High Court of Zambia - 2020 May

56 judgments

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56 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
May 2020
29 May 2020
Court dismissed interim injunction in procurement dispute, finding arbitration regime and adequacy of damages weigh against equitable relief.
Public Procurement — arbitration clause — court’s power to grant interim relief before arbitral tribunal appointed; interlocutory injunction — American Cyanamid principles — serious question to be tried; adequacy of damages; balance of convenience; possible unclean hands.
29 May 2020
29 May 2020
29 May 2020
28 May 2020
28 May 2020
28 May 2020
27 May 2020
27 May 2020
27 May 2020
27 May 2020
26 May 2020
26 May 2020
26 May 2020
26 May 2020
22 May 2020
21 May 2020
Court refused to review its dismissal for non-compliance with Orders for Directions; counsel’s omission insufficient to reopen the case.
Civil procedure – Review of own judgment under Order 39(1) – Dismissal for non-compliance with Orders for Directions under Order 41(3) – Procedural compliance and sanctions – No review where no new evidence or sufficient grounds shown.
21 May 2020
21 May 2020
Stay of execution refused where applicant’s appeal lacked real prospects and special circumstances were not shown.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution pending appeal — Two-fold test: real prospects of success and irreparable harm — Prospects of success is the key consideration — No stay where appeal lacks reasonable chance of success — Breach of contract.
21 May 2020
21 May 2020
21 May 2020
Failure to file the mandatory Notice of Intention to Proceed after one year rendered the assessment application a nullity; leave to reply refused.
Civil procedure – Order 2 Rule 3 High Court Rules – Notice of Intention to Proceed after one year – Failure to comply renders subsequent proceedings a nullity and deprives court of jurisdiction; leave to file affidavit in reply refused; party permitted to file Notice of Intention to Proceed and thereafter notice of assessment.
20 May 2020
18 May 2020
18 May 2020
Deposit of title deeds creates an equitable mortgage entitling lender to foreclosure nisi, then absolute foreclosure if unpaid.
Mortgage law – Equitable mortgage by deposit of title deeds – Borrower identity – Default and outstanding debt – Remedies of equitable mortgagee limited to foreclosure (no statutory power of sale or automatic possession) – Enforceability of contractual interest.
18 May 2020
Applicant's inability to pay legal fees did not justify inordinate delay; leave to appeal out of time was dismissed.
Civil procedure – Leave to appeal out of time – Order III, Rule 2 – inordinate delay – insufficiency of financial inability as sole explanation – duty to lodge notice of appeal – discretion exercised in interests of justice.
18 May 2020
18 May 2020
18 May 2020
Certificate of title is conclusive absent distinctly proved fraud; defendants failed to prove fraud and were found to have trespassed.
Land law – Certificate of title conclusive; impeachment only on clear, distinctly pleaded and proved fraud – Lands and Deeds Registry Act ss.33–35; Res judicata – requirements and scope; Trespass to land – unjustifiable interference with possession; Particularity of pleading fraud; Assessment of damages by Deputy Registrar.
18 May 2020
18 May 2020
Employee's claims for gratuity, unpaid allowances and commission dismissed; employer's recovery of staff loan and advances upheld with interest.
Employment law — fixed-term contract — gratuity payable only on successful completion — no pro rata entitlement absent contractual/statutory basis; burden of proof on claimant; payroll and HR documents as proof of payment; employer entitled to recover loans and advances paid on assumption of contract completion; notice requirement and forfeiture consequences.
15 May 2020
15 May 2020
15 May 2020
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
Rule 77(4) disclosure requires a specific affidavit matter; variation/discharge of a High Court ruling must be applied to in the High Court.
Family law – Ancillary relief – Rule 77(4) Matrimonial Causes Rules 1973 – Scope of requests for further information – Relevance requirement; Procedure – Appeal from Deputy Registrar to judge in Chambers – rehearing de novo; Civil procedure – Proper forum for variation/discharge of High Court ruling versus property-settlement applications.
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
Court found two plot descriptions referred to the same land, cancelled a tainted title for impropriety, and upheld the plaintiff's ownership.
Land law – boundary/identification disputes – whether differing plot identifiers describe same parcel; certificate of title conclusive but voidable for fraud or procedural impropriety; survey diagrams and offer letters as evidence of location; cancellation of title for anomalous issuance.
14 May 2020
14 May 2020
Seller entitled to price where unascertained goods were ascertained and property passed on delivery; counterclaim dismissed for want of prosecution.
Sale of Goods Act 1893 – unascertained goods – ascertainment by invoicing and appropriation – property passes on delivery – seller's right to sue for price under s49; counterclaim dismissed for want of prosecution.
14 May 2020
13 May 2020
Court entered judgment on admission for unpaid invoice, ordered interest and three monthly instalments with acceleration on default.
Commercial procedure – Judgment on admission; Order LIII r.6 High Court (Amendment) Rules S.I. No.27/2012 – failure to specifically traverse allegations deemed admission – admission of indebtedness – interest at short-term deposit and Bank of Zambia lending rates – instalment payment with acceleration on default; Practice Directions; China Henan precedent.
12 May 2020
11 May 2020
11 May 2020
Buyer entitled to damages and reimbursement after seller delivered a non‑operational refurbished rig late; counterclaim dismissed.
Sale of Goods Act 1893 – concurrent payment and delivery – implied condition of fitness for purpose (s14(1)) where buyer relies on seller’s skill – express warranty breach – remedies: damages and reimbursement of repair parts – insufficiency of evidence for loss of revenue/reputation – dismissal of counterclaim for exchange losses.
11 May 2020