Zambia National Commission for UNESCO Act, 1966

Chapter 139


Zambia

Zambia National Commission for UNESCO Act, 1966

Chapter 139

  • Commenced on 26 August 1966
  • [This is the version of this document at 31 December 1996.]
[Act 32 of 1966; Act 16 of 1981]An Act to provide for the establishment and operation of the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO.
WHEREAS Zambia is a Member State of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;AND WHEREAS Article VII of the Constitution of the Organization provides that each Member State shall make such arrangements as suit its particular conditions for the purpose of associating its principal bodies interested in educational, scientific and cultural matters with the work of the Organization, preferably by the formation of a National Commission broadly representative of the Government and such bodies:BE IT, THEREFORE, ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO Act.

2. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—"Commission" means the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO established by this Act;"UNESCO" means the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

3. Establishment and functions of Zambia National Commission for UNESCO

There is hereby established a commission, to be styled the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO, the functions of which shall be—
(a)to advise the Government on matters relating to UNESCO;
(b)to execute and to give advice on, and assistance in, the execution of UNESCO projects in Zambia;
(c)to disseminate information concerning UNESCO and its activities; and
(d)to provide liaison between UNESCO and bodies and individuals in Zambia interested in educational, scientific or cultural matters.

4. Membership of Commission

(1)The Commission shall consist of—
(a)the Minister, who shall be the chairman of the Commission;
(b)a Junior Minister of the Ministry responsible for education, nominated by the Minister, who shall be the vice-chairman of the Commission; and
(c)not more than twenty other members appointed by the Minister.
(2)In appointing members of the Commission, the Minister shall ensure that the membership of the Commission includes—
(a)persons representing departments of the Government; and
(b)persons representing the University of Zambia, the National Council for Scientific Research and the other principal bodies in Zambia interested in educational, scientific or cultural matters.
(3)A member of the Commission appointed by the Minister shall, subject to the provisions of this section, hold office for a period of two years.
(4)The office of a member of the Commission appointed by the Minister shall become vacant—
(a)if the holder of the office dies or resigns from his office by notice in writing addressed to the Minister; or
(b)if the holder of the office is, without the leave of the Commission, absent from four consecutive meetings of the Commission; or
(c)if the holder of the office is removed from office by the Minister.
(5)Whenever the office of a member of the Commission becomes vacant, the Minister may appoint a person to fill the vacancy and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of this section, hold office for the remainder of the period during which the member whose place he fills would, but for his office becoming vacant, have continued in office.[As amended by No. 16 of 1981]

5. Establishment, membership and functions of committees

(1)The Commission shall establish a standing committee to be styled the Executive Committee and may establish such other standing and occasional committees as it considers necessary or desirable for the discharge of its functions.
(2)The Executive Committee shall consist of—
(a)the chairman of the Commission, who shall be the chairman of the committee; and
(b)the vice-chairman of the Commission, who shall be the vice-chairman of the committee; and
(c)five other members of the Commission appointed by the Commission.
(3)Any committee of the Commission, other than the Executive Committee, shall consist of such persons, whether members of the Commission or not, as the Commission may appoint thereto; and the Commission shall appoint one of the members of the committee to be the chairman thereof.
(4)The Commission shall determine the functions of any committee established by it and may delegate to any such committee, either absolutely or conditionally, the power to discharge any functions of the Commission on behalf of the Commission.[As amended by No. 16 of 1981]

6. Procedure of Commission and its committees

(1)Meetings of the Commission and of any committee of the Commission shall be held as and when necessary and shall be convened in accordance with the directions of the chairman of the Commission or, in the case of meetings of a committee, of the chairman of the committee:Provided that the Commission shall meet not less often than once a year.
(2)At any meeting of the Commission, one-half of the members shall form a quorum and at any meeting of a committee of the Commission, two-thirds of the members shall form a quorum.
(3)There shall preside—
(a)at any meeting of the Commission
(i)the chairman of the Commission; or
(ii)in the absence of the chairman of the Commission, the vice-chairman of the Commission; or
(iii)in the absence of the chairman and the vice-chairman of the Commission, such member of the Commission as the Commission may elect for that meeting;
(b)at any meeting of a committee of the Commission
(i)the chairman of the committee; or
(ii)in the absence of the chairman of the committee, the vice-chairman of the committee, if any; or
(iii)in the absence of the chairman and the vice-chairman, if any, of the committee, such other member of the committee as the committee may elect for that meeting.
(4)Any question proposed for decision by the Commission or a committee of the Commission shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members thereof present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
(5)At all meetings of the Commission or a committee of the Commission, each member present shall have one vote on a question proposed for decision by the Commission or committee, as the case may be, and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have, in addition to a deliberative vote, a casting vote.
(6)The Commission or a committee of the Commission may invite any person to attend a meeting of the Commission or committee, as the case may be, and to take part in the consideration and discussion of any question proposed for decision; but any person so invited shall not be entitled to vote.[As amended by No. 16 of 1981]

7. Secretariat

(1)The Commission shall appoint a director of the Commission and such other staff of the Commission on such terms and conditions as the Minister may from time to time determine.
(2)The director of the Commission shall be responsible under the general supervision of the chairman of the Commission, for the administration of the affairs of the Commission.[As amended by No. 16 of 1981]

8. Allowances

There shall be paid to the members of the Commission who are not Ministers, Junior Ministers or public officers, such allowances, if any, as the Minister may determine.

9. Expenses of Commission

(1)The expenses of the Commission, including any allowances payable under section eight, shall be paid from moneys appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.
(2)Nothing in subsection (1) shall preclude the Commission from accepting financial assistance provided by UNESCO for the purpose of enabling the Commission to discharge any of its functions.

10. Regulations

After consultation with the Commission, the Minister may, by statutory Instrument, make regulations for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.[As amended by No. 16 of 1981]
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History of this document

31 December 1996 this version
Consolidation
26 August 1966
Commenced