Principal Registry Lusaka - 2024 March

16 judgments
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Results. 16 judgments found.

16 judgments
March 2024
A co‑executor showing a grant of probate has prima facie interest for joinder; substantive estate questions reserved for trial.
  • Joinder of parties — Order 59 RSC — Prima facie interest by co‑executor shown by grant of probate — Interlocutory relief; estate of former president — Benefits of Former Presidents Act vs testamentary residue — Substantive issues reserved for trial — Leave to appeal granted
28 March 2024
Uncontested divorce granted on five years' separation; petitioner given custody, access to respondent; maintenance and property referred.
  • Family law — Matrimonial Causes Act (s.8, s.9(1)(e)) — five years' separation — decree nisi granted — custody and access awarded — maintenance and property referred to Deputy Registrar — each party bears own costs.
26 March 2024
A contractual dispute over a settlement agreement is private law and not amenable to judicial review, so leave to apply was dismissed.
  • Administrative law — judicial review limited to public law decisions — contractual disputes and tender/reengagement issues are private law matters not amenable to judicial review — jurisdictional consequence of wrong mode of commencement.
26 March 2024
Decree nisi granted where parties had continuously lived apart five years and respondent consented; each party to bear own costs.
  • Matrimonial Causes Act — Divorce — living apart for five years — irretrievable breakdown — consent of respondent — decree nisi — special procedure — costs each party.
25 March 2024
Procedural delays do not void a disciplinary dismissal for proven absenteeism; outstanding emoluments to be quantified.
  • Employment law — disciplinary procedure — delay in hearing/communication does not automatically nullify tribunal decision — absenteeism — fairness of dismissal — assessment of outstanding emoluments.
20 March 2024
Proceedings against a company in liquidation are stayed until the complainant obtains leave from the High Court; IRD lacks power to grant such leave.
  • Corporate insolvency — s66 Corporate Insolvency Act — stay of proceedings against company in liquidation without leave — jurisdiction — Industrial Relations Division v
  • High Court General List — representation — s91 and Rule 57 — requirement that representative be legal practitioner or registered representative body
19 March 2024
Court entered judgment for rent and possession on admission but refused distress against vehicle for lack of ownership proof.
  • Rent law — verbal lease enforceability — judgment on admission — recovery of rent and possession — distress/levy against movable property — requirement to prove ownership.
19 March 2024
Applicant established unpaid salary, subsistence and leave claims against the respondent company; broad lump-sum and inconvenience claims dismissed.
  • Employment law — proof of employment and unpaid wages — statutory default terms where no written contract — subsistence allowance for work away from hometown — admissibility and weight of uncontested documentary salary arrears.
14 March 2024
Plaintiff failed to prove that 'Mushingashi' was its trading name, so lacked standing to sue for alleged defamation.
  • Defamation — identification of claimant by trading name — necessity of proving link between alleged name ('Mushingashi') and corporate claimant; publication via WhatsApp; burden of proof and locus standi; failure to adduce corroborative documentary evidence; dismissal; leave to appeal granted.
14 March 2024
Applicant’s originating summons granted; Registrar ordered to execute Deed of Assignment after substituted service and respondents’ non-appearance.
  • Civil procedure — originating summons — substituted service — default/non-appearance — order directing Registrar to execute Deed of Assignment — costs awarded to applicant.
11 March 2024
The applicant's dismissal application under Order XIX Rule 8 granted after no prosecutorial steps for over sixty days.
  • Civil procedure — dismissal for want of prosecution — Order XIX Rule 8 — discretionary power to dismiss after sixty days with no progress — judicial jurisdiction.
11 March 2024
A writ enforcing a foreign‑currency judgment was set aside for irregularity for failing to state the kwacha equivalent.
  • Civil procedure — Enforcement of foreign‑currency judgment — writ of fieri facias must show kwacha equivalent/certificate per Order XLII and Schedule forms; expunging extraneous affidavit material; stay of execution principles.
11 March 2024
High Court dismissed leave for judicial review because constitutional interpretation of JCC’s actions lies with the Constitutional Court.
  • Judicial review — Jurisdiction of High Court — Limits where resolution requires interpretation of non‑Bill‑of‑Rights constitutional provisions — Article 128 exclusive jurisdiction of Constitutional Court; Judicial Complaints Commission — power to call witnesses and procedural fairness; Retirement of judge — Article 142(2) and effect on JCC jurisdiction; Order 53 (English Rules) applicable subject to constitutional limits.
11 March 2024
Applicant failed to show a right to interim relief; injunction discharged and unfair competition claim held outside High Court jurisdiction.
  • Interim injunctions — criteria: serious question to be tried, adequacy of damages, balance of convenience; Public Roads Act & permits; RDA v local authority jurisdiction over billboard permits; non‑disclosure (clean hands); jurisdictional limit — unfair competition to Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
7 March 2024
The respondent's committee unlawfully annulled entire elections based on one petition, denying the applicants a hearing.
  • Administrative law — Judicial review of internal disciplinary/election body — Excess of jurisdiction — Use of unapproved draft rules — Breach of natural justice (audi alteram partem) — Wednesbury unreasonableness — Internal constitutional amendment process.
6 March 2024
6 March 2024