ConstitutionPAN AFRICANIST STUDENT MOVEMENT OF AZANIA
CONSTITUTION SECTION A A1 PREAMBLE WHEREAS we the African Students subjected to a brain damaging education system imposed upon us **servility and colonial enchainment. Realizing that our suffering is not accidental but a designed machinery to produce a capitalist labour force and having realized that the students struggle is an integral part of our national liberation struggle. AND WHEREAS Pan Africanism must be understood as a rallying and uniting forces guided by Dialectical Materialism, African Nationalism, Socialism and Continental Unity. WHEREAS African students must be organized and mobilized under the banner of Pan Africanism and for the advancement of Socialist struggle and the establishment of an Africanist Socialist Democratic and Socialist Education which will symbolize the destruction of White Supremacy, Neo-Colonialism, Capitalism and Imperialism. A2 MOTTO Mobilize, Educate and Strive for Socialist Education. A3 NAME The name of this vanguard National Student Movement shall be the PAN AFRICANIST STUDENT MOVEMENT OF AZANIA here in referred to as PASMA. A4 EMBLEM The emblem of the movement shall be a black map of Africa with a textbook and a hand with a pen, situated at the centre of the African Continent and a Gold star situated in Ghana with its rays stretching to other parts of Africa. The map will be encircled in gold wheel. The emblem shall be on a Green background. A5 DEFINITION OF THE EMBLEM The textbook, pen and the hand shall symbolize the revolutionary intelligentsia and the role which should be played the Pan Africanists Student Leadership in the struggle for the offensive and destruction of Capitalism, Imperialism and Neo-Colonialism which will mark the rise of Pan Africanism and Socialist Democracy. It shall also symbolize the intellectual re-awakening of the African continent and all its off springs in the entire globe and the advent of a Socialist Education. The labour wheel shall symbolize the workers and world struggle of humanity for freedom from natural and human made exploitation of which Africa is part of the wheel shall also symbolize the inextricable intertwinement between the WORKING CLASS STRUGGLE AND THE STUDENTS’ STRUGGLE. A5 COLOURS The colours of the movement shall be BLACK, GOLD and GREEN i. Black: Shall symbolize centuries of oppression, exploitation and social Degradation. ii. Gold: Shall Symbolize the resourcefulness of Africa and the vitality of African sons and daughters. iii. Green: Shall symbolize freedom and prosperity which await the African People only if they commit themselves to the struggle to combat imperialism and neo-colonialism. SECTION B B1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: i. To rally and unite the dispossessed African Students in Azania under the banner of the liberatory ideology of Pan Africanism. ii. To heighten the national consciousness of African Students in the national struggle for self determination and self reliance. iii. To organize, educate and lead students in their struggles, which form part of the integral worker struggles for the realization of a socialist society. iv. To work ceaselessly for the final destruction on imperialism, capitalism, neo-colonialism and racism. v. To engage students in the programmes which endeavor to fulfill the aims and objectives of the movement to attain a Socialist Education. vi. To Educate the Students to embrace the vanguard role of the workers and peasants in the national struggle. vii. Involvement in the workers struggles their workerist background viii. To promote the principle of Education for Liberation. ix. To engage Students in Educational and Cultural activities which promote the African values and philosophy. x. To encourage Students to initiate and participate constructively in the community projects. xi. To inculcate the spirit of self reliance among students and the creation of community projects. xii. To build and develop a sense of social responsibility and leadership qualities among students xiii. To establish fraternal relations with other progressive Student Movement and Political Movement in Azania, Africa and the rest of the world. SECTION C C1 MEMBERSHIP 1. Membership shall be open to all African Students who subscribe to the Ideology, Principles and Policies guiding by the PAN AFRICANIST STUDENT MOVEMENT OF AZANIA. 2. And to African Student registered and studying at any University or Technikon or College of Education in Azania. C2 REGISTRATION AND SUBSCRIPTION i. Registration fee shall be as determined by the Annual National Congress of PASMA. ii. The PASMA Annual National Congress shall determine the subscription fee. iii. The registration fee and subscription fee with all registration forms should be sent directly to the National Office. iv. Every member has a duty in his or her personal conduct, to act in a manner, which will bring credit to PASMA and to be a standard bearer of the highest Africanist ethics and morality v. Members must strive constantly to improve their understanding of the Pan Africanism, which is the guiding ideology and its applications to our conditions in Azania. They must ensure that they are fully acquainted with the programmes, policies, aims and objectives of PASMA vi. Any person taking membership of PASMA shall not hold membership of any organization or political party that contradicts our aims, policies and ideology. vii. All members when joining should take an Oath of Allegiance C3 ORGANISATIONAL DISCIPLINE i. Every member and organ of the movement shall uphold the principle of DEMOCRATIC CENTRALISM. ii. To ensure unity and cohesion of PASMA, members are obliged to defend PASMA and to carry out all organization decisions and mandates. iii. All decisions taken by higher structures are binding on all structures and individual members. iv. Members shall pursue their views internally in the lead up to Conference/Congress/General Council with powers under this constitution to reverse or determine PASMA policy. v. Members active and deployed in mass structures or Student Representative Council shall have a duty to advance PASMA aims, mandate, policies, ideology and account directly to the BEC, PEC and/or NEC. And to set an example of loyalty to PASMA and African students, hard work and zeal in their performance of their duties. SECTION D D1: ORGANS OF PASMA Annual National Congress Annual National Conference National General Council National Executive Council Provincial Executive Committee Provincial Congress Provincial Meetings Branch Executive Committee Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) Branch Meetings Executive Meetings. SECTION E E1: DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS i. Shall be the highest Authority of the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania. ii. Shall be convened annually, the NEC shall convene a special congress with an approval of the NGC, which shall focus on specific matters as determined by NGC. iii. Elected delegates representing constitutionally recognized branches and members of the NEC shall constitute Congress. iv. A quorum for the congress shall be two-thirds of constitutional branches. v. Congress shall discuss the submitted reports of the Presidency, Secretary General, National Organizer and Secretary for Finance. vi. It shall receive an audited Financial Report from the NEC through the Secretary for Finance. vii. It shall endorse or reject reports and/or decisions of the National Executive Council. viii. It shall determine policies, programmes and amend the constitution as per SECTION M. ix. It shall elect the members of the National Executive Council as prescribed in SECTION F and Sub Section F2 and Section N. x. All decisions of the Congress shall be by simple majority unless stated otherwise in the constitution. SECTION F F1: POWERS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL The NEC, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, shall have the following powers; i. To co-ordinate the activities of the Students Movement and to promote the interest of the Students Movement, its members and African students. ii. Shall have the powers to direct all activities of PASMA iii. Shall be responsible for implementation of congress resolutions and programmes of PASMA as per congress resolutions. iv. To appoint sub-committees to investigate and report on any matter. v. To nominate and elect persons to represent PASMA on any body or forum constituted in terms of any law anybody or form which is desired that PASMA be represented. vi. To institute and defend legal proceedings by or against PASMA. vii. To acquire either by purchase, lease or otherwise any movable or immovable property. And to sell, let, encumber or otherwise deal with or dispose in any manner of movable or immovable property belonging to PASMA provided that property of PASMA shall be alienated, encumbered if two-third of branches are opposed to such a decision. In the event of such an occurrence the matter shall be referred to the National Congress for final decision. viii. To open, operate and close banking accounts on behalf of PASMA and generally to control funds and finances of PASMA in order to achieve the aims and objectives of PASMA as per Section B Subsection B1. ix. To borrow or raise monies and funds for and on behalf of PASMA. x. To invest monies and funds for PASMA projects. xi. To sanction and/or authorize all expenditures on behalf of PASMA. xii. To enter into, ratify or approve any agreement with any stakeholders in the education Sector on behalf of PASMA. xiii. To establish, re-establish or close down branches. xiv. To suspend or expel any Provincial Executive Committee, Branch Executive Committee member(s) or any member of PASMA after a proper investigation of the reasons precipitating thereof for a period determined by the disciplinary committee for acting contrary to the interest of PASMA or a final decision. xv. To review the decision of the BEC or Branch General Meeting and to confirm or reverse such decisions unless specifically excluded by this constitution. xvi. To provide legal assistance to members on matters affecting them and students. xvii. To delegate any of its powers in such a manner as it deems fit subject to the subsequent ratification by National Congress. No power of the NEC provided for in this constitution shall be delegated to any person or committee for a period exceeding one year provided that such delegation of power may be reviewed after proper consideration of all factors. xviii. To decide on all matters of procedure on which this constitution is silent. xix. To give final ruling on any question pertaining to the interpretation of this constitution subject to the general rules of interpretation provided by law and xx. To the directives as may be given by the National Congress from time to time. xxi. To do such other lawful things as may in the opinion of the NEC appear to be in the interest of PASMA and which are not inconsistent with the objects or any matters specifically provided for in this constitution. xxii. The National Executive Council shall meet monthly. F2: OFFICE BEARERS AND DUTIES The composition of the National Executive Council shall be as follows: i. President ii. Deputy President iii. Secretary General iv. Deputy Secretary General v. Secretary for Finance vi. National Organizer and Political Commissar The National President Shall: i. Be the Chief Executive Officer of the Movement. ii. Represent the organization nationally and internationally iii. Be responsible for the application of the principles, policies and goals of the movement. iv. Preside over all meetings of the NEC and National gatherings of PASMA. v. Supervise the implementation of decisions and resolutions of the NEC, National General Council and the National Congress, Conference. vi. Deliver the Presidential speech and report in the National Congress/Conference on policy and the progress of the movement. vii. Be a co-signatory of all PASMA national accounts. viii. Release the press statement on behalf of the NEC and PASMA. ix. Have powers to take whatever decision in the interest of the movement. DEPUTY PRESIDENT Shall: i. Deputize the President. ii. Execute mandate granted to him/her by the NEC. iii. Be Chief Officer of the Publicity and information of NEC. iv. Be responsible for the welfare of branches and members of PASMA. v. Jointly with the National Organizer be responsible for workshops and projects implementation. vi. Forge links with labour movements and other socialist, working class movements continentally and internationally. vii. Be instrumental in the realization of a strong student-worker alliance. SECRETARY GENERAL Shall: i. Be responsible for daily administration of the movement. ii. Be responsible for the implementation of the programmes of the movement. iii. Evaluate the progress of the movement. iv. Keep the register of all members of PASMA. v. Record minutes of the NEC, the National Working Committee and Congress. vi. Be the Chief of the Department of the Secretariat of PASMA. vii. Be the co-signatory of all cheques issued by the NEC. viii. Be the Chairperson of and preside over all meetings of the NWC of PASMA. DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL. Shall: i. Deputize the Secretary General in the administration of the movement. ii. Liaise with the Secretary General. iii. Be responsible for coordination of all branch and provincial Secretaries. iv. Ensure that the true position, policies and principles of PASMA are well reflected in the press or to the public. v. Responsible for the management of PASMA database and report to the NEC. SECRETARY FOR FINANCE Shall: i. Be responsible for financial administration and management of PASMA funds. ii. Be the Chief Financial Officer of PASMA. iii. Raise funds for PASMA. iv. Present to the NEC, Congress/conferences and National General Council audited financial report. v. Be a co-signatory to all cheques. vi. Receive, collect and bank all the monies of the movement. vii. Establish the Finance and fundraising Committee for the movement and be the Chairperson of the committee National Organizer and Political Commissar Shall: i. Be a coordinator of PASMA provincial, regional and Branch organizer. ii. Be responsible for establishment of regions, branches and provincial structures. iii. Be responsible for all projects and campaigns of PASMA. iv. Be responsible for organizing and conducting political, ideological and leadership workshop for PASMA members, Submit a written report on the development of projects and campaigns of PASMA to the NEC and all PASMA National gatherings. SECTION G PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (PEC) G1 Composition of the Provincial Executive shall be al follows: i. Chairperson ii. Deputy Chairperson. iii. General Secretary. iv. Deputy General Secretary. v. Secretary for Finance vi. Provincial Organizer and Political Commissar G2 Duties of Offices Bearers CHAIRPERSON Shall: i. Be responsible for the organization in the respective province ii. Represent the organization provincially and the NEC. iii. Be responsible for the application of the principles, policies and goals of the movement in the province. iv. Preside over all meetings of the PEC and provincial gatherings of PASMA. v. Supervise the implementation of decisions and resolutions of the PEC. National General Council and the National Congress/Conference in the respective province and as per the NEC mandate(s) vi. Deliver the report in the Provincial Congress/Conference on policy and the progress of the movement. vii. Be a co-signatory of all PASMA provincial accounts viii. Release the press statement on behalf of the PEC with the approval of the NEC. DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON Shall: i. Deputize the Chairperson. ii. Execute mandate granted to him/her by the PEC. iii. Be Chief Officer of the Publicity and information of PEC. iv. Be responsible for the welfare of branches and members of PASMA. v. Jointly with the Provincial Organizer be responsible for workshops and projects implementation. vi. Forge links with labour movements and other socialist, working class movements in the Province. vii. Be instrumental in the realization of a strong student-worker alliance. GENERAL SECRETARY Shall: i. Be responsible for daily administration of the movement. ii. Be responsible for the implementation of the programmes of the movement. iii. Evaluate the progress of the movement in the Province. iv. Keep the register of all members of PASMA in the Province. v. Record minutes of the PEC, the Provincial Congress/Conference. vi. Be the co-signatory of all cheques issued by the PEC. vii. Be the Chairperson of and preside over all meetings of the PEC. viii. Liaise with Secretary General DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY Shall: i. Deputize the General Secretary in the administration of the movement. ii. Liaise with the Secretary General. iii. Be responsible for coordination of all branch and Provincial Secretaries. iv. Ensure that the true position, policies and principles of PASMA are well reflected in the press or to the public. v. Be responsible for the management of PASMA database and report to the PEC. SECRETARY FOR FINANCE Shall: i. Be responsible for financial administration and management of PASMA funds. ii. Be the Chief Signatory of PASMA cheques. iii. Raise funds for PASMA. iv. Present to the NEC, Congress/Conferences and National General Council audited financial report. v. Be a co-signatory to all cheques. vi. Receive, collect and bank all the monies of the movement. vii. Establish the Finance and fundraising Committee for the movement and be the Chairperson of the committee PROVINCIAL ORGANISER AND POLITICAL COMMISSAR Shall: i. Be a coordinator of PASMA, Regional and Branch organizer. ii. Be responsible for establishment of regions and branch structures. iii. Be responsible for implementation all projects and campaigns of PASMA in the province. iv. Be responsible for organizing and conducting political, ideological and leadership workshop for PASMA members, Submit a written report on the development of projects and campaigns of PASMA and all PASMA Provincial gatherings to the PEC. SECTION: H H1: COMPOSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF A BRANCH 1. Each Branch shall have the Branch Executive Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting and as determined by the constitution. 2. A Branch shall have a minimum of 50 members. 3. Branch shall be the basis block of the organization. 4. Branches shall affiliate annually with the national office by the annual national congress of PASMA. 5. There shall be Branch meetings. H2: BRANCH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. H2.1 The BEC shall be composed of eight members: I. The Chairperson. II. General Secretary. III. Deputy General Secretary. IV. Secretary for Finance. V. Organizer VI. Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture. VII. Secretary for Political Affairs. H3 DUTIES OF THE BEC SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS. I. To represent members and/or students on all issues affecting them individually and collectively. II. To report to members and/or students on the developments within the organization and the institution and other issues concerning students and/or organization. III. To act within the mandate of members and/or students relating to any issues. IV. To convene monthly establishment meetings. V. To liaise and report to the Provincial Executive Committee and the National office. VI. And keep in pace with the decisions and programmes of the organization and report these to members, Provincial Executives and National Executive. VII. Acquire reports from students’ council and forward them to Provincial Executive Committee. VIII. Be responsible for the implementation of PASMA programmes, policies and campaigns. IX. Be responsible for recruitment, organizing and expanding the membership of the movement. X. Be responsible for supervising, monitoring and conduct of PASMA SRC member(s) and the entire membership. XI. Be responsible for maintaining organizational discipline. XII. Report to the NEC and PEC bimonthly. H4: THE DUTIES OF THE BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEMBERS CHAIRPERSON Shall: I. Preside over all meetings of the BEC. II. Be responsible for planning and organizing branch executive meetings and general meetings with the branch secretary. III. Be a member of the Provincial Executive Committee. IV. Jointly with the branch secretary submit monthly reports to the PEC and NEC about the campaign, programmes, membership and the general state of affairs of the organization in the Branch. V. Be Chief Executive Officer of the Branch of PASMA VI. Preside over the Branch Annual General Meeting. VII. Supervise the implementation of decisions and resolutions of the Branch and congress resolutions. VIII. Be the co-signatory to all cheques issued by the BEC. GENERAL SECRETARY: Shall: I. Record and report minutes of the BEC and the General meetings. II. Be responsible for planning and organizing Branch Executive meetings and general meetings with the Branch Chairperson. III. Be a co-signatory. IV. Represent the organization in the students’ forum and other assemblage. V. Report to the BEC, PEC and NEC about the state of the Branch. VI. Be responsible for the Branch Database. VII. Submit a list of new members and update of the membership to the PEC General Secretary and NEC Secretary General VIII. Record minutes of the students’ council IX. Be responsible for all correspondences. DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY Shall: I. Always assist the General Secretary in the execution of his/her daily duties. SECRETARY FOR FINANCE Shall: I. Collect, receive and bank monies of the BEC. II. Raise funds for the Branch. III. Present to the BEC at the end of the term an audited financial statement, expenditure account and a Balance sheet made out for year. IV. Issue receipts for all monies received by the BEC V. Be co-signatory to all cheques of the Branch. ORGANISER Shall: I. Be the coordinator of Branch activities of PASMA. II. Be responsible for implementation of organizational programmes, campaign and projects. III. Be responsible for planning branch workshops. IV. Serve in the campaigns and projects committee. V. Submit a written report on the development on the Branch to the BEC. SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS Shall: I. Conduct political classes monthly within the Branch. II. Serve in the campaigns and projects committee. III. Liaise with the Branch Organizer. SECRETARY FOR SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE: Shall: I. Liaise with the Regional Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture in performing duties of the department within jurisdiction of the Branch, II. Serve in the campaigns and projects committee. III. Be responsible for publicity and marketing of all branch activities. SECTION: I I1: BRANCH GENERAL MEETING 1. This shall be the lowest democratic structure of PASMA and shall be convened at least once per month by the Branch Executive Committee for the purpose of reporting, discussing and deciding upon matters affecting students and the organization. 2. Members shall have the right in a monthly any general meeting duly constituted in terms of the provision(s) of this Constitution to recall any or all PASMA members serving in the Students Representative Council from serving as such. In which case the SRC, Management and PASMA PEC and National office shall be advised of the decision in writing within 5 (five) days after such decision has been taken. 3. Branch Executive Committee shall be elected annually in an PASMA annual general meeting convened for such purpose and presided upon by the Provincial Executive Committee and the National Executive Committee. SECTION: J J1 STRUCTURES OF STUDENTS GOVERNANCE 1. PASMA members serving in the SRC and any structure(s) as per the organization mandate shall subject themselves under the supremacy of the organization through the Branch Executive Committee. 2. PASMA members serving in the Students Representative shall report monthly to the Branch. 3. Executive Committee and the Branch general meeting about their activities and the advancement of the organizational mandate(s) in the Student Governance structures. 4. PASMA member(s) serving in the students’ governance structures shall be recalled in an event the Branch deems it fit. 5. Process of recalling any member(s) from any structure of students’ governance shall involve the PEC and NEC. SECTION: K KI: NATIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL The NGC shall be the main sub-organ of the organization and shall consist of the NEC and the Branch Chairpersons, Secretaries, Secretaries of Finance and the Organizers. The NGC shall meet every four months. K2: Duties, Rights and Powers of the NGC The NGC shall: i. Receive progress reports from Branches and PECs’ ii. Assess and consider the programme implementation of the movement. iii. Be the main advisory body to the NEC. SECTION: L i. National Executive Committee: The NEC shall be elected annually at the National Congress ii. Provincial Executive Committee: The PEC shall be elected annually at a Provincial Congress. iii. Branch Executive Committee: The BEC shall be elected annually at an Annual General Meeting. SECTION: M M1: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. i. Two Thirds of eligible branches at a properly constituted National Congress shall be required to vote for any amendments to this constitution. ii. Section(s) for constitutional amendment shall be made and submitted 21 days before the date of the commencement of the National Congress to the National Executive Committee and, iii. Proposal(s) for constitutional amendment shall be seconded by at least five PASMA branches before submissions. iv. PASMA constitution shall be amended after every three years. SECTION: N N1: VOTING AND ELECTION i. Voting in any organ of the movement shall be conducted either through a show of hands or by secret ballot. The Chairperson on any such an election shall enjoy a casting in an event of a deadlock. ii. There shall be an independent electoral commission which shall be responsible for elections. In Provincial congresses and Branch AGMs’ the elections should be facilitated by the NEC and PEC respectively or both. N2: QUORUM One third of the members eligible to attend shall constitute a quorum for meetings of all structures of the movement. SECTION: O CODE OF CONDUCT This code is applicable to all PASMA members and those serving in Students Representative Councils. i. Discipline There shall be a Disciplinary Tribunal for Justice consisting of three members appointed by the PASMA NEC. Its decisions shall be reported to the NEC for ratification or otherwise. Until penalty comes before the Annual National Congress the decision of the National Executive Committee shall be effective and binding. ii. Sanctions and Penalties The Disciplinary Tribunal for Justice shall enforce all the provisions of this code in their entirety. Sanctions and Penalties shall include fines, ostracism (banishment), suspension and outright expulsion for a long or short period or for good. iii. Expression of Ideas Statement relating to policy, rogrammes of principles and tactical line of PASMA should not be lightly uttered. All public utterances or statements must reflect the ideology, policies and programmes of principles of PASMA. Policy statements in the media (print and electronic) must be made by the NEC or the President or the Secretary General any member should obtain permission from the NEC before issuing any press statement. Irresponsible statement made by anybody shall not be countenanced. iv. Responsibility Members must develop a high sense of responsibility and discipline with respect to all matters to PASMA and general students’ affairs. It is the duty of the members to circulate ideas contained in official dogged document, circulars, journals, written addresses et cetera. It is the duty of each PASMA member to strive to convert students to the ideas of PASMA and into the movement itself. Members must spread the ideas of our cause in the streets, residential areas, campaigns restaurants, at functions, on the sports field, in the social clubs ten parties, dance parties, in the church, etc. v. Acquisition of Knowledge It shall be a duty of each member of PASMA to improve, increase and develop his/her knowledge of the human kind in general and the continent in which we live. And about the African revolution, Pan Africanism, dialectical materialism, Marxism-Leninism, Socialism, workers struggle etc. Members must read different materials to enhance their knowledge and understanding of concepts. It is an offense to PASMA, the entire Africa revolution to be ignorant of current issues. Members must see to it that they hold discussions, lectures and seminars should be arranged to educate the rank and file and the new members in particular. The more ideologically and politically advance members should conduct classes for the less advance and new members. Library of pamphlets, newspapers, clippings, extracts from books etc should be compiled so as to improve and develop members on the central philosophy of Pan Africanism. Members of PASMA should develop healthy and sound personal habits. Members should maintain an exemplary standard of cleanliness. Members should conduct themselves with honour, dignity and proper decorum in the sight of the movement and the nation. They should be punctual for their appointments, especially for the meetings, discussions or other duties relating to PASMA programmes. They should be tireless in the day to day word of PASMA, Working class and the African Nation. They should develop and demonstrate honesty, frankness and courtesy towards other members. They should strive to be principled in their approach to the main problems of life and the world. They should develop and show true respect for African Womanhood and demonstrate in practice the theory of Gender equality with respect to men and women in PASMA and to the nation as whole. They should develop a true love for the African people, the Africa in particular and for humankind in general. vi. Relations with other Student Movements The Pan Africanist should be armed with theory to such an extent that they can meet other student movement on the basis of equality, but they must promote the ideas of other student movement or parties. Members of PASMA should be keen to study different ideologies, especially the philosophy of Pan Africanism in order to equip themselves fully. Members should deport themselves with poise and calmness and dignity in the presence of other student movements, in debating chambers or elsewhere. They should not display immaturity or pettiness or be apologetic or show conceived inferiority. Their poise should be natural, dynamic, human and reflective of a Pan Africanist cadre. Advance debates with facts not with a knuckle-duster. vii. Meetings Members should be punctual at meetings and any organizational gatherings which should be made known in good time to all concerned members. Meetings should be short, precise and to the point. The Chairperson of the meeting must be respected. The Chairpersons’ ruling is binding to all PASMA members The Chairperson must conduct meetings with fairness, impartiality and in a proper manner to all members. Clear decisions with no equivocation, must be taken and be implemented within the scope of PASMA and given time frames. Meetings of PASMA must be business like, focused and serious minded, the Chairperson must know his/her job well and must have studied methods conducting meetings. Members must be open, frank, objective, brief and business like in their approach to discussions viii. Democratic Centralism This means that the power of directing the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA) is centralized in the National Executive Committee. Which acts through the President who wields power as long as he/she acts within the grounds laid down by the movement, which must have been democratically arrived at. It also means the centralization of directive(s) and executive power takes place so as to ensure the most effective implementation of a decision(s). If PASMA wants to forge ahead it must adopt and carry out this principle with firmness and thoroughness. The President shall have emergency powers that may delegate, suspend the entire Constitution of the Pan Africanist Students Movement of Azania so as to ensure that the movement emerges intact through a crisis. At that time he/she directs the movement by decree and is answerable to the National Congress. ix. Factionalism Factionalism is the enemy to solidarity powers and unity of action. To destroy it at its roots, maximum self-criticism should be encouraged within the movement. A movement that adopts democratic centralism in approach to its organizational problems will know how to deal with the virus of factionalism. Where the normal process of free discussion(s) fails to curb factional tendencies, then firm iron discipline should come into play and factional elements, no matter how important they may be, should be expelled without ceremony. x. Publication The movement shall publish its own literature whenever deemed desirable, necessary and directed. SECTION: P DEFINITIONS African: Shall mean any person who is indigenous to Africa as well as any person who owe his/her loyalty to Africa and is committed to the development of Africa and respects the democratic norms and values of the indigenous people of Africa The oppressed and exploited communities of Azania are the indigenous Africans who were robbed off their land and other victims of colonialism, capitalism and imperialism who were brought to Africa by force. Azania is the name which refers to a liberated Socialist Azania which is currently referred to as “South Africa”. Bona fide member means a member who has a membership card, active in organizational activities and in good faith with the organization. Quorum shall mean a simple majority which is fifty percent plus one. SECTION: 1 Oath of Allegiance On my life honour and fortunes I solemnly pledge and swear that I shall always live up to the aims and aspirations of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and of the Pan Africanists Students Movement of Azania and shall under no circumstances divulge any secrets or plans of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and of the Pan Africanist Students Movement of Azania, or betray a member of the cause, or use the influence of PASMA for my own personal interest or advertisement, I do so at my own risk and peril. I will irrevocably obey and act upon the orders, commands, instructions and directions of the National Executive Committee of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and of the Pan Africanist Students Movement of Azania. I will always serve, suffer and sacrifice anything for the cause for which PASMA stands in any organization that I may become a member of. I accept the membership and/or leadership of PASMA. ADOPTED AT THE 9TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE PAN AFRICANIST STUDENT MOVEMENT OF AZANIA HELD AT TECHNICKON NORTHERN GAUTENG, GAUTENG PROVINCE, ON THE 30TH JUNE UNTIL THE 4TH JULY 2000 Signed: ……………………… ………………………….. Date:………………. ………………………….. Mzwakhe ka Sgudlu Nkumah Raymond Kgagudi SECRETARY GENERAL NATIONAL PRESIDENT Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania Physical address SALU/SAAU Building 20th Floor 316 Schoeman and Andries Street Pretoria Postal address P.O Box 13412 TRAMSHED 0126 |