PART I: PRELIMINARY

ARTICLE 1: Name of the Organization

The name of the Organization shall be KONDOA COMMUNITY NETWORKS (KCN)

ARTICLE 2: Interpretation

Unless the context otherwise requires in this Constitution

“Act” shall mean the Non-Governmental Organizations Act, No. 24 of 2002 as amended from time to time;

“Organization” Shall mean KONDOA COMMUNITY NETWORKS(KCN)

“Board” Shall mean Board of Directors of the Organization;

 “Registrar” shall mean the Registrar of Non-Governmental Organizations;

“Chairperson” or “Chief Executive Officer” shall means the person elected by general meeting of an organization among its members to chair or meetings of the organization

“Treasurer” Shall means the treasurer elected by general meeting of an organization among its members according to regulation of this constitution

“Executive Secretary” shall means the person elected by general meeting of an organization among its members according to the regulation of this constitution

“Office bearers” shall mean Chairperson or Executive Secretary or, Treasurer or any Staff Member.

ARTICLE 3: Preamble

Civil Society Organizations (CSO) are key players in addressing both technical and policy issues affecting service delivery including meaningful universal connectivity in Tanzania. CSO has a critical role in the realization of the multi-stakeholder model and bottom-up community-based approach in the Internet governance ecosystem. It should be emphasized that despite many efforts to connect the unconnected population in Tanzania, still more than half of the population does not have Internet access. Those with Internet access, it is still not affordable for them to be online all the time and from everywhere.

Realising that, the governments sole responsibility is to create enabling environment to its citizen to access the essential human needs; this end has not fully been reached due to lack of infrastructure, lack of digital skills and literacy, high cost associated with broadband access and cellular services, lack of local contents, poor policies and regulations, high spectrum cost and lack of local and indigenous engineers in Tanzania.

We believe that; meaningful universal connectivity will be realized if various stakeholders are collaborating to address challenges leading to the current digital divide in Tanzania. Furthermore, we believe the use of community-based bottom-up approaches to address the digital divide is the only remaining alternative to be embraced in achieving meaningful universal connectivity.

It is this believes that has inspired us to form the KONDOA COMMUNITY NETWORK  (KCN).

ARTICLE 4: Registration

The Organization shall be registered as a Non Governmental Organization under the Non Governmental Organizations Act, No. 24 of 2002 as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 5: Head Office

The head office will be based at Chemchem street, nearby kondoa Computing Center kondoa Town ward, B.O.Box  607, Kondoa District, and Dodoma Region.

ARTICLE 6: Area of Operation

The Organization shall operate in Tanzania Main Land

PART II: VISION, MISSION, AND OBJECTIVES

ARTICLE 7: Vision Statement

The vision of the organization shall be “delivering affordable communication services”.

ARTICLE 8: Mission Statement

To inspire the community to effectively utilize Internet resources to improve their living standards.

ARTICLE 9: Objectives

1. Enhance the platform that brings together community networks and community-based telecommunications networks.
2. Promote the creation of community networks and community-based cellular network that bridges the digital divide.
3.  Promote the meaningful universal connectivity in Tanzania
4.  Promote capacity building for various stakeholders, to support the creation of local contents fitting the community
5. Establish a one-stop center for research, innovation and development in Tanzania.
6. Mobilize funds and resources that will support infrastructure and equipment for community networks, community-based telecommunications networks, and grassroots innovation and incubation centers.

PART III: MEMBERSHIP AND TYPES OF MEMBERS

ARTICLE 10: Membership

Membership to the Organization shall be voluntary and open to any Tanzanian who has attained the age of 18 years and above, of sound mind and who is ready to join hands in supporting and promoting vision, mission, and objectives of the Organization.

ARTICLE 11: Types of Members

There shall be three types of members-

1. Founder members: These are members who made the initiatives to establish this Organization;
2. Ordinary members: These are members who join the Organization after its establishment;
3. Honorary members: are those members who shall be awarded such membership by the Organization due to their positive contributions to the community and Organization objectives.

ARTICLE 12: Rights and Obligations of Members

1. To elect/vote and be elected/voted in the leadership of the Organization except for honorary members;
2. Right to be heard;
3. To attend General Meeting;
4. Participate in all Organization activities as he/she may be required to do so;
5. Receiving information of the Organization progress by any means of communication.
6. To pay fees that is prescribed by the General Meeting;
7. To attend all meetings that requires his/her presence;
8. To participate in all the activities of the Organization as planned;
9. To keep secret all matters and decisions of the Organization.

ARTICLE 13: Cessation of Members

Members shall cease if any the following happens-

1. By resignation;
2. Expulsion for misbehavior, failure to adhere to Organization’s resolutions and this Constitution;
3. Failure to attend three consecutive General Meeting without reasonable information;
4. Incapability to perform his/her obligations due to mental disorder;
5. Failure to pay subscription feesfor two years consecutive ;
6. Death.

PART IV: OFFICE BEARERS, ELECTION, AND TERM OF LEADERSHIP

ARTICLE 14: Chairperson or Chief Executive Officer

There shall be Chairperson or Chief Executive Officer of the Organization who;

1. Shall preside over General Meeting of the Organization;
2. Be the spokesman for the Organization;
3. Shall be a signatory to the bank account.
4. Shall be the overseer of the Organization’s daily activities

ARTICLE 15: Executive Secretary

There shall be Executive Secretary of the Organization who;

1. Shall call meetings in consultation with the Chairperson;
2. Shall arrange schedule of duties in the office;
3. Shall receive all letters including application letters from new members and to submit them to the General Meeting for approval;
4. Shall keep all documents of the Organization;
5. Shall be a signatory to the Organizations bank account;
6. Shall keep records of all assets of the Organization.

ARTICLE 16: Treasurer

There shall be Treasurer of the Organization who;

1. Shall receive and keep all the money of the Organization;
2. Shall prepare the annual budget and estimates of the Organization to be presented to the General Meeting;
3. Shall keep all records of assets, records of accounts and books of account;
4. Shall prepare financial records of statements of income and expenditure and submit the said documents together with audited report to the General Meeting;
5. Shall be a signatory to the bank account.

ARTICLE 17: Election and Term of Leadership of Office Bearers

The office bearers of the Organization shall be elected by the General Meeting among the members and hold office for a period of three years and may be re-elected for another term of three years.

PART V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE 18: Establishment of the Board of Directors

1. There are shall be a Board of Directors composed of the Chairperson, Executive Secretary, Treasurer and other three members appointed by General Meeting;
2. Members of the Board shall hold the office for a period of three year and may be re-appointed for another term of three years.
3. The Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the General Meeting among Board members while the Chairperson of the Organization shall be Secretary to the Board;
4. Board of Director shall hold the meeting twice a year or at any time in case of emergency;
5. Quorum shall be 2/3 of the Board members.

ARTICLE 19: Functions and Duties of Board of Directors

1. To make Rules and Regulations;
2. To protect and advance the image of the Organization;
3. To recruit staffs;
4. To participate in developing Organization’s Strategic plans;
5. To appoint auditor(s);
6. To convene projects to be carried out by Organization, conduct or cause to be conducted feasibility studies for such project and submit the same for approval by the General Meeting;
7. To form different committees of the Organization where necessary.

PART VI: GENERAL MEETING

ARTICLE 20: Composition of General Meeting

1. General Meeting shall be a supreme organ of the Organization composed of all members of the Organization;
2. The decisions in this meeting shall be by a majority vote of members attended the meeting.

ARTICLE 21: Powers/function of the General Meeting

1. Discuss new members for admission and discipline and expel members;
2. Discuss and approve annual budgets, plans, physical and financial implementation reports;
3. Amend the Constitution;
4. Electing office bearers of the Organization;
5. Approve issues originated from the Board of Directors;
6. To appoint the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 22: Annual General Meeting

1. There shall be Annual General Meeting of the Organization held once a year;
2. Notice shall be given to all members 21 days before the meeting;
3. Quorum shall be 2/3 of members.

ARTICLE 23: Extra-Ordinary General Meeting

1. The Extra-Ordinary General Meeting shall be held whenever there is an emergency;
2. Notice shall be given to all members 21 days before the meeting;
3. Quorum shall be 2/3 of members.

PART VII:FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT,CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT,DISSOLUTION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION

ARTICLE 24: Financial Year

The financial year of the Organization shall be between 1st January and 31st December of the calendar year.

ARTICLE 25: Sources of Funds

The sources of funds for the Organization shall be-

1. Entry and annual fees;
2. Fundraising;
3. Legal gifts from friends;
4. Grants, donations;
5. Income-generating activities.

ARTICLE 26: Uses of Funds

ARTICLE 27: Bank Account

There shall be a bank account opened in the name of the Organization. The office bearers shall be the signatories of the Bank Account of the Organization. For any transaction to be effected there must be signatures of two signatories among the three signatories.

ARTICLE 28: Constitutional Amendments

Any part, clause of this Constitution may be removed, added or amended by the General Meeting by the majority vote of eligible voters held for that purpose.

ARTICLE 29: Dissolution

1. The Organization may be dissolved by a resolution passed at the General Meeting, by at least a two thirds majority of members eligible to vote or by operation of law;
2. In the event Organization is dissolved, all assets remaining after payment of debts shall be transferred to another Non-Governmental Organization registered under the Act with Similar objectives with this Organization.

ARTICLE 30: Conflict Resolution

1. The office bearers shall, within three months of the close of  each financial year cause the account relating to such financial year together with a statement of income and expenditure and a  statement of assets and liabilities of the Foundation for the  financial year to be submitted to the External Auditors appointed by the  General Meeting
2. The audited accounts of the Organization shall be submitted to the General Meeting.