CHILDREN’S PROTECTION AND ADOPTION ACT (as amended at 01 December 2002) or not the person so appointed is able to represent the views of the body whose nominations were called for. (4) Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Minister for such period, not exceeding three years, as he shall specify on their appointment. (5) The Minister shall designate one member of the Council to be its chairman and another to be its deputy chairman. (6) Half the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Council. (7) The Council shall— (a) hold its meetings at least four times a year and in accordance with such procedure; and (b) keep and furnish to the Minister such records of its meetings; as may be prescribed or as may be directed by the Minister. (8) Members of the Council shall be paid, out of moneys appropriated for the purpose by Act of Parliament, such remuneration and allowances as may be prescribed. (9) The Director shall be responsible for performing the functions of secretary of the Council. (10) The Minister, with the approval of the Public Service Commission, shall assign as staff of the Council such persons employed in his Ministry as will enable the Council properly to carry out its functions in terms of this Act. 2B Functions of Council The functions of the Council shall be— (a) to advise the Minister and any other person that the Council thinks appropriate on any matter relating to the welfare of children; (b) to monitor the overall situation of children in need of care and to try to ensure that their welfare and rights are advanced; (c) to promote and encourage the co-ordination of the activities of organizations which have as their object the promotion and protection of the rights of children; and (d) to administer the Child Welfare Fund; and (e) to perform any other function that may be assigned to it by the Minister. 2C Validity of decisions and acts of Council No decision or act of the Council shall be invalid solely because there was a vacancy in the membership of the Council or because a disqualified person purported to act as a member of the Council at the time the decision was taken or the act was done or authorized. PART II CHILDREN'S COURTS 3 Establishment of children's courts (1) The Minister responsible for justice may, after consultation with the Minister, establish a children's court for any area of Zimbabwe. (2) Every magistrates court shall be a children's court for any part of the area of its jurisdiction for which no children's court has been established in terms of subsection (1). 4 Officers of children's courts (1) The Minister responsible for justice shall designate a magistrate to preside over a children's court established in terms of subsection (1) of section three. (2) The officer presiding over a children's court may summon to his aid to sit with him as assessor or assessors any person who has or any two persons who have, in his opinion, experience in any matter which may arise for decision at any sitting, inquiry or hearing: 8