Statutes of the Deutsch-Simbabwische Gesellschaft e.V.
Please note: This English version is a non-binding courtesy translation provided for information only. Only the German version of the statutes is legally binding.
§ 1 Name, registered office, purpose
(1) The society bears the name Deutsch-Simbabwische Gesellschaft e.V. (German-Zimbabwean Society).
(2) The society’s registered office is in Bonn. It is entered in the register of associations at the Bonn Local Court (Amtsgericht) under VR 5033.
(3) The purpose of the association is to promote
- international attitudes, tolerance in all areas of culture and the idea of international understanding;
- development cooperation,
- art and culture,
- education,
- support for persons in economic need within the meaning of § 53 of the German Fiscal Code (AO).
(4) The society pursues exclusively and directly non-profit and charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “Tax-privileged purposes” of the German Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung).
The purpose of the statutes is realised in particular through lectures, conferences, exhibitions, written information and establishing contacts between Germany and Zimbabwe in all areas of society, e.g. town twinning.
Encounters and cooperation between German and Zimbabwean artists as well as exhibition projects in Germany and Zimbabwe in the fields of visual arts, music, etc. are promoted.
The statutory purpose of international understanding is also realised through information and educational activities at German schools, including project days, school partnerships, educational activities in public institutions such as adult education centres (VHS), youth exchanges and support for the school and vocational education of people in Zimbabwe.
Individual assistance in cases of hardship and illness through no fault of one’s own, as well as support for Zimbabwean citizens in the Federal Republic of Germany, partnerships, etc., are also among the statutory purposes.
The association acts selflessly; it does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. The association’s funds may only be used for the purposes set out in the statutes.
(5) Funds are passed on to a foreign body or to auxiliary persons resident abroad only if the respective recipient undertakes to submit, every year and no later than six months after the end of each financial year, a detailed report on the use of the funds received from the association.
If this report does not show that the funds have been used exclusively for the association’s statutory purposes, or if the recipient fails to comply with the obligation to submit the report, the passing on of the association’s funds will be stopped immediately.
(6) Members do not receive any payments from the association’s funds. No person may benefit from expenses that are unrelated to the purposes of the association or from disproportionately high remuneration.
§ 2 Membership
(1) Any natural person, legal entity or partnership that supports the aims and tasks of the association may become a member.
Admission to the society is decided by the Presidium.
(2) Members may withdraw at the end of any year. The Presidium may expel a member for good cause by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Presidium.
§ 3 Financial year
The financial year is the calendar year.
§ 4 Membership fee
The membership fee is set by the general meeting.
§ 5 General meeting
(1) The ordinary general meeting is convened by the Presidium, as a rule annually and at least every two years. It decides on all matters of the society unless they can be dealt with by the Presidium within its own competence.
(2) The general meeting elects the Presidium. An extraordinary general meeting must be convened at the request of one third of the members of the Presidium or one third of all members.
(3) Minutes of the resolutions of the general meeting must be taken and signed by the President and one other member of the Presidium.
The resolutions of the general meeting must be recorded in the minutes.
After the general meeting, the minutes must be sent to the members and the Presidium in text form, including by email.
(4) Invitations to general meetings must be issued in writing at least two weeks before the date of the meeting.
(5) The general meeting may also be held by means of electronic communication (e.g. by telephone or video conference) or as a hybrid meeting of members present in person and members taking part by video conference, other media or telephone. The Presidium decides whether the general meeting is held in person, by electronic communication or as a hybrid meeting.
(6) Invitations to general meetings must be issued in writing by the President at least two weeks before the date of the meeting. For virtual or hybrid meetings, the invitation must state how members can exercise their rights by means of electronic communication.
The same applies, in the case of a hybrid general meeting, to persons entitled to attend and vote who do not take part in person.
§ 6 Presidium
(1) The Presidium consists of the honorary presidents, the President, three vice-presidents, the treasurer, the secretary and up to seven further members.
(2) The Presidium is convened by the President or a vice-president. It meets at least once a year.
(3) The members of the Presidium, with the exception of the honorary presidents, are each elected by the ordinary general meeting for a term of two years. Their term of office runs until the next ordinary general meeting. If members of the Presidium leave early, new members may be co-opted by the Presidium. Co-optation must be confirmed by the following general meeting.
(4) The board within the meaning of § 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB) consists of the President and the vice-presidents. The board manages the society’s affairs on a voluntary basis. The President or one of the vice-presidents represents the society in and out of court.
(5) Meetings of the Presidium may also be held by means of electronic communication (e.g. by telephone or video conference) or as a hybrid meeting of members present in person and members taking part by video conference, other media or telephone.
§ 7 Honorary presidents
Persons who have rendered outstanding services to fostering relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Zimbabwe may be elected as members of the honorary presidium.
§ 8 Voting rights
Every member of the society is entitled to vote at general meetings. Decisions are taken by a simple majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.
§ 9 Amendments to the statutes
The statutes may be amended by the general meeting by a two-thirds majority of the members present.
§ 10 Dissolution
The dissolution of the society may likewise be decided by the general meeting by a two-thirds majority of the members present.
If the association is dissolved or its tax-privileged purposes cease to apply, the association’s assets pass to the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Carstennstraße 58, 12205 Berlin), which must use them directly and exclusively for non-profit, charitable or church purposes.