the National Council with the right to speak but without
voting right.
7.3.2 Guests have no voting right and do not
have to pay fees or subscriptions.
7.5 Duration of Office
The appointed members shall hold
office up to the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in any one year, at
which time they shall retire or keep their seat, if they have been re-appointed
by their respective Council, Association Member or National Corporate.
7.6 Attendance at Meetings and Discipline
7.6.1 The National Council members agree to
attend all official meetings when properly announced or give reason why he/she
cannot attend at least 48 hours before the meeting is to convene. If any member
is absent without apology for three consecutive meetings it will be taken as an
automatic resignation; the person's name will be dropped from the National
Council's roll; and, the name of his/her replacement will be requested of the
respective Council, Association Member or National Corporate. If no replacement
name is forthcoming by the next National Council meeting, the seat will be
filled by popular vote at that meeting and the replacement will be limited to
be from the Council previously represented.
7.6.2 The National Council will consider
appropriate discipline to be applied to any one of its members who by his/her
undesirable actions brings disfavour upon the NCCI, his/her own respective
Council. If a member is found to be a discredit to his/her Council or his/her
community, his/her name will be dropped from the National Council's roll and
the name of his/her replacement will be requested from the Council. If no
replacement name is forthcoming by the next National Council meeting, the seat
will be filled by popular vote at that meeting and the replacement will be
limited to be from the Council,
Association Member or National Corporate previously represented.
8 GENERAL MEETINGS, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGM) & EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
8.1 Business at Meetings
All business shall be deemed
special that is transacted at general and extraordinary general meetings, and
also all that is transacted at an annual general meeting, with the exception of
the consideration of the accounts, balance sheets, and the reports of the
president and auditors, the election of executive committee members in the
place of those retiring and the appointment of, and the fixing of the
remuneration, of the auditors.
8.2 General Meetings of the National
Council
8.2.1
The National Council shall meet at
least once every four months in April, July and November at such place and at
such time as it shall decide.
8.2.2
The National Council shall also be
convened at any time by the CEO on instructions from the National Executive.
The agenda shall specify the purpose for which the meeting is to be convened.
8.2.3
The NCCI shall convene a meeting of
the National Council upon receipt of a written request to that effect, from at
least one-third of the total number of members of the National Council and the
meeting shall be held within fifteen days of such request. Should the CEO fail
to convene the meeting on the expiry of the fifteen days mentioned above, the
National Council members may themselves convene the meeting.
8.2.4 Budgets for the ensuing year shall be
prepared and presented at the General Meeting in November for approval at the
ensuing AGM.
8.3 Annual General Meetings
8.3.1 Annual General Meetings of the NCCI shall
be held every year not later than four months after the end of the financial
year on such date and such time as the National Council may decide.
8.3.2 The agenda of an Annual General Meeting
shall specify the matters set out in existing legislation, if any, and inter
alia that the meeting is convened as an Annual General Meeting;
8.3.3 The matters to be considered will include:
a) the statement of audited, final
accounts of the NCCI prepared in conformity with the provisions of existing
legislation;
b) the appointment of the members of
the National Council and the appointment of Auditors for the NCCI Head Office,
Councils with and without Branch Offices and Business Fora;
c) the election of Officers and
Additional Members of the National Executive;
d) the adoption of Business Plans
and Budgets;
f) the setting up of Branch Offices.
8.4 Motions and Resolutions presented
Any motion presented by a Council, an Association Member or a National Corporate may be discussed at a General Meeting or an Annual General Meeting.
8.4.1 The text of this motion shall be
addressed, by registered post, E-Mail or Fax with advice of receipt, to the CEO
at least 10 days before the date fixed for the General Meeting.
8.4.2
The National Executive and at least
six members of the National Council or at least two Councils may submit at any
Annual General Meeting a resolution which may legally be proposed and debated
at the said meeting, provided that the text of the proposed resolution be
handed over in writing to the CEO three clear days before the meeting.
8.5 Extraordinary General Meetings
Extraordinary General Meetings of
the NCCI shall be held when required by the National Council.
8.5.1 They shall be requisitioned by not less
than two thirds of the members of the National Council or by the National
Executive and at least six members of the National Council or at least two
Councils.
8.5.2 Those requisitioning an Extraordinary
General Meeting may submit a resolution on any special matter connected with
the NCCI to be debated and voted on at an Extraordinary General Meeting,
provided that notice of the proposed resolution be given in writing, signed by
the National Executive or by all those submitting the resolution, whereupon the
CEO calls the Extraordinary General Meeting.
8.5.3 The agenda of an Extraordinary General
Meeting shall specify the matters to be debated at that meeting.
8.6 Notices
All
notices sent to the last known address of a Council, Association Members'
office and National Corporates' offices shall be deemed to have been duly
served and delivered.
9.1 Status
The National Executive is elected from the members of the National Council. The National Council delegates its tasks to the National Executive, which in turn directs the business of the NCCI and causes implementation through the Offices of the NCCI.
9.2 Composition
The National Executive shall
consist of the President, the First Vice President, the Second Vice President,
the Treasurer (hereinafter referred to as "National Executive
Officers"), six Additional Members, the immediate three Past Presidents as
members of the NCCI in good standing, the Chairpersons of Standing Committees
and the CEO.
The Chairpersons of Standing
Committees and the CEO shall be ex-officio members of the National Executive
without voting right.
9.3 Election of the National Executive
9.3.1 The President, the First and Second Vice
Presidents, the Treasurer and six Additional Members shall be elected by the
National Council from among their members either by ballot or by show of hands
or by general consensus.
9.3.2 At the beginning of such an election,
members of the National Council present shall elect from among their number, a
Chairperson of the meeting who, for the purpose of the above election, shall
have an original and also, in case of equality of votes, a casting vote.
9.4 Term of Office and Re-election
All Officers and Additional Members
shall be elected for two years.
9.4.1 The President and the two Vice-Presidents
of the NCCI shall be eligible for re-election for two additional two-year terms
in the same office.
9.4.2 The Treasurer and the Additional Members
may be re-elected for any number of two-year terms.
9.5 Duties
The duties of the National
Executive shall be,
9.5.1 to appoint the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) to the Head Office of NCCI;
9.5.2 to supervise the general administration of
the affairs of the NCCI;
9.5.3 to execute the decisions taken by the
National Council;
9.5.4 to deal with certain matters of an urgent
or practical nature in-between National Council and National Executive
meetings.
9.6 Meetings of the National Executive
Meetings of the National Executive
shall be held between National Council Meetings.
9.6.1 At least nine meetings shall be held in
one year at intervals of not longer than six weeks at a time and place to be
decided upon by the CEO in consultation with the President, or if he/she is not
available, with one of the Vice Presidents.
9.6.2 The meetings will be called by the CEO at
least seven days prior to the meeting. National Executive Members shall receive
the agenda together with accompanying material relevant to the agenda three
days before the date of the meeting.
10.1 Function
The President shall represent the
NCCI and use his/her best endeavour to further the influence and standing of
the NCCI;
10.2 Deputising
The President in his/her absence
shall be deputised by the First Vice President or in his/her absence by the
Second Vice President.
10.3 Duties
The President shall:
10.3.1 preside over all National Council meetings
and all General Meetings of members and all National Executive meetings and be
responsible for the conduct of business at such meetings;
10.3.2 put any motion from members to the vote and
declare the result;
10.3.3 submit to the Annual General Meetings,
his/her presidential report on the work of the NCCI during the preceding
financial year;
10.3.4
constitute the National Executive at
the AGM;
10.3.5 select and appoint the Chairpersons of
Standing Committees.