(3) The First Schedule applies to the qualifications of members of the Commission,their terms and conditions of office, vacation of office, suspension and dismissal, and the procedure to be followed by the Commissionat its meetings. 4 Functions of Commission (1) In addition to the provision of section 246 of theConstitution, the functions of the Commission shall be— (a) to convene and host the Gender Forum in accordance with Part IV; and (b) to do any other thing that the Commission may be required or permitted to do by or under this Act or any other enactment. (2) The Second Schedule sets out the ancillary powers of the Commission. PART III INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION OF ZIMBABWE GENDER COMMISSION 5 Investigative function of Commission Before launching an investigation the Commission shall publish a notice in the Gazette and in any one or more national newspapers informing the public that, no earlier than fourteen days or later than thirty days after the publication of the notice in the Gazette, it intends to investigate any systemic barrier prejudicial to gender equality in a specific named sphere of activity or named sector of the society or economy. 6 Manner of conducting investigations (1) Subject to subsection (6) (concerning non-disclosure of certain evidence) the Commission may in its discretion conduct an investigation in the form of a public or closed hearing, for which purpose the Commission shall have the following powers— (a) to issue summons to any person or the principal to attend before the Commission and to produce any document or record relevant to any investigation by the Commission; and (b) to put any questions to any person which the Commission considers will assist its investigation of the matter in question; and (c) to require any person questioned by it to answer such questions and to disclose any information within such person’s knowledge which the Commission considers relevant to any investigation by it; and (d) to request the assistance of the police during an investigation. (2) In conducting a hearing theCommissionshall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence, and it may ascertain any relevant fact by any means which it thinks fit and which is not unfair or unjust to any party. (3) The Commissionshall afford any person who is alleged to be directly or indirectly responsible for perpetrating, implementing, perpetuating or permitting the continuance of any systemic barrier prejudicial to gender equality, fourteen working days from the date of notification from the Commission to respond to such allegation. 8