law: Co-Operative Societies Act 2008 
  Part
  
  III Membership and Meetings
  23.
  
  Application and qualification for membership
  1.      An application for
  
  membership of a society must be submitted to the Board in such form as the
  
  Board approves.
  2.      In order to qualify
  
  for the membership of a society, a person, other than a registered society—
  a.     
  
    must
  
  be a belonger to, or resident of ;
  b.    
  
    must
  
  not be an undischarged bankrupt;
  c.     
  
    must
  
  not be of unsound mind; and
  d.    
  
    must
  
  be 16 years of age or older.
  1.      
  2.      
  3.      The Board shall
  
  notify each applicant for membership whether his application has been approved
  
  or disapproved.
  4.      A society may not
  
  without the permission of the Registrar register as a member a person who is a
  
  member of another society whose primary object is to grant loans to its
  
  members, nor may a registered society become a member of another registered
  
  society of the same type.