Supreme Court of Zambia - 2001 March

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

Results. 11 judgments found.

11 judgments
March 2001
Terminal benefits from earlier voluntary retirement are not preferential debts under section 346(1)(b) of the Companies Act.
  • Companies Act s346(1)(b) — preferential claims — "wages" limited to amounts accruing within three months before winding-up — terminal benefits from earlier voluntary retirement are not preferential.
30 March 2001
Appeal allowed: trial court erred by converting a breach of contract claim into wrongful execution; wrongful-execution claim would also have failed on the facts.
  • Civil procedure — Pleadings and scope of a trial — A court may not adjudicate a radically different cause of action from that pleaded; Wrongful/excessive execution — where judgment partly satisfied, claimant must prove obvious excessiveness or malice/absence of probable cause; Credibility findings of trial court entitled to deference.
28 March 2001
An employer can be vicariously liable for driving negligence by an employee not formally employed as a driver if acting on the employer’s business.
  • Tort — Vicarious liability — Employee not designated as driver — Course of employment — Credibility of viva voce evidence — Proof of driving licence — Damages based on dealer’s repair quotation
27 March 2001
A default judgment without proof of service is susceptible to being set aside; third-party interests must be heard.
  • Civil procedure — Default trial and judgment — Order 35 Rules 3 & 5 — Proof of service of notice of trial required for ex parte hearing — Power to set aside default judgment — Third-party interest/joinder.
27 March 2001
Default judgment set aside where triable issues existed; matter required trial, appeal dismissed with costs.
  • Civil procedure — setting aside default judgment — whether matters are resolvable on affidavit or raise triable issues requiring trial — unconditional leave to defend upheld.
22 March 2001
UK Inheritance (Provision) Act does not apply in Zambia; intestate succession under Cap 59 excludes a former spouse.
  • Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (UK) not applicable in Zambia; intestate succession governed by Intestate Succession Act Cap 59; former spouse not a beneficiary under Cap 59; stay of Inheritance Act application and enforceability of posthumous matrimonial property orders considered.
20 March 2001
The appellant was held liable for unpaid import duties; seizure and tax assessment were upheld due to non-payment and lack of timely contest.
  • Customs and Excise Act — liability for customs duty — seizure of imported vehicle for unpaid tax — assessment communicated to importer/acquirer — failure to contest or pay — appellate review.
15 March 2001
The court held that specified allowances must be included in redundancy packages and financial inability is no defence.
  • Labour law — redundancy — inclusion of transport, housing and lunch allowances in redundancy packages; incapacity to pay — plea of financial inability not a defence (Hamasukyu principle); appeal dismissed.
15 March 2001
Appeal dismissed; District Registrar ordered to determine appellants' terminal benefits after deducting advances.
  • Civil procedure — Appeal against stay of execution and referral to Registrar — Dispute limited to calculation of sums after deduction of advances — Referral to Deputy/District Registrar for assessment — Appeal dismissed with costs.
6 March 2001
6 March 2001
Conviction for aggravated robbery quashed where identification was unsafe due to footwear discrepancy and absence of stolen property.
  • Criminal law — Aggravated robbery — Identification evidence — Discrepancy in clothing (patapatas vs brown shoes) — Arrested Persons Property Book — Possibility of mistaken identity — Unsafe conviction — Appeal allowed.
6 March 2001