Welcome to this second issue of the ZIPS 2023 Elections Bulletin.

In this second issue of the ZIPS 2023 Elections Bulletin, the following issues have been covered;

• Call for Nominations;
• Amendment to the 2021 Elections Manual;
• Admission of Affiliate Members into Associates;
• Opening of Elections Platforms;
• Feedback on the questions raised in the first bulletin; and
• Important dates.

1.         CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

We wish to inform the Members that the Call for Nominations opened on 18^th September 2023 and all eligible members are encouraged to apply.

Click here to access the Call for Nominations

2.  ELECTIONS RULES

The Extraordinary Council Meeting of 14^th September 2023 approved the changing of the title of the 2021 Elections Manual to Elections Rules and the subsequent amendments were approved.

The key amendments are as follows:

·  Included the Composition of The Elections Committee;

·  Clearly define the period in which Council tenure ends

· Composition of Council and tenure aligned as per the ZIPS Act;

· Under footnote for good standing the ZIPS Code of Ethics replaces the ZPPA and CIPS Codes of Conduct;

· Revised nomination fees;

· Merged Council Member Nominee Biography and the Campaign Form into one;

· Introduced Integrity and Probity Form;

· Extended the number of days for nomination evaluation to allow for appeals process;

· Included provisions for dealing with vacancies without valid nominations;

· Supplementary guidelines on campaigns have been incorporated.

· Introduced campaign guidelines during the National Conference and the AGM;     

· Introduced an Election Petition process; and

· Introduced the Adhoc Appeals Committee to hear Election Appeals.

3.  ADMISSION OF AFFILIATE MEMBERS INTO ASSOCIATE CATEGORY

Members will be aware of the erroneous transposition of the definitions of Affiliate and Associate in the ZIPS Act (Sections 14 and 15) that has resulted in bonafide members (Affiliates) not to participate in the elections (Section 19 (2)).  

It was envisaged that the new Act would have been enacted, but this has not happened. Various options were explored and based on a legal opinion as per extract below, the most suitable one was to admit all Affiliates as Associate members as a stop gap measure.

“The Institute may consider admitting all the Affiliates into the next category of membership and according to the hierarch of membership the next category of membership is the Associate category of membership.  Once all the current Affiliates members of the Institute are admitted as Associates members, then they shall have the right to vote at the coming elective Annual General Meeting”. 

The Full Council Meeting of 14^th September 2023 approved the admission of Affiliates to Associate Members.

4. OPENING OF ELECTIONS PLATFORMS

The following platforms are now available, and members are encouraged to join

The purpose of these platforms is:

i.   A one stop place for all communications and issues around the elections

 ii.   To allow successful candidates push their approved campaign messages on a level playing field

 iii.   Allow voters have access to all campaign information.

The platforms will be governed by the Campaign Rules and any member found breaching the rules will be removed from the group and the necessary actions as prescribed in the Elections Rules will be enforced.

For WhatsApp click here to join

For Telegram click here to join

5.  FEEDBACK ON THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE FIRST BULLETIN