Law Society of Zimbabwe (Amendment) By-laws, 2024 (No. 16)
The Law Society of Zimbabwe can now elect its council by electronic poll — voting opens at least ten days before the AGM and closes at noon the last business day before it, with the Auditor present.
The Minister of Justice has approved amendments to the Law Society of Zimbabwe By-laws, 1982 (S.I. 314 of 1982), adopted by a majority of members at a general meeting, that introduce electronic voting for Society elections.
A new by-law 40A allows the Secretary, as an alternative to the paper process in by-law 40, to conduct an electronic poll where by-law 39(c) requires a poll. The polling application must be in a form approved by the council of the Society.
The timetable is fixed. At least ten days before the annual general meeting, the Secretary must notify eligible voters in writing or electronically that the poll is open, and send the voting details and instructions along with the notice, for the seats being contested. The poll closes at 12 noon on the last business day before the AGM, in the presence of the Auditor, who is assisted by a member of the Society appointed by the President and who is not himself or herself a candidate. The Auditor and the assistant then prepare and submit a report with the results to the Secretary, and the Secretary announces the results at the AGM.
The amendments also shift responsibility from officeholders to the Secretary: in by-law 39(c) and (d) "chairman" is replaced with "Secretary", and in by-law 40(6)(a) "President" is replaced with "Secretary". The practical effect is that the Society's Secretary, rather than the chairman or President, now runs the election machinery, with the Auditor providing independent oversight of the count.
No commencement date is stated beyond gazetting on 7 June 2024. Note that the document as extracted contains the full text printed twice; there is only one set of amendments.
What changed
- New by-law 40A permits elections to be conducted by electronic poll as an alternative to the existing process
- The polling application must be in a form approved by the Society's council
- Voters must be notified and given voting details at least ten days before the AGM
- Polls close at 12 noon on the last business day before the AGM, in the presence of the Auditor and a non-candidate member appointed by the President
- "Chairman" is replaced with "Secretary" in by-law 39(c) and (d), and "President" with "Secretary" in by-law 40(6)(a)
Who this affects
- legal practitioners who are members of the Law Society of Zimbabwe
- candidates for the Law Society council
- the Secretary and Auditor of the Law Society
- the Law Society council approving the polling application
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.