1. Clause 1:
Question: Is the UKZ Chema association registered?
UKZ Chema Association is a voluntary, non-incorporated association of members, who are bound together by an agreed constitution and driven towards common goals agreed by all members. It is not a profit making organisation and it is therefore not required to register by UK law.
2. Clause 2:
Question: What is the post code of UKZ Chema?
The UKZ Chema Association does not have premises for the conduct of its business. It is run by volunteers operating from their own personal addresses. Therefore the association itself does not have a physical address. However, its registered business address is: 15 Torryburn Road, Glasgow, G21 3JB. However, the association has a business account registered with the Bank of Scotland. The account is audited annually and is open for inspection by members.
3. Clause 3.1 and 4.3.2
Questions:
(a): Are nominees of 4 persons covered by my registration and contributions?
You are allowed to register up to 4 nominees and they are all covered by your registration and membership fees. The nominees do not have to pay anything. In addition, there is no age limit and there is no time limit for their cover. However, if you want to change your nominees, you can only do so during the window period: 15 September to 15 October each year. This means that any change of nominees that you choose to make at any other time of the year will only become effective at the start of the next window period: 15 September. That is when the actual membership cover starts with all the eligibility provisions in the constitution.
(b) What about if they are over 18 years?
There is no age limit on nominees. However, we encourage adult nominees to stand alone and apply for their own full membership. The advantage is that if they relocate to Zimbabwe, their membership continues as long as they continue to pay their contributions. However, they are not compelled to register as independent members.
4. Clause 4.4:
Question: What is the rationale of replacing a nominee after 4 years?
When any one of your nominees become deceased, the constitution provides that you can replace that nominee after a period of 4 years. This generous provision was included as a way of ensuring continuity of the association's membership and at the same time recognising the continued weight of responsibilities on our members. This responsibility does not end with the death of one nominee.
5. Clause 4.6.3.
Question: Does suspension apply to a member not paid or to a member who is supposed to pay in the event of a funeral?
It is imperative that, after a death announcement, every member should pay the stated amount within the 72 hours stipulated in the constitution. Failure to do so, the member will be suspended, pending dismissal if there is no meaningful communication with the board to explain the reason for the failure. The survival of the association is premised on all members playing their role and observing our cultural tradition of paying 'chema'. The association has no other reserve funds to assist the bereaved family to give their beloved one a decent burial. Hence all members are expected to be considerate and to pay their contributions on time.
6. Clause 5:0
Question: Are contributions paid until death like some insurance policies or up to a certain age or period?
UKZ Chema is an association whose vision is anchored on the Zimbabwean traditional culture of mobilising, as a community, and collecting 'chema', (money contributions), for the purposes of giving the deceased a decent burial. UKZ Chema is not an insurance company and it does not create a fund pool to bury its deceased. Members simply collect a stipulated amount for each funeral when a death occurs. Hence all members are expected to honour their commitment to pay the stated amount at each death announcement. The membership has no maturity date and it is a life commitment as long as you remain a member.
7. Clause 9.5: Annex 1 : Founding Members
Question: This section does not appear to be attached to the constitution. Explain.