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WOMENS UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENUERIAL & IT




GENERAL INFORMATION
LECTURER & MODULE WRITER:
Mr.George Murena Chinama,
MBA-Finance, LLM in International Commercial Law, LLB (Hons)Law, IODZ ,ACIArb, HSE3
CONTACT: +263-776689891 (Between 0900-1600 Wednesday to Friday only )
EMAIL: ranga.chinama@gmail.com

DEGREE: BSc ( Hons) Management and Entrepreneurial Development Studies:
COURSE NAME: BUSINESS LAW
COURSE: CODE BM223
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COURSE OVERVIEW
The purpose of Business Law is to introduce students to the legal environment in
which the business operates in Zimbabwe. Content will mainly support the legal
implications of various business transactions practically, beginning from basic
background knowledge of the Zimbabwean legal system. Students are only
expected to understand sources of the law, court system and the civil procedure
so far as it assists them in understanding the operation of the law to resolve
business disputes. The course will be mainly made up of subjects that explain
the formulation of legal relationships and business organisations such as the Law
of Contract, Business Structures and Commercial Law.
This course will be conducted in 6 Units of teaching while one is allocated for
revision. Crucial dates and times will be announced throughout the semester.
I. ASSUMPTION OF PRIOR LEARNING

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Students however, will be expected to:

a) Be able to read and write English coherently
b) Be able to use library resources
c) Be able to use electronic resources
d) Be able to learn independently
e) Be responsible for the material in the assigned literature

II. AIMS OF THE COURSE

a) To provide students with a thorough understanding of the legal principles that
affect business transactions
b) To inform students of the legal duties imposed upon parties in business
agreements generally and the consequences of breach
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c) To empower students with basic skills to utilise the available legal avenues for
resolution of business transactions disputes

III. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
In essence the student should be able to:
a) Understand and explain the basic legal principles of business contracts
b) Understand and explain some of the key elements of the structure of business
organisations in relation to relevant statutes
c) Apply the knowledge acquired during the course to solve and hedge legal
risks with regard to business transactions and disputes
d) Demonstrate good business communication skills verbal and non-verbal in
the business legal environment

IV. TEACHING METHODS
Lectures and tutorials/seminars will form the major teaching methods for this course.
Students will also be exposed to practical exercises through precedent and statutes in
class, individually and in groups. Students are responsible for their own additional notes
as the Lectures will only offer brief guides.
COURSE CONTENT
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction to the Zimbabwean Legal System
1.2 Significance of the Law of Contract
1.3 Significance of the Law of Agency
1.4 Significance of Commercial Law
1.5 Introduction to Business Structures
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UNIT 2: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF LAW & THE ZIMBABWEAN LEGAL SYSTEM
2.1 Basic Principles of Law
2.2 Sources of Law
2.3 Divisions of the Law
2.4 Zimbabwean court Structure
2.5 Basic Civil Procedure
2.6 Basics of Alternative Dispute Resolution
UNIT 3: THE LAW OF CONTRACT
3.1 Definition of Contract
3.2 Essential elements of a contract
3.2 Establishment of Contractual Obligations
3.4 Basic Terms of a Contract
3.5 Breach of Contract
3.6 Remedies of Breach
UNIT 4 THE LAW OF AGENCY
4.1 Definition of Agency
4.2 Formation of the Agency Contract
4.3 Duties of Agent
4.4 Types of Agents
4.5 Rights and Duties of Principal
4.5 Agency and Third Parties
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4.6 Termination of Agency Agreements
UNIT 5 COMMERCIAL LAW
5.1.General overview of the course in mercantile law and its relationship to other
branches of the law.

5.2 The contract of sale.

5.3 Special sales - Auctions, FOB, CIF, FOR. Lay byes, installment sales, Hire
Purchase sales.

5.4 The Concept of Risk.

5.5 The Law of carriages of goods in Zimbabwe.
UNIT 6 BUSINESS STRUCTURES
6.1 Types of business organizations
6.2 Statutory provisions and registration requirements
6.3 Important Provisions of the Companies Act and the Private Business
Corporations Act
6.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of business structures




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UNIT 7 REVISION & END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATION
7.1 Group discussions
7.2 Clarification lecture
7.3 End of Semester Examination
8.ASSESSMENT
This course will assess students understanding of the course through the methods
and allocation as shown below:
2 Assignments and Final Examination
a) .All assignments and examinations must be submitted in order to complete
the course successfully
b) No cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated

9. Program of Study
a) Lectures will be presented by the lecturer on various aspects of the legal
environment of business
b) Study assignments will be made from the texts
c) Students are expected to read, study and be responsible for the material in
the assigned literature
d) Reading may be supplemented by recent articles appearing in current
business magazines, publications and questions
e) Discussions questions will be assigned, will be assigned to students for
group presentations
i. Each group will do one discussion question ;discuss(orally)
its question and all groups will submit written answers to the
questions
ii. How it works;
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a. the class will be divided into study groups
b. each group will make a presentation ranging
from 5-10 minutes of the summary of its
answers to the assigned topic
c. each study group will submit written answers to
the assigned topic to lecturer


RESOURCES
BOOKS
1. Christie R. H, (1998), Business law in Zimbabwe, 3rd edition, Lansdowne; Juta
2. Christie,R.H,(2002), The Law of Contract in South Africa, 3
rd
edition, Durban;
Butterworths
3. Chizikani A.R, (2010), Commercial Law in Zimbabwe, Harare; Word and Image
Publishers
4. Farlam and Hathaway,(1988) Contract cases, materials and commentary, 3
rd
edition,
Johannesburg; Juta and Co. Ltd,
5. Havenga P., et al, (2010), General principles of commercial law, 7
th
edition,
Claremont; Juta & Company
6. Grogan J (1999), Workplace law, 4th edition, Kenywn; Juta and Company Ltd

STATUTES

1. The Companies Act [Chapter 24:03]
2. The Consumer Contracts Act [Chapter 8:03]
3. The Hire purchase Act [Chapter 14:09]
4. The Private Business Corporations Act [Chapter 24:11]