Cap. 25:27 Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act No. 1/2006 (2) The appointment of the chairperson and members referred to in subsection (1)(c) shall be undertaken in such a manner as to ensure, in so far as is practically possible, that(a) the functions of the Council, in terms of this Act, are discharged according to the highest professional standards; (b) the membership taken as a whole is broadly representative of the higher education system and related interests such as research development; (c) due attention is given to the representativity of the Council on such relevant grounds as gender, ethnicity, religion, arts and sciences. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), the Minister shall, by notice in the Gazette and by advertisement in any other media he or she deems fit, invite nominations for the members of the Council concerned from the public and from national organisations which the Minister considers to represent(a) students, academic employees and non-academic employees in institutions of higher education; and (b) vice-chancellors of State universities and private universities; and (c) the business community and labour; and (d) any statutory body established to regulate any professional or calling; and (e) private voluntary organisations registered under the Private Voluntary Organisations Act [Chapter 17:05]. (4) the Minister shall cause the names of members of the Council to be published by notice in the Gazette. (5) The Second Schedule shall apply to the terms and conditions of office, qualifications, filling of vacancies of members of Council and the procedure to be followed by Council at its meetings. (6) If members of the public or any organisation referred to in subsection (3) fails to submit a list of nominees for appointment to the Council within thirty days of being invited to do so by the Minister, the Minister may appoint any person to represent members of the public or organisation concerned, and the person so appointed shall hold office as a member in all respects as if he or she had been duly nominated and appointed in terms of subsection (3). 8 Responsibilities of the Minister (1) The Minister shall refer all proposals for legislation on higher education, including Bills for new Acts and Bills to amend existing Acts, to the Council for advice. (2) The Minister shall give due consideration to the advice given by the Council in terms of subsection (1). (3) The Minister may act without the advice of the Council if` (a) the matter is urgent; or (b) the Council has failed to provide the advice within a reasonable time. 9 The Secretariat (1) There shall be a Secretariat of the Council consisting of(a) the Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Minister subject to such directions as the President may give him; and -6-