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Chitungwiza Municipality Junior

Council
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT (No .3) ACT
2016
CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND
[1]PREAMBLE
(1) The name of the child-led group shall be Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council
(2) The main causes for the formation of the organization in 1999 are:
(i) an increase in the number of cases of all forms of child abuse
(ii) a high increase in cases of sexually transmitted diseases in
children and
youths
(iii)a lack in terms of capacity development
(iv) poor observation and uplifting of child rights and responsibilities
(v) a high deficiency in child participation forums and opportunities, mainly at
community level
(vi) inadequate consultations in line with policies and issues affecting the youths and
children at a local level
(vii) a large gap between the Senior Chitungwiza Municipality and the children
within the municipality

[2]AIMS AND OBJECTIVES


1. to create a child and youth-led organisation that represents/facilitates the needs of
the youth in primary, secondary and the community at large
2. to bridge the gap between the Chitungwiza Municipality and the youth at large
within the jurisdiction of Chitungwiza, following the local government by-laws
3. to promote child and youth participation at local government or community level
4. through the example set by Chitungwiza Junior Council;

(i) to set up a desire among the young citizens of Chitungwiza to


participate
(ii) to create an organisation that focuses on the realisation, advancement
and protection of child rights and the millennium development goals,
school drop-outs, child abuse, sports, acts, culture and other issues
affecting children
(iii)to assist the less privileged part of the society (orphans and other
vulnerable children)
(iv) [OVCs] e.g. the disabled as well as the elderly
(v) to create awareness towards the parents concerning the equality
between the boy and the girl child

[3]PROFILE, VISION, MOTTO and CORE VALUES


(1)PROFILE
(i)

The Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council is a child apolitical organisation


whose main thrust is to advocate for the realisation, advancement and
protection of child rights. In addition, the Junior Municipal Council also
addresses issues such as school dropouts, child abuse, HIV/AIDS, child
budgeting and other pertinent issues affecting Chitungwiza to relevant
authorities and different stakeholders. The Junior Council was officially
founded on the 10th of August 1999 after various deliberations and discussions
by a panel of essential stakeholders including the teachers, senior councilors,
government departments, businesspeople among others.
(ii) Vision:
To create an avalanche of opportunities and a child-friendly environment for the children
we represent in Chitungwiza and Zimbabwe at large.
[iii]Motto:
Childrens well-being, our responsibility.
[iv]CORE VALUES
Transparency
Service
Dignity
Equality
Accountability
Innovation
Success
Efficiency
Team work
Respect

Excellence

CHAPTER 2: JUNIOR COUNCILLORSHIP


[1]ELLIGIBILITY OF JUNIOR COUNCILLORSHIP
(i) Each constitutionally registered and council member school shall be represented.
(ii) Only form three and lower six students shall be interviewed
(iii) The interviews panel shall comprise of the Junior Mayor, Junior Councillors,
aldermen and one teacher selected from one of the schools in Chitungwiza.
(iv) Only those students who have never served as junior councilors or junior
members of parliament, are elligible to be junior councillors

[2] STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES


1. Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council will achieve its objectives by adopting the
following strategies and implementing these activities
(i) ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Promoting the formation of student-led school groups and strengthening the


function of its membership
2. Maintaining constant and active communication between members of the
Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council
3. Promoting ways of sharing effective methods and operational processes to
minimize duplication of efforts
4. Facilitating exchange visits between Junior Councils around the country
5. Creating International relationship with other Junior Councils around the world
(ii) PROVIDING A COMMON VOICE FOR NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR COUNCILS
1. Promoting the representation of the childrens interest in national and international forums

2. Participating in committees which include the Senior Legislators and the Junior
Legislators that will attend to emergency cases concerning children
3. Acting on behalf of the interests of members when requested to do so within the
parameters and means decided jointly by members
4. Promoting and supporting the concept of cultural identity and indigenous child
rights and responsibilities
5. Organising peaceful demonstrations against beliefs that deprive children of their
rights
(iii)COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
1. Consult and research the needs of the children of Chitungwiza
2. Produce and publish newsletters, newspaper article, modern technology

publications and relevant publications


4. Create and give opportunities for exchange and sharing ideas among National and
International Junior Councils

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

(iv) DISCIPLINARY ACTION


The Junior Councillor who is subject to disciplinary action shall be given a
notice inviting him/her, at least seven days before the meeting of the DC
committee and shall be informed of the nature of the complaints made against
him/her
The Junior Councillor who is subject to discipline shall be permitted to defend
himself/herself in person or with other Junior Councillors as spokesperson/s, and
may make both written and oral submissions. Furthermore the principles of
natural justice shall apply to the proceedings of the Disciplinary Committee
The findings of the Disciplinary Committee shall be presented to the Junior
Council for recommendations. The Junior Council shall make the final decision
by secret ballot
The decisions of the Junior Council shall be forwarded to the Junior Councillor
concerned, their individual school and parents by the Junior Deputy Mayor
Whereupon the Junior Mayor, Junior Deputy Mayor and the Junior Town Clerk
are subject to discipline a written complaint with the support of at least ten Junior
Councillors shall be presented to the Executive Board and the Disciplinary
Committee
The findings of the convened Disciplinary Committee shall be presented to the
Junior Council for recommendations. The Junior Council shall make the final
decision by secret ballot. The decision of the Junior Council shall be forwarded to
the individual concerned, their respective schools and parents by the Patron.

CHAPTER 3: STRUCTURE OF THE


CHITUNGWIZA MUNICIPALITY JUNIOR
COUNCIL
3.1 THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
(a) Shall consist of eight people: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk, Chamber
Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, Projects Coordinator and Chief of
Committees Clerk
(b) Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk and Chamber Secretary shall be A level
students
(c) Each member shall be delegated to specific duties
(d) Shall report to the Mayor at the end of every month in form of a written report
through the office of the Town Clerk
(f) Shall delegate duties to Junior Councillors
g) shall meet and make decisions concerning emergency matters that may arise

without calling for a full council meeting


h) the quorum of the Executive Committee shall be five members
d) the Junior Town Clerk shall give a report of the outcome of the Executive Board
meeting at the full Junior Council meeting
(a) The first three posts that include the Mayor , deputy mayor and the town clerk shall
be addressed as Worships
(b) Other posts shall be addressed as Honours

3.1.i COMMITTEES
(i) There shall be six committees namely Health, Finance, Projects, Public Relations,
Education, Child Rights
(ii) Each committee shall have a minimum of four members i.e. chairperson,
committee clerk and two other members
(iii)Elections for committees shall be done at the second formal meeting of the Junior
Council
(iv) The quorum for each meeting shall be two thirds of the number of persons in that
committee.
(v) The chairman of each committee shall:
i.
Keep order at the meetings of the committee
ii. Prepare the agenda for each committee
iii. Ensure a written report of each committee meeting is forwarded to the chief
of committees clerk for circulation
iv. Keep a record of attendance of members at all committee meetings
(vi) The committee clerk shall:
i)
Keep a record of the respective committee members
ii) Be directly responsible to the chief of committees clerk
iii) Administer petty cash for the committee
(vii) Committee meetings shall be held at least once per month and each member of
the committee is required to attend all meetings, and absence therefrom will be
condoned only on a good and sufficient reason
(viii)Any Junior Councillor can attend any committee meeting, of which they are not
a member, save that of the executive committee, as an observer and may
contribute to the debate but not vote on any issue

3.2 THE PATRON


(i) is the spokesperson of the Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council to the senior
Chitungwiza Municipality and the Chitungwiza Municipality Council
(ii)Is the overall advisor of Chitungwiza Municipality Junior Council
(iii)Shall be from the senior council and selected by the senior council
3.2(i) PATRONS TENURE
Patrons tenure shall be decided by the senior council

3.3 ALDERMEN
1. Shall be advisors to Junior Councillors
2. The Junior Council shall recommend as Junior Alderman those Junior Councillors
who have served the Junior Council for a full term of office.
3. Nominations shall be made by senior council
4. Shall serve a three year term of office

CHAPTER 4: RESPONSIBILITIES
(i) THE JUNIOR MAYOR

1. Is the head of the organisation


2. Shall be the spokesperson of the organisation
3. Shall delegate duties to office bearers and all councillors
4. Monitors all office bearers
(ii) THE DEPUTY MAYOR
1. shall deputise the Mayor
2. is the head of the disciplinary committee
3. submit a monthly report to the Mayor through the office of the Town Clerk
(iii) THE TOWN CLERK
1. shall be the head of the administration and prepares the agenda for all meetings
2. all correspondences must be addressed to him \her
3. prepares the agenda of all meetings and keeps the minutes
4. compiles all monthly reports and give them to the Mayor
5. is the personal advisor to the mayor
(iv) THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
1. is responsible for all publications and liaises with media houses
2. organises press conferences
3. acts as the spokesperson of the organisation to the public
4. should act as the secretary to the Junior Mayor
(v) THE PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR
1. shall be responsible for the planning of all projects
2. responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all projects
3. shall lead the evaluation of all projects
4. is responsible for drafting and presenting an action plan to Junior Council
5. works closely with the Junior Town Clerk and the Junior Treasurer in terms of resource
mobilisation and administration

(vi) JUNIOR TREASURER


1. controls the Junior Council finances
2. ensures that the books of accounts are ready for inspection by the finance committee,

any Junior Councillor, Junior Council Patron or Alderman at all reasonable times
3. prepare an annual financial audit for all committees
(vii) CHIEF OF COMMITTEES CLERK
1.

keep all records of the Junior Council and


the Executive Board including a record of attendance
2.
is the secretary to the Town Clerk

CHAPTER 5
[1]ELECTIONS OF OFFICE BEARERS
(i)

The elections shall be conducted by the Administration as the electoral board


under the leadership of the Junior Town Clerk
(ii) The elections shall be held with the approval and in the presence of the Junior
Mayor.
(iii) Nominations, which shall be seconded, shall be submitted during the meeting of
the Junior Council. No candidate shall nominate himself/herself.
(iv) A secret ballot shall be held for each position, and a simple majority shall
determine the results. In the event of a tie, a fresh ballot shall be held until the
tire has broken.
(v) The ballot for each position shall be in order of:
1. Junior Mayor
2. Junior Deputy Mayor
3. Junior Town Clerk
4. Junior Chamber Secretary
5. Junior Treasurer
6. Junior Public Relations Officer
7. Junior Projects Coordinator
8. Junior Chief of Committees Clerk
(vi) Candidates who are not successful in any ballot may, if their proposer and
seconders agree, stand for any positions below those for which they were
nominated
(vii) Any candidate can contest for not more than three posts
[2] MEETINGS
(i) A special emergency meeting of the Junior Council shall be called by the Junior
Mayor or on a written requisition, together with reasons, for such a meeting.
(ii) Notice of any meetings, together with reasons for calling that meeting shall be
given at least 48 hours before the meeting is due to commence, to all Junior
Councillors. The quorum of such a meeting shall be sixty percent of the total
number of Junior Councillors
(iii) the formulation of committees shall take place at the second formal meeting of

the Junior Council in each year


[3] MINUTES
(i) The chief of committees clerk shall keep minutes of the formal meetings with the
aid of a secretary to be appointed by him/her
(ii) The minutes of each committee meeting shall be kept by the Committees Clerk of
their respective committees
(iii)Copies of the minutes of all formal meetings shall be sent to all junior councilors
and senior councilors
(iv) All minutes shall be submitted for confirmation at the next junior councilors
meeting or the appropriate committee, and shall be signed by the person presiding
thereat
[4]AGENDA
The Junior Town Clerk shall, prior to a formal meeting of the Junior Council draw up
an agenda which shall be sent to all Junior Councillors and Senior Council together
with the minutes of the previous general meeting and other reports at least two days
before the meeting is due to commence.
All committee meetings shall have an agenda, which shall be circulated to the
chairman of other committees, whose responsibility will be to ensure that members of
the forthcoming meetings and the content.
[5]FINANCE
All withdrawals from the Junior Councils banking account must be made with the
minimum of three signatories, which signatories shall be two Junior Councillors who
shall be nominated by the junior council.
All financial transactions must be approved by the Junior Mayor in advance.
In the event of an emergence, which shall be decided by the Junior Mayor, the
maximum amount agreed by the presiding Junior Council at second meeting may be
withdrawn without prior Junior Council sanction.
In an event that the Junior Council deciding to assist a charitable institution, then
donations solely in the form of goods and services are permitted.
All funds belong to the Junior Council shall be kept at a banking institute agreed to by
the presiding Junior Council.
The Junior Treasurer may keep a maximum sum of money only agreed to at the
Junior Councils second meeting.
The Junior Council may engage in fundraising activities and solicit sponsorship in
order to support itself financially.

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