High Court of Zambia - 2020

469 judgments

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469 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2020
16 September 2020
16 September 2020
14 September 2020
14 September 2020
14 September 2020
11 September 2020
11 September 2020
11 September 2020
11 September 2020
Plaintiff's late compliance triggered dismissal for want of prosecution, while defendant's third-party proceedings continue independently.
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – effect of dismissal – Order for further directions – third-party proceedings survive dismissal – independent lis – fresh action not barred.
11 September 2020
Re-entry without statutory notice and opportunity to make representations is invalid; title restored to the applicant.
Land law — Re-entry/repossession — Section 13 Lands Act — Requirement of breach, three-month notice and opportunity to make representations — Land register printout insufficient to validate re-entry — Invalid dispossession vitiates subsequent transfer.
10 September 2020
Respondent's retaliatory conduct insufficient for divorce, but petitioner's neglect caused irretrievable breakdown; decree nisi granted.
Family law – Divorce – Irretrievable breakdown – Section 9(1)(b) unreasonable behaviour – Section 9(2) inquiry – Section 23 respondent relief – credibility and unpleaded evidence – custody and maintenance reserved.
10 September 2020
10 September 2020
9 September 2020
Joinder under Order 14 Rule 5(1) requires a demonstrated interest or likely affectedness; absent that, application dismissed.
Civil procedure — Joinder under Order 14 Rule 5(1) — Requirement that proposed party have an interest in the subject-matter or be likely affected by outcome — Survey evidence and Lands Register — Effectual and complete adjudication without joinder.
9 September 2020
Preliminary objection dismissed: plaintiff has a cause of action, claim not time‑barred, and no multiplicity or res judicata.
Civil procedure — preliminary issues — cause of action — statutory limitation for simple contract — multiplicity of actions/res judicata — separate corporate personality.
9 September 2020
8 September 2020
8 September 2020
Court entered judgment on admission where defendant's pleadings and correspondence plainly acknowledged the debt.
Judgment on admission — Admission in pleadings and correspondence — Requirement that admission be clear, unambiguous and unequivocal — Counterclaim or draft forensic report does not automatically bar judgment on admission — Orders XXI HCR & Order 27 RSC.
7 September 2020
1 September 2020
1 September 2020
August 2020
Ex‑parte leave to substantially amend pleadings was improper; amendments should be sought inter‑partes and usually on costs.
Civil procedure — Amendment of pleadings — Leave to amend may be granted at any stage but ordinarily on terms as to costs — Substantial or post‑defence amendments ought to be heard inter‑partes — Ex‑parte order to amend set aside.
31 August 2020
31 August 2020
31 August 2020
31 August 2020
31 August 2020
Employer breached duty to provide a safe wash bay; plaintiff awarded damages; contributory negligence unsuccessful.
Employer duty of care – workplace safety and supervision – inadequate wash‑bay controls and signage – breach of duty – causation – contributory negligence rejected – Mines and Minerals Act strict liability applies to registered holder only – assessment of damages (pain and suffering, permanent incapacity, loss of prospective earnings).
31 August 2020
Consent order extending a mortgage to include taxed costs bars discharge until those costs are paid; challenge requires fresh action.
Mortgage law – discharge of registered mortgage – effect of consent order – consent judgment extending mortgage to include taxed costs – consent orders binding – setting aside consent order requires fresh action – procedural fairness and equality of arms – disregarding late written submissions filed without leave.
30 August 2020
A party cannot enforce a default judgment or relitigate claims in an action previously dismissed for abuse of court process.
Civil procedure – Abuse of court process – Multiplicity of actions and forum shopping – Dismissal for abuse renders subsequent enforcement attempts and reproduced default judgments unenforceable – Res judicata – Reconstructed record and authenticity of prior rulings.
30 August 2020
Illegality defence rejected; respondents must refund monies received and face damages for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Contract law — Illegality defence; unjust enrichment — money had and received; fraudulent misrepresentation; assessment of damages; counterclaim dismissed for lack of proof.
30 August 2020
28 August 2020
Application to decide ultra vires and authority issues as a preliminary point dismissed because contested factual issues require a full trial.
Civil procedure — Order 14A (White Book) — Preliminary point of law — suitability for determination without full trial; Companies law — directors’ authority, ultra vires and articles; Companies Act ss.23–24 — effect of acts contrary to articles; privity and personal guarantees; evidential limits of affidavit applications.
28 August 2020
28 August 2020
27 August 2020
27 August 2020
27 August 2020
26 August 2020
26 August 2020
26 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
25 August 2020
Interlocutory injunction granted to restrain alleged unlawful mining/exploration on disputed land pending trial.
Interlocutory injunction — American Cyanamid test: serious question to be tried; adequacy of damages; balance of convenience — preservation of status quo — competing surface rights and mining/exploration rights — environmental assessment and Director of Mines' consent issues.
22 August 2020
21 August 2020
Administrator's invalid appointment and sale without court sanction rendered property transfer void; purchaser must account.
:[
21 August 2020
21 August 2020