Principal Registry Lusaka - 2023 December

13 judgments
Skip past Court registries
Skip past years
Skip past months
Skip to results

Results. 13 judgments found.

13 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
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
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
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
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