Cap. 10:31 Ponuc El'.'TITIE.'> CoRPOR'I.TE GovERNANCE No. 4/2018 419. Views, opinions and input from minority shareholders should be considered in making decisions so as to secure the sound protection of their interests especially where their combined shareholding is significant. 420. The interests and expectations of stakeholders, even if viewed as illegitimate or insignificant, should be considered and not be ignored. 421. The company's reputation and its linkage with stakeholder relationships should be a regular item on the agenda of the Board. 422. The Board should, from time to time, identify important groups of stakeholders and their legitimate interests and expectations relevant to the company's strategic objectives. 423. Stakeholders who can materially affect the operations of the company should be identified, assessed and considered as patt of the risk management process. 424. The Board should disclose in its integrated report the nature of its dealings with its stakeholders and the outcomes of those dealings. 425. In addition to formal pmcesses such as annual general meetings, the Board should consider infomml processes such as direct contacts, websites, adve1tising or press releases as means of interacting with stakeholders. 426. The Board should disclose in its integrated report the nature of its dealings with its stakeholders and the outcomes of those dealings. 427. Subject to the best interests of the company, reasonable steps necessary to maintain the conlidencc of stakeholders should always be taken when considering their legitimate interests and expectations. 428. In dealing with stakeholder differences, conflicts or disagreements, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms should be used and litigation should be used only as a last resmt. 429. Altemative dispute resolution mechanisms can enhance or restore stakeholder confidence, remove tensions, relieve pressure on company reputation and offer opportunities to align expectations, ideas and opinions on other issues. 430. A company should usc communication channels that are accessible to its stakeholders and adopt communication guidelines that support a responsible communication programme with its stakeholders. 431. The stakeholder communication programme should ensure that all stakeholders who have a right to know pmticular matters conceming the company are properly informed about them, effective feedback systems exist, the Board is aleited in a timely fashion to matters which should be communicated to stakeholders and processes exist to deal rapidly and sensitively with any crisis. 432. A company should consider disclosing in its integrated report the number and reasons for any refusals of a request for information made to it in terms of the law or this Code by any of its stakeholders. CHAFI'ER 9 RoLE OF GovER.t'!MEN7 IN CoRPORATE GovERNANCE Preamble 433. Govemment plays both an administrative role and a coordinating role tluuugh its agencies at every leveL It is responsible for the maintenance of security, law and order and the protection of property of all members of society. 159