High Court of Zambia - 2017 December

39 judgments

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39 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2017
Applicant proved respondent's remaining loan indebtedness; counterclaim and challenge to bank charges dismissed for lack of evidence.
Contract law – loan repayment – enforcement of employee remedial loan after resignation; burden of proof – reliance on bank records and account statements; effect of third‑party payments on borrower’s liability; interest and costs on unpaid loan.
29 December 2017
29 December 2017
Search and continued occupation of premises without produced warrant or court order was unlawful; prohibition and vacation ordered.
Constitutional and criminal procedure law – search and seizure – requirement for search warrant and police procedural records (Section 15 Police Act; Section 118 Criminal Procedure Code) – unlawful occupation of private property without court order – judicial review: illegality, procedural impropriety, irrationality, legitimate expectation – remedies: prohibition granted, certiorari and mandamus refused/unsuccessful.
29 December 2017
29 December 2017
Specific performance refused; plaintiff failed to prove major losses; defendant lawfully called advance guarantee; limited reimbursement awarded.
Contract law – specific performance discretionary and impracticable where contract expired and claimant contributed to delay; Factory Acceptance Test delays; advance payment guarantee lawfully called; damages not proved without evidence; limited reimbursement for travel rescheduling and interest on late advance.
29 December 2017
28 December 2017
28 December 2017
27 December 2017
26 December 2017
25 December 2017
Ballistic matching and unexplained coincidences supported murder convictions for two accused; third acquitted for lack of linkage.
Criminal law – Murder – Circumstantial evidence and forensic ballistics – Ballistic matching of cartridges to seized AK47 – Joint enterprise/common intention (s.22 Penal Code) – Acquittal where no evidence of participation.
22 December 2017
Appeal dismissed; forgery and uttering convictions upheld based on expert guidance, court’s comparison, witness credibility, and proper sentencing.
Criminal law – Forgery of judicial document – Handwriting expert evidence as a guide – Court’s independent comparison; Drawing inferences – only reasonable inference; Uttering false document – witness credibility and circumstantial evidence; Sentencing discretion – appellate interference only for manifestly wrong sentences.
21 December 2017
Conviction for child trafficking upheld: s.3(1) is self-contained, indictment defect cured, and consent is no defence.
Criminal law – Trafficking in persons – Interpretation of section 3(1) and subsections (2)–(11) – Indictment defects and curative considerations – Sufficiency of trial judgment (s.169 CPC) – Consent immaterial under s.21 – Child victim enhancements (s.3(2)).
20 December 2017
Applicant’s missing spouse presumed dead after 11 years’ absence; applicant may seek letters of administration.
Presumption of death – seven‑year absence rule – High Court inherent jurisdiction – adequacy of inquiries (police report, family enquiries, newspaper advertisement) – Non‑Contentious Probate Rules (Rule 53) distinction.
19 December 2017
19 December 2017
19 December 2017
15 December 2017
15 December 2017
12 December 2017
12 December 2017
12 December 2017
11 December 2017
8 December 2017
Applicant's title valid but possession denied due to bona fide purchaser; State ordered to provide alternative land.
Land law – title description – certified survey diagram prevails over inconsistent certificate wording; erroneous issuance of subsequent title; bona fide purchaser for value without notice protected; remedy by State allocation of alternative land and rectification of register; failure to prove damages for improvements.
6 December 2017
Conviction quashed where the trial Magistrate distorted the record and wrongly shifted the burden of proof to the accused.
Criminal law – Arson – ingredients of offence – burden of proof lies on prosecution beyond reasonable doubt; Criminal procedure – Revision – judgment must reflect and be grounded in the record; Trial error – court must not clarify or amplify unintelligible record; Misdirection – shifting burden to accused is impermissible; Precedent – reliance on inapplicable authority invalidates reasoning.
6 December 2017
5 December 2017
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
Successful appeal against a Certificate of Re-entry restored title; third parties who relied on incomplete re-allocation procedures acquired no legal title.
Lands and Deeds Registry Act ss33–34 – Certificate of title conclusive; Cancellation of Certificate of Re-entry – effect of successful appeal; Administrative lapse by Commissioner – rectification and remedies; Offer letters and Circular No.1 of 1985 – procedural compliance required before allocation; Part‑performance/equitable interest – no proprietary right absent valid offers.
4 December 2017
4 December 2017
Gratuity accrues only from the contract containing a gratuity clause; overtime unproven; salary and unpaid leave awarded.
Employment law — contractual gratuity: entitlement arises only where contract expressly provides; retrospective recalculation on final salary denied. Proof of overtime requires contemporaneous records. Employee on notice remains entitled to salary and accrued leave. Counterclaim for overpayment may be set off
2 December 2017
2 December 2017
1 December 2017
1 December 2017
1 December 2017