. (b) NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF ZIMBABWE ACT as amended 2006 (ii) made an assignment to, or arrangement or composition with, his creditors which has not been rescinded or set aside; has within the period of five years immediately preceding the date of his proposed appointment or election, as the case may be, been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of or exceeding six months imposed without the option of a fine and has not received a free pardon. 8 Vacation of office by member (1) A member shall vacate his office and his office shall become vacant— (a) thirty days after the date upon which he gives notice in writing to the Minister of his intention to resign his office or after the expiry of such other period of notice as he and the Minister may agree; or (b) on the date he begins to serve a sentence of imprisonment the term of which is not less than six months, whether or not any portion has been suspended, imposed without the option of a fine in any country; or (c) if he becomes disqualified in terms of paragraph (a) of section seven to hold office as a member; or (d) if he is required in terms of subsection (2) to vacate his office; or (e) if he is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board of which he has had notice, without the permission of the Board. (2) The Minister may at any time require a member to vacate his office if the Minister is satisfied that the member— (a) has conducted himself in a manner that is unbecoming of a member or is prejudicial to the interests or reputation of the Board or the National Arts Council; or (b) is mentally or physically incapable of performing his duties as a member. 9 Chairman and vice-chairman of Board (1) The Minister shall appoint one member as chairman of the Board and the members shall elect a vice-chairman of the Board from among themselves. (2) The vice-chairman shall exercise the functions of the chairman during any period that the chairman is unable to exercise his functions. 10 Proceedings of Board (1) The Board shall meet for the dispatch of business and adjourn, close and otherwise regulate its meetings and proceedings as it thinks fit. (2) If at any meeting of the Board the chairman and the vice-chairman are both absent, the members present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of that meeting. (3) The chairman of the Board or any other member presiding at any meeting of the Board shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote. (4) Subject to section five, at any meeting of the Board, nine members of whom four are members referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section five, shall form a quorum. (5) Subject to subsection (3), the decision of the majority of the members present and voting at any meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be a decision of the Board. 11 Committees of Board (1) For the better exercise of its functions the Board may establish one or more committees in which may be vested such of the functions of the Board as the Board may direct: Provided that the vesting in a committee of any such functions shall not divest the Board of such functions and the Board may amend or rescind any decision of any such committee in the exercise of its functions. (2) Meetings of a committee of the Board may be convened at any time and at any place by the chairman of the Board or the chairman of that committee. (3) The procedure of a committee of the Board shall be fixed by the Board. (4) On the establishment of a committee of the Board in terms of subsection (1) the Board— (a) shall appoint to that committee at least one member of the Board who shall be the chairman of that committee; (b) may appoint as members of that committee, on such terms and conditions as the Board may fix, persons who are not members of the Board. 12 Remuneration of members of Board and of committees Members of the Board or of any committee established in terms of section eleven shall be paid from the funds of the National Arts Council such allowances, if any, as the Board may fix with the approval of the Minister, to meet any reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with the business of the Board or the committee, as the case may be. 13 Validity of decisions and acts of Board No decision or act of the Board or act done under the authority of the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the fact that— (a) the Board consisted of fewer than the total number of members; or (b) a disqualified person purported to act as a member at the time the decision was taken or the act was done or authorized; if the decision was taken or the act was done or authorized by a majority vote of the persons who at the time were entitled to act as members. 14 Execution of contracts or instruments by National Arts Council An agreement contract or instrument approved by the Board may be entered into or executed on behalf of the National Arts Council by any person or persons generally or specifically authorized by the Board for that purpose. PART III FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL 15 Functions of National Arts Council (1) The functions of the National Arts Council shall be— (a) to foster, develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts in Zimbabwe by encouraging the teaching and practice of the arts and their presentation, performance, execution and exhibition to the public; and (b) to advise and co-operate with the Government, local authorities, registered arts organizations, or any other societies, organizations, associations, groups or other bodies or individuals in any matter concerned directly or indirectly with the arts and the teaching or practice thereof. (2) For the better exercise of its functions the National Arts Council shall, subject to this Act, have power to do or cause to be done, either by itself or through its agents, all or