A registered co-operative society’s by-laws are its internal rulebook. Zimbabwe’s Co-operative Societies Act requires every society to include certain provisions in its by-laws for transparency, member protection, and sound governance.

Here’s a breakdown of all required by-law contents, grouped by category:

🏷 A. Society Identification

1. Name of the Society (must comply with naming rules).

2. Registered Office & Postal Address.

3. Main Objectives – what the society exists to do.

4. How it achieves those objectives – activities, services, etc.

5. How funds may be used – allowed purposes only.

6. Area of Operation – geographic or community scope.

👥 B. Membership

7. Membership Requirements – residence, profession, etc.

   • Entrance & affiliation fees (if any).

   • Minimum shareholding.

8. How to Join and appeal if rejected.

9. Member Rights

   • Attend/vote at meetings

   • Elect/be elected

   • Nominate heir for shares

   • Access co-op services

   • Withdraw from the society

10. Member Duties

• Obey by-laws and meeting decisions

• Sign a membership undertaking

• Share liability for debts

• Contribute financially

11. Expulsion Rules – how and what payments apply.

🏛 C. Organisation & Management

12. General Meetings – how to call & run them

13. Quorum rules

14. Voting procedures

15. Minutes – how to record

16. Purpose of general meetings

17. Special meetings – how to call them

18. Management Committee

• How elected, who qualifies, term limits

19. Management Meetings – summoning & conduct

20. Committee Powers/Duties – incl. chair, secretary, treasurer

21. How to suspend/remove committee members

22. Supervisory Committee – if any: elections & terms

23. Roles of Supervisory Committee

24. Manager (if appointed) – appointment/removal

25. Manager's functions

26. Signing authority and use of seal

27. Banking and investments

28. Marketing members’ products

29. Hiring/firing employees (excluding manager)

30. Business with non-members

31. Allowances or honoraria for office bearers

💼 D. Worker Co-operators

(Include special rights if the co-op is worker-owned or hybrid.)

💰 E. Property & Funds

32. Share Value & Payment

33. Rules on Transfer & Redemption of Shares

34. Use of Annual Surplus

• Reserve Fund

• Central Fund

• Pensions/Provident Funds

• Other allocations

35. Surplus Distribution

• Dividends

• Patronage bonuses

• Honoraria

• Bonus shares

🧾 F. Special Cases

For Lending Societies:
36. Include rules on:

• Lending to members/non-members (interest, security, etc.)

• Loans Committee: election, powers

• Limits on borrowing

• Penalties for non-payment

For Worker/Collective Co-ops:
37. - Staff remuneration
- Employing non-members
- Using surplus

For Delegate-Based Societies:
38. - Delegate ratios
- Election method
- Duty to report to members

For Secondary, Apex & Federation Co-ops:
39. - Representation and delegate rules
- Voting rights
- Contributions from members

⚙ G. General Rules

40. How notices are served

41. Amendment of by-laws

42. Membership undertaking form

43. Fines – conditions and amounts

44. Consequences of non-payment

45. Financial year

46. Required registers & records

47. Auditing procedures

48. Mergers, transfers, or splits

49. Internal dispute resolution

50. Winding up process

📌 Why This Matters

By-laws are legally binding for all members. Including all the required content:

• Ensures legal compliance with the Co-operative Societies Act.

• Protects members from mismanagement.

• Guides decisions during disputes, elections, surplus distribution, and winding up.

• Makes the co-op attractive to investors, lenders, and partners.