THE CONSTITUTION

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
THE CONSTITUTION

NAME
The name of the political party is the Christian Democratic Party hereinafter referred to as the Party and abbreviated CDP.

INTRODUCTION
The Christian Democratic Party’s vision is for Zimbabwe to be the first First World country in Africa. The CDP strives to pull out all the stops to promote Zimbabwean enterprise and produce the first post-independence success story in Africa. It is not enough just to eliminate poverty. We believe Zimbabwe deserves better.
The CDP also strives for the achievement of equality, social and economic justice, community solidarity and freedom. It seeks to have these values reflected in the laws and institutions of Zimbabwe and in Zimbabwe's relationship with the wider world.
What the CDP stands for
The CDP believes in tackling the underlying conditions which cause stagnation and decline. Among other policies, the CDP is committed to:
· promoting a culture of long term strategic thought and investment;
· deploying Christian ethics to combat corruption;
· defending property rights;
· defending the welfare of weaker members of society;
· leveling the playing field in all sectors;
The CDP believes that community solidarity, a common sense of belonging and a willingness to work for the common good in the local and the wider community, is essential to creating a good quality of life for all.
The environment is central to a true sense of community, locally and globally. Without clean water, air and safe food there is no quality life. All human interaction with the environment must be sustainable so that we can meet the needs of today without compromising the rights of future generations.
The CDP rejects the use of force, intimidation and violence as a means of achieving political aims in a democratic society. It also rejects all forms of corruption in political and public life.
The CDP stands for a dynamic, positive role for the State working through responsive and accountable public institutions at local, national, and international levels. In expressing the democratically determined public good, the State can be an enabling, civilising and bonding force.
The CDP favours an efficient and competitive public sector, operating in an open, mixed economy, responsive to consumer needs, generating and maintaining quality employment and a sustainable environment.
What the CDP does
The CDP believes that its principles and values provide the best means by which Zimbabwe can be transformed into a more equal, safe, caring and prosperous society.
The CDP believes that political action is central to the achievement of a fair society. The political process provides the best means we know of articulating the difficult choices facing society and of providing the leadership needed to address them.
The CDP is committed to democracy and equality in the way it operates as a political party. It seeks to draw towards the Party all of those who share its vision and to value their contribution whether as members, activists, supporters or voters.
Party members progress these values through advocacy in their communities and workplaces, by participation in community organizations and trades unions, and by working for the election of the maximum number of CDP representatives at municipal and governmental levels.




OBJECTS
The objects of the Party are:
3.1 to contest the elections;
3.2 to promote policies that are conducive to the prosperity of Zimbabwe;
3.3 to promote Christian ethics and principles in the culture of Zimbabwe;
3.4 to defend property rights of all people;
3.5 to promote investment as a pre-requisite for national development;
3.6 to ruthlessly review and slice red tape;
3.7 to promote consumer politics, that is greater interest in the activities of government by ordinary citizens without fear;
3.8 to liberate and empower individuals to express their flair in enterprise;
3.9 to level the national “playing field”, particularly as regards economic matters;
3.10to recognize and reward high performers who benefit Zimbabwe;
3.11to defend the welfare of vulnerable members of society, particularly orphans;
3.12to conduct charitable projects;
3.13 to generally do all such acts as may be expedient or necessary to further the interests of Zimbabwe.

MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Membership of the Party shall be open to all citizens of Zimbabwe regardless of their religious persuasion.
4.2 Honoured[s1] non-citizens are eligible to become Honorary Members if nominated by a member in good standing and approved by a General Meeting.
4.3 Honorary members shall be elected at annual general meetings.
4.4 Honorary members shall be permitted to vote at General Meetings but shall not be eligible for election to the Executive Committee.
4.5 Cadre members shall be select ordinary members elected from time to time at Executive Committee meetings in recognition of long term of Party membership and other special contributions to the Party over and above ordinary membership. A member of the Executive Committee may formally nominate a prospect for selection as a cadre member. A written proposal must be circulated to all Executive Committee members giving details of the member and grounds for selection as a cadre member. The proposal must be seconded by another Executive Committee member and then put to the vote. The proposal document and records of these proceedings should be kept on file.

SUBSCRIPTION
The subscription fee shall be such amount as determined by the Executive Committee and ratified by members in a general meeting.

DISCIPLINARY PROVISIONS
6.1 If the conduct of any member is in the opinion of the Executive Committee, injurious to the character and interests of the Party, the Executive Committee shall have the power to suspend or expel such member, who then shall be debarred from taking part in the activities of the Party provided, however, that any member suspended or expelled may appeal to the next scheduled General Meeting to decide by ballot the question of such expulsion or suspension.
6.2 Written notice of suspension or expulsion shall be sent by the Secretary countersigned by the Chairman to the member concerned.
6.3 An expelled member may apply to rejoin the Party after two years from the date of expulsion.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 Composition
The Executive Committee of the Party shall be comprised of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Vice-Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Treasurer and five other members. The first Executive Committee shall be made up of members of the original steering committee. The first Executive Committee shall be empowered to co-opt extra members up to the full complement in between General Meetings.

7.2 Powers and Duties
The Executive Committee shall:

7.2.1 at its discretion co-opt further members not exceeding five in number;
7.2.2 fill vacancies occurring in its membership;
7.2.3 elect selected ordinary members to cadre membership;
7.2.4 discharge all business and affairs of the Party in fulfillment of its objects;
7.2.5 organize fund raising;
7.2.6 maintain any funds necessary in the interest of the Party;
7.2.7 keep or ensure keeping of all records and books of the Party;
7.2.8 appoint any sub-committee or ad hoc committee it deems necessary;
7.2.9 carry into effect through the Chairman, all resolutions passed at any General Meeting of meetings;
7.2.10 discipline any member who in its opinion is injurious to the character and interests of the Party;
7.2.11 establish banking and investment facilities in the name of the Party. The signatories shall be two members of the Executive Committee;
7.2.12 be directly responsible to the Party;
7.2.13 be empowered for the proper regulation and administration of the Party’s affairs and activities to make such rules and orders as it may deem necessary;
7.2.14 only be dissolved by a vote of no confidence passed by a two-thirds majority of cadre members present at an Extraordinary General Meeting; whereupon it shall terminate office immediately, surrender all records of the Party and be succeeded by a new Executive Committee elected at the same Extraordinary General Meeting under a temporary Chairman elected by members.



7.3 Meetings and Quorums
7.3.1 The Executive Committee shall meet as often as there shall be business to transact and in any case at least once every month;
7.3.2 The Executive Committee shall meet whenever the Chairman so directs;
7.3.3 The Executive Committee shall meet whenever four or more members of the Executive Committee petition the Chairman for a meeting, submitting the business thereof in writing;
7.3.4 Fifty percent of the members of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, but if due to death or ill-health, the active membership of the Executive Committee is reduced, the quorum shall be forty percent;
7.3.5 In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall convene meetings of the Executive Committee. In the event of both being absent, the meeting shall elect its own ad hoc chairman.
7.3.6 The proceedings of meetings of the Executive Committee shall be private and confidential, but a record of all decisions taken at meetings shall be made known to the Party members.

7.4 Duties of Office Bearers
7.4.1 The CHAIRMAN shall:
7.4.1.1 convene and preside at all meetings of the Party and the Executive Committee;
7.4.1.2 give reports at General Meetings on the activities of the Executive Committee;
7.4.1.3 have a casting as well as deliberative vote at all meetings.

7.4.2 The SECRETARY shall:
7.4.2.1 keep and have charge of all records of Executive Committee and General Meetings;
7.4.2.2 conduct all correspondence of the Party;
7.4.2.3 keep and have charge of all records of the Executive Committee;
7.4.2.4 give notice of Party meetings to members;
7.4.2.5 convene such meetings as shall be necessary if and when the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are indisposed or unavailable;
7.4.2.6 keep a register of all members of the Party.


7.4.3 The TREASURER shall:
7.4.3.1 keep and have charge of all financial records and accounts of the Party;
7.4.3.2 prepare to submit financial reports when called upon to do so by the Executive Committee or by a General Meeting;
7.4.3.3 prepare and submit financial statements, countersigned by the Chairman and the Secretary, to the Executive Committee at the end of the Party’s financial year;
7.4.3.4 present an income statement and a balance sheet to the Ordinary General Meeting;
7.4.3.5 upon termination of his/her office prepare and submit to the Executive Committee for its approval a full report and statement of accounts relating to the period of his/her tenure of office.

7.5 Termination of Office
A member of the Executive Committee shall terminate office if and when:

7.5.1 he/she ceases to be a Party member;
7.5.2 he/she tenders his/her resignation, in writing, and it is accepted by the Executive Committee;
7.5.3 he/ she misses two consecutive Executive Committee meetings without good reason;
7.5.4 he/she is deprived of office by a majority decision of the Executive Committee, subject to ratification by a majority of cadre members present at an Ordinary General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
8.1 The financial year of the Party commences on 1 January each year;
8.2 The Committee shall have the power to establish banking and investment facilities in the name of the Party with any recognized Financial Institution. The signatories shall be any two members of the Executive Committee.

LEGAL PROVISIONS
The Party may sue or be sued in its own name in any court of law in Zimbabwe and all processes o law, notices and the like shall be regarded as sufficiently served on the Party if served upon the duly authorized representative of the Party personally. The duly authorized representative shall not be personally liable for any loss suffered.

ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
10.1A General Meeting of the Party shall be held on or before 1 December each year;
10.2Notice of the General Meeting shall be given by the Executive Committee at least one month in advance;
10.3The Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall preside over the meeting;
10.4The Chairman of the meeting shall remain in the Chair at each General Meeting until the conclusion of such meetings;
10.5At the General Meeting the Executive Committee for the ensuing term shall be elected by cadre members only and until such election shall have taken place, the outgoing Executive Committee shall continue to hold office;
10.6No subject which has been discussed at any General Meeting and rejected by not less than two-thirds of the members present shall be brought forward again within a period of less than five years except with the express permission of the Executive Committee given in writing.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
11.1An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called if and when:
11.1.1 the Chairman deems it necessary;
11.1.2 the Chairman is petitioned for such a meeting in writing by at least 10[s2] per cent of members of the Party, provided that the object of the meeting is stated in the petition. Then the meeting shall be called with the proposed meeting date being within thirty days of the petition being received.

11.2 Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting, with its agenda, shall be circulated to Party members at least two weeks in advance of the proposed meeting date.

QUORUM
At all general meetings, 1% of members shall form a quorum.

VOTING PROVISIONS
13.1 Every member in good standing shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings unless stated otherwise in this Constitution;
13.2 Only cadre members shall be entitled to vote in members of the Executive Committee;
13.3 A majority of the votes of members present or members of relevant class of membership present and entitled to vote shall decide any question unless stated otherwise in this Constitution;
13.4 At all meetings the Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote;
13.5 Votes shall be indicated by a show of hands or otherwise as decided by the Chairman.

ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the activities of the Party shall be presented by the Chairman to the Ordinary General Meeting every year.

AUDITORS
15.1Each Annual General Meeting shall appoint an auditor for the ensuing financial year;
15.2 It shall be the duty of the auditor to examine and express an opinion on the financial statements of the Party;
15.3 A retiring auditor may be eligible for re-election.

INTERPRETATION
In the event of any dispute in the interpretation of this Constitution, the matter shall be submitted to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be accepted as final.

AMENDMENT
17.1This Constitution may be replaced, substituted, amended or added to provided that any member desirous of moving any alteration shall give written notice to the Secretary at least one month in advance of the Annual General Meeting where it is proposed to move such motion of repeal, substitution or amendment;
17.2 Notice specifying the nature of the proposed alteration shall be submitted to the members together with the notice of the meeting;
17.3 Any such alteration shall require a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting;
17.4 A copy of the Constitution certified under the hand of the Chairman shall be evidence for all purposes whatsoever.

DISSOLUTION
18.1The Party may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by two thirds of cadre members of the Party present at a General Meeting and thereupon the Party shall be wound up;
18.2 Any surplus remaining after payments of any liabilities shall then be remitted upon resolution of the same meeting of the Party to any political party or set of political parties with similar objectives or to such other persons or organization as shall be decided by a majority of members in General Meeting.