An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was convened this afternoon at OYDC Zambia – Sports Development Centre to adopt amendments to the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) Constitution, following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Legal Department.
In his opening remarks, NOCZ President Alfred Foloko reminded the assembly that during the 2022 EGM, there was a discussion on the need for constitutional amendments to ensure the NOCZ’s governance structures remain robust and aligned with international best practices. He noted, "Today’s gathering was to finalize and approve the proposed revisions that have undergone thorough review, including feedback from the International Olympic Committee’s Legal Team."
The key articles of the NOCZ Constitution that were revised and adopted include:
Article 17.1: General Assembly
The General Assembly shall consist of members of the Executive Board (without voting rights in this capacity). This means that serving NOCZ Board members will not have voting rights during an elective General Assembly. The rationale behind this amendment is to promote transparency and fairness in elections, ensuring that board members do not influence the outcomes by voting while simultaneously being candidates for election or re-election.
Article 20.2: Executive Board
To ensure 30% gender representation on the Executive Board, if one gender is underrepresented following elections of new board members, priority will be given to appointing members of the underrepresented gender in accordance with Articles 20.1.vi. and 20.1.vii. This ensures compliance with the IOC's commitment to gender equality. Additionally, in line with the Olympic Charter, representatives from national federations affiliated with International Federations governing Olympic sports must always constitute the voting majority on the sports included in the Olympic Games programme. Consequently, the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and at least three of the four other members elected under Article 20.1.v must be reserved for representatives from national federations affiliated with sports included in the Olympic Games programme. This provision guarantees that Olympic sports maintain a leading role within the NOCZ's decision-making body.
Article 20.4: Executive Board
A member may serve a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms in the same position on the NOCZ Executive Board. This amendment adjusts term limits, ensuring that leadership is refreshed periodically while allowing sufficient time for members to contribute meaningfully.
After deliberations, the Extraordinary General Assembly unanimously adopted the revised articles of the NOCZ Constitution.
In his closing remarks, NOCZ President Alfred Foloko expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their participation and contributions in revising the NOCZ Constitution as per the IOC Legal Department’s recommendations.
Comments