Supreme Court of Zambia - 2008 May

27 judgments
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Results. 27 judgments found.

27 judgments
May 2008
Appellant not bound by main-contract consultant’s time-certification; trial judge misapprehended evidence, appeal allowed with judgment and costs for appellant.
  • Contract law — subcontractor claims — whether main-contract consultant’s certification binds domestic subcontractor — admissibility and effect of invoicing method (per tonne vs per square metre) — appellate interference with trial judge’s findings of fact where misapprehension occurs.
30 May 2008
Appeal dismissed: court upholds that surviving spouse and children share matrimonial home and will not hear new issues not raised below.
  • Matrimonial property — proprietary interests of surviving spouse and children after death of a spouse — entitlement irrespective of contribution; Appellate review — refusal to consider issues not raised or adjudicated in the court below; Legal characterization — distinction between joint tenancy and tenancy in common; Lands and Deeds Registry Act — alleged statutory joint tenancy not considered on appeal where not pleaded below.
30 May 2008
Appeal dismissed; respondent entitled to accrued terminal benefits under defendants' undertaking; set‑aside, not appeal, is remedy for default judgments.
  • Employment law — domestic servant — agreement to assume accrued terminal benefits — authenticity and admissibility of written undertaking — appellate review of credibility findings — correct remedy where judgment obtained in absence (application to set aside) — inadmissibility of issues not raised below.
30 May 2008
Appellant may not raise parents’ statutory joint-tenancy claim on appeal; surviving spouse and children succeed as tenants in common.
  • Matrimonial property — Succession on death of a spouse — Survivorship rights of surviving spouse and children — Tenants in common v joint tenants — Appeal cannot raise issues not litigated below — Lands and Deeds Registry Act alleged statutory interests.
30 May 2008
Acceptance of conditional reinstatement precludes claim for salary arrears for the period not worked.
  • Employment law — Reinstatement v re-employment — conditional reinstatement accepted by employee precludes entitlement to back pay for the intervening period; written agreement and Statement of Agreed Issues govern; employer's discretionary pension payments do not establish unpaid salary arrears
29 May 2008
A dispute over accrued gratuity under a collective agreement must follow statutory conciliation; court lacked jurisdiction.
  • Industrial Relations Court jurisdiction — sections 85(1) and 85(4) — Collective disputes arising from collective agreements — Part 9 (ss.75–76) mandatory conciliation — subsidiary Rule 55 cannot displace principal Act — transfer of accrued gratuity to pension scheme.
29 May 2008
Appeal dismissed: dispute over transfer of accrued gratuity was a collective dispute requiring mandatory conciliation under Part 9.
  • Labour law — Industrial Relations Court jurisdiction — Collective disputes under Part 9 (ss.75–76) — mandatory conciliation prior to litigation — s.85 jurisdiction limits — Rule 55 cannot override principal Act — transfer of accrued gratuity to pension scheme.
29 May 2008
28 May 2008
28 May 2008
Alleged bribery and vilification must be shown to have been widespread enough to affect the majority to void an election.
  • Electoral law — election petition — corrupt and illegal practices — bribery (distribution of sorghum for beer) and vilification — requirement that misconduct be widespread to affect majority of voters — higher standard of proof in election petitions — interpretation of section 93(2) and (3) Electoral Act No.12 of 2006.
22 May 2008
22 May 2008
Subordinate Court eviction proceedings potentially null due to prior High Court judgment and disputed locus standi; matter remitted for rehearing.
  • Civil procedure — jurisdiction of Subordinate Court where same property subject to prior High Court judgment — nullity — locus standi — review versus appeal procedure — remittal for rehearing before different judge.
21 May 2008
21 May 2008
Part performance (payment, occupation, improvements) enforced specific performance of an oral land sale despite lack of survey.
  • [Contract for sale of land] Oral agreement — part performance — signed receipts and occupation as equitable basis for specific performance; [Property law] uncertified/unsurveyed land — ascertainment and identification; [Frustration] attempted re-entry by state does not discharge an already concluded sale; [Remedies] interest on monies paid into court and costs on partial success
19 May 2008
Delay in developer-built houses amounted to breach and liability for losses, but mesne profits awards were set aside for lack of proof.
  • Contract law — construction contracts — whether time for completion was of the essence; evidence required to prove shortages; mesne profits — measure and proof; enforceability of additional undertakings (storage, security) by developer.
16 May 2008
16 May 2008
Whether the plaintiff’s pleadings and furnished particulars were sufficient to enable the defendants to prepare their defence.
  • Pleadings — Further and better particulars — Adequacy of particulars in commercial matters — Abuse of process by oppressive/fishing-expedition requests — Interlocutory rulings and sufficiency of reasons.
14 May 2008
Court held the plaintiff's particulars and statement of claim were adequate; defendants' appeal dismissed with costs.
  • Pleadings and procedure — further and better particulars — sufficiency of particulars to enable defence; commercial list particularity; interlocutory rulings and reasons.
14 May 2008
Whether a re-enacted statutory instrument may govern forfeiture of property seized under a repealed instrument.
  • Statutory interpretation — repeal and re-enactment of statutory instruments — whether re-enacted provisions retain force for earlier seizures; forfeiture of recovered property — vesting in the State once statutory conditions met; retrospective effect of legislation; Interpretation and General Provisions Act (sections on re-enactment and commencement).
14 May 2008
An applicant must show sufficient reasons for delay; a meritorious case alone does not justify late filing under section 85(3).
  • Industrial Relations Court — Limitation period — Section 85(3) ILR Act — Leave to file complaint out of time — Exhaustion of administrative channels — Sufficiency of reasons for delay — Meritorious claim not a substitute for prompt action.
14 May 2008
Appeal dismissed for unreasonable delay; leave to file out of time requires sufficient reasons, merits alone insufficient.
  • Industrial and Labour Relations Act s.85(3) — time limit for complaints — extension after exhaustion of administrative channels — leave to file out of time discretionary — sufficiency of reasons for delay — merits not a substitute for promptness.
14 May 2008
An arbitrator’s failure to disclose appointments that give rise to apparent bias can void an award as contrary to public policy.
  • Arbitration law — apparent/perceived bias — duty of arbitrators to disclose dealings that may create impression of bias — objective test of a reasonable and informed person — public policy under s.17(2)(b)(ii) Arbitration Act — Commonwealth Coatings principle.
14 May 2008
An arbitrator’s failure to disclose another appointment created an appearance of bias, justifying setting aside the arbitral award.
  • Arbitration — setting aside award — apparent/perceived bias — duty to disclose appointments or dealings — public policy (s.17(2)(b)(ii) Arbitration Act) — objective test of a fair‑minded informed observer — natural justice
13 May 2008
Whether an unauthorized director’s loan binds the company and whether subrogation/unjust enrichment can be claimed.
  • Company law — Director’s authority and constructive notice (Turquand rule) — Burden of proof on claimant to show authority — Receivership: company must act through receiver — Ultra vires acts by unauthorized director — Subrogation and unjust enrichment inapplicable where no corporate benefit.
8 May 2008
Whether an unauthorized director’s loan, which did not benefit the company, gives rise to subrogation or unjust enrichment against the respondent.
  • Company law — Authority of directors — Contracts binding only if entered by authorized agents; Turquand principle; Receivership — company acts only through receiver; Subrogation and unjust enrichment — require valid obligation and benefit to company; Ultra vires acts and fiduciary breach.
8 May 2008
Court reduced the applicant's 20-year defilement sentence to 18 years, citing victim's age and voir dire irregularities.
  • Criminal law — Defilement — Sentence — Mandatory minimums — Aggravating factor: tender age of victim; First offender status and sentencing discretion; Voir dire and child evidence — Juveniles Act s.122(1) — Limits of appellate review on sentence-only appeals.
6 May 2008
Appeal against a 20-year defilement sentence reduced to 18 years; court noted victim’s age as an aggravating factor and criticized trial voir dire.
  • Criminal law — Defilement — Sentence — Victim’s age as aggravating factor — Mandatory minimum sentence — Appeal confined to sentence — Limits on appellate review — Voir dire and child witness oath — Juveniles Act s.122(1) — Concurrent and backdated sentences
5 May 2008