Co-operatives Act (No. 12 of 2005).

This Act makes provision for the formation and registration of cooperative societies, defines their powers, privileges and duties and provides for their internal organization, management and finances and for dispute resolution and provides for other matters relating to the functioning of cooperative societies and cooperative development.
The Act consists of 136 sections divided into 17 Parts.
There shall be a Registrar of Cooperative Societies who shall keep a register of societies and may appoint inspectors for purposes of this Act. Cooperative societies may be primary, secondary or tertiary cooperative societies. Primary societies may be formed by natural persons whereas secondary and tertiary societies may be formed only by other societies. The Act provides for the establishment of a Cooperative Tribunal, the Cooperative Development Advisory Board, the National Institute for Cooperative Entrepreneurship and a Cooperative Development Fund.