MEMBERSHIP OF THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE OF MARKETING

The Zambia Institute of Marketing is a membership organisation regulating the practice of marketing in Zambia as provided for in the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act No. 14 of 2003. It is a requirement by the Zambian law that in order for anyone to practice marketing in Zambia membership of the Zambia Institute of Marketing is a must. The ZIM Act in Part IV, Section 23, Subsections (1) and (2) states as follow: (1) Any person not registered by the Council or a person who is de-registered by the Council shall not: (a) Practice or offer services in marketing; (b) Practice or offer services as a consultant or adviser in marketing; (c) Adopt, or use or exhibit any title designated under this Act; or (d) Do anything likely to lead persons to infer that the person is registered as a Member under this Act. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES The Zambia Institute of Marketing is an all inclusive membership organisation because it recognises the dynamism of the marketing profession. As a result there are a number of membership categories to cater for every practitioner in
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various sectors of the marketing disciplines. The membership classes are shown below: 1. Fellow This is the highest grade of membership of the Zambia Institute of Marketing. It must be emphasised that only Full Members can apply for upgrade to Fellow upon satisfying the laid down conditions. Other classes of membership cannot upgrade to Fellow. For one to contest the post of President of the Institute one has to be a Fellow. Fellows would be Full Members holding the under-listed qualifications and possessing the under-listed qualities and experience in either commerce and industry or academia:
1.1 1.2

1.3

1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8

Recognised Diploma in Marketing or equivalence of the ZIM Professional Diploma in Marketing; or Degree in Marketing from the Copperbelt University or equivalent recognised Degree in Marketing from a recognised university; or Postgraduate Degree in Marketing; or Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing assessed using the TEVETA criteria; or Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing; or Has significantly generated new product innovations and development; or Has introduced unique marketing practices in commerce and industry; or Has been engaged in marketing practice at Functional Head level of Marketing Manager and/or Marketing Director in a reputable or formal organisation or as a Marketing Consultant for ten (10) years and above; or

1.9 Has significantly contributed to the body of Marketing knowledge through professional publications and literature; or 1.10 Has consistently undertaken advanced research in marketing academia for a minimum of ten (10) years; or 1.11 Has been engaged in marketing practice as a Senior Lecturer at either a reputable college or university for ten (10) years; or 1.12 Must have served for an additional seven (7) years in industry or academia from the time of being admitted as Full Member of the Zambia Institute of Marketing. Applicants for Fellowship must provide three (3) written references from one Fellow of the Zambia Institute of Marketing, one prominent marketing personality from industry or academia and his/her current or previous employers clearly authenticating the attainments of the applicant thereby indicating his/her suitability for the membership of Fellowship category. 2. Honourary Membership An Honourary Member shall be any person whom the Institute desires to honour for: 2.1 Distinguished work in marketing practice or education or in a related discipline; 2.2 Exceptional and exemplary services relating to marketing or a related discipline; 2.3 Exceptional services rendered to the Institute; or 2.4 Association to the Institute which is beneficial to i. The Council of the Institute shall give notification of the intention to propose a person as an Honourary Member at a meeting of the Council. The election of an Honourary
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Member shall be by unanimous vote of the members of the Council present at the subsequent meeting.

3.

Full Membership Full Members are eligible to contest any positions, except that of President, on the ZIM Council. Full Members would be persons who have attained the age of 21 years old and above and holding the following qualifications and relevant experience in either commerce and industry or academia:
3.1

3.2

3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6

Recognised Diploma in Marketing or equivalence of the ZIM Professional Diploma in Marketing; or Degree in Marketing from the Copperbelt University or equivalent recognised Degree in Marketing from a recognised university; or Postgraduate Degree in Marketing; or Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing assessed using the TEVETA criteria; or Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing; and Has a minimum of three (3) years relevant marketing experience in either commerce and industry or academia.

4. Graduate Membership Graduate Members would be persons at the age of 21 years old and above who have just accomplished their studies in a recognised marketing qualification but do not
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possess the minimum practical experience in marketing. This class of membership is not eligible to contest for any position on the Council though they are eligible to vote at the AGM. Graduate Members are eligible for upgrade to Full Membership upon attaining the minimum practical experience in marketing. These would be persons holding the following qualifications: 4.1 Recognised Diploma in Marketing or equivalence of the ZIM Professional Diploma in Marketing; or 4.2 Degree in Marketing from the Copperbelt University or equivalent recognised Degree in Marketing from a recognised university; or 4.3 Postgraduate Degree in Marketing; or 4.4 Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing assessed using the TEVETA criteria; or 4.5 Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing. 5. Associate Membership This membership class caters for all those holding part marketing or non marketing qualifications but engaged in marketing related jobs. Associate Members are not eligible to contest any positions on the ZIM Council though they have the right to vote. Associate Members would be persons holding the following qualifications with relevant marketing experience in commerce and industry: Degree or Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration, Economics, or Commerce; or 5.2 Degree or Postgraduate Degree in Public Administration, Mass Communication, Sociology, Psychology, Engineering, or any other recognised Degree or Postgraduate Degree from a recognised University;
5.1 5

5.3 Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Diploma in Marketing; or 5.4 Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma without marketing specialisation assessed using the TEVETA criteria; and 5.5 A minimum of three (3) years marketing experience in commerce and industry.

6. Student Membership Student members would be persons pursuing studies in marketing in the programmes approved by the Council. These must be recognised programmes from recognised Institutions or Universities such that upon completion one can be admitted as Graduate Member or Full Member if possessing the minimum practical marketing experience. Student Members are not eligible to contest any positions on the Council and are not eligible to vote. They can attend the AGM as observers only but not to participate in any deliberations. The following are the approved programmes for eligibility as Student Member: 6.1 Recognised Certificate, Advanced Certificate or equivalence of the ZIM Professional Diploma in Marketing; or 6.2 Degree in Marketing from the Copperbelt University or equivalent recognised Degree in Marketing from a recognised University; or 6.3 Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing assessed using the TEVETA criteria; or 6.4 Chartered Institute of Marketing programme; and

6.5 Must be registered as a Marketing Student at a recognised Training Institution approved by the Council. 7. Corporate Membership This category of membership is a preserve of statutory corporations, companies, training institutions, associations or any other body, division, department or section which is directly engaged in marketing activity or is professionally interested in marketing in Zambia and which has two or more members of staff who are Full Members or Fellows of the Zambia Institute of Marketing.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP (a) A person shall apply for membership to the Registrar of the Institute in the prescribed form upon payment of the prescribed fee. (b) The Registrar shall, as soon as possible after receipt of an application, forward it to the Registration Committee. (c) Where the Registration Committee is satisfied that the applicant holds the relevant qualifications the Registration Committee shall issue a practicing certificate. QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP A person shall not be registered as a member of the Institute unless the person (a) (b) Has attained the age of 21; Holds qualifications recognised by the Council;
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(c) Has passed the professional competence examinations conducted by the Council; and (d) Has paid the registration and membership fees prescribed by the Council. DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP A person shall not qualify to be registered as a member if the person: (a) Has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty; (b) Has been adjudged or declared to be of unsound mind or insane; and (c) Is an undischarged bankrupt.