High Court of Zambia - 2023 December

19 judgments
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Results. 19 judgments found.

19 judgments
December 2023
Court stayed proceedings and referred the applicant's pension computation dispute to arbitration under the fund's arbitration clause.
  • Arbitration — stay of court proceedings under s.10 Arbitration Act — construction and scope of arbitration clause in pension trust rules — applicability to former members — disputes over computation of defined-benefit portable benefits — actuarial valuation — whether arbitrator may determine matters implicating statutory interpretation.
29 December 2023
Emails proposing/accepting a payment plan and a part payment can constitute a clear implied admission, justifying judgment on admission.
  • Civil procedure — Judgment on admission — Admissions may be express or implied but must be clear and unequivocal — Payment plan emails and part payment can constitute implied admission of debt — Failure to apply to amend affidavit containing alleged typographical error.
29 December 2023
Challenge dismissed: business rescue resolution lapsed for failure to comply with statutory notice and filing requirements.
  • Corporate Insolvency Act 2017 — Section 21 notice and filing requirements — lapsing of business rescue resolution for non-compliance — affected persons' participation and business rescue plan adoption (Sections 41–43) — appointment of business rescue administrator rendered academic where resolution lapsed.
29 December 2023
Court ordered specific performance for shop possession but dismissed damages claim; costs awarded and leave to appeal granted.
  • Contract law — oral agreement to allocate market shops — payment and issuance of certificates — reallocation and variation of agreement — specific performance appropriate; damages for loss of business dismissed; admissibility of unpleaded evidence where not objected to.
29 December 2023
Court declined applicant's request to file a writ during vacation, holding rules permit issuance only in the last eleven days.
  • Civil procedure — High Court Rules — Order 2 Rule 4 — issuance of summons during vacations limited to last eleven days — 'direction of the court' pertains to pleadings not leave to issue summons — Order 49 Rule 3(1) merely designates vacations.
29 December 2023
A bona fide purchaser for value without notice prevails; repudiation and settlement preclude specific performance; vendor liable for refund and damages.
  • Property law — Sale of land — bona fide purchaser for value without notice; equitable notice (actual and constructive); specific performance unavailable where vendor repudiates and purchaser accepts refund; caveat — entitlement and wrongful lodgment; remedy: damages and refund.
29 December 2023
Employee awarded accrued leave, gratuity, pay for days worked and notice pay; claim for future salaries dismissed.
  • Employment law — contractual leave pay; statutory calculation of leave benefits; contractual gratuity (25% of basic pay); salary arrears for days worked; future salary claims as unjust enrichment; notice pay; hearing in absentia where respondent aware.
26 December 2023
Complainant failed to prove an employment relationship; employment claims dismissed and hire counter-claim dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
  • Employment status — employee vs independent contractor — control test and whether work is integral to employer's business — burden of proof in employment claims — jurisdictional limits of Industrial Relations Court for commercial hire disputes.
20 December 2023
Summary dismissal for gross misconduct upheld; damages and pension claims dismissed, leave to appeal granted.
  • Employment law — wrongful v unfair dismissal; disciplinary procedure and natural justice; summary dismissal for gross misconduct; discrimination claims burden; entitlement to terminal benefits requires pension contributions.
15 December 2023
Summary dismissal for alleged dishonesty upheld; plaintiff awarded accrued gratuity, leave, acting allowance, certain unpaid salary and K6,900.
  • Employment law — suspension, disciplinary procedure and right to be heard — summary dismissal for dishonesty — entitlement to accrued benefits (gratuity for completed years, accrued leave, acting allowance, unpaid salary) — appeal procedure under internal code.
15 December 2023
Default judgment refused; Attorney General must be joined and ownership must be proved at trial before vehicle release.
  • Civil procedure — Default judgment — Relief against state organs — Joinder of Attorney General required where police custody of property is implicated — Necessity of declaration of ownership and trial to determine entitlement.
15 December 2023
Subordinate court lacked jurisdiction to determine land-title dispute without all parties' consent; appeal allowed and case transferred to High Court.
  • Subordinate Courts Act s23 — jurisdictional condition precedent — disputes involving title/ownership of land require consent of all interested parties — absence of consent renders proceedings a nullity; magistrate must ascertain jurisdiction before deciding preliminary issues.
12 December 2023
12 December 2023
Whether a later suit challenging election validity is barred by res judicata when prior proceedings addressed only disqualification.
  • Civil procedure — res judicata and abuse of court process — requirement that same cause of action and same parties must have had an opportunity to recover — distinction between proceedings on disqualification and separate challenges to election validity — appeal to judge in chambers as fresh application.
12 December 2023
Applicant proved respondent's unpaid diesel debt; court awarded K210,500 with interest and dismissed other damages claims.
  • Contract formation — sale of goods (diesel) — proof on balance of probabilities; Default/delay — hearing in defendant's absence under Order XXXV r.3; Assessment of outstanding debt and ledger evidence; Interest on judgment and costs; Failure to prove ancillary breach/damages claims.
12 December 2023
Fixed‑term employee wrongly dismissed during alleged probation is entitled to contractual liquidated damages (full gratuity).
  • Employment law — fixed‑term contract v. probation — whether fixed‑term Grade Z10 appointment attracted probation; wrongful/unfair termination for lack of reasons and hearing; enforceability of contractual liquidated damages clause (full gratuity at 35%).
11 December 2023
Termination during probation was lawful where assessment outcomes were communicated and statute/contract do not require a particular form.
  • Employment law — Probationary employment — Section 27 Employment Code Act 2019 — mandatory assessment and communication before probation expiry — statute does not prescribe manner of communication — oral communication may suffice where contract is silent — termination with 24‑hour notice during probation lawful — burden to prove failure to communicate.
11 December 2023
A live-in domestic worker was held entitled to accrued leave, severance (from transition date), separation package and notice pay from the respondent employer.
  • Employment law — Domestic worker — Employer liability where worker serves in matrimonial home — Application of Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Domestic Workers) Order and Employment Code Act — Accrued leave pay, prorated severance, separation package and notice pay.
8 December 2023
Forensic and circumstantial evidence established that the accused intentionally suffocated and buried a born‑alive infant, meriting a murder conviction.
  • Criminal law — Murder — elements: death, unlawful act/omission, causation, malice aforethought — Circumstantial evidence — Forensic pathology and histology establishing born-alive status and asphyxia — Infanticide/mental disturbance assessed and rejected.
8 December 2023