Supreme Court of Zambia - 2014

174 judgments
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Results. 174 judgments found.

174 judgments
December 2014
Whether amended Rule 49 requires filing and service timing that ousts the Court’s jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
  • Civil procedure — Supreme Court Rules — Interpretation of Rule 49(2) and amended Rule 49(5) (2012) — Requirement to file notice of appeal within 30 days and to lodge/serve notice with memorandum within 14 days — Whether alleged time breach ousts jurisdiction — Leave to appeal out of time
29 December 2014
18 December 2014
Whether mandatory interlocutory relief can prevent implementation of disputed party resolutions and restore a suspended party president pending suit.
  • Interlocutory injunctions — requirement to define parameters — application of American Cyanamid principles — mandatory vs prohibitory injunctions — appellate discretion to consider arguments beyond lower court/memorandum — internal party disputes and suspension.
18 December 2014
Appeal allowed: appellate court granted mandatory interim relief restoring the suspended party president and restrained implementation of contested resolutions.
  • Civil procedure — interlocutory injunctions — requirements (serious question, irreparable injury, balance of convenience, clean hands) — scope and parameters of relief; appeal — admissibility of arguments not fully developed below or beyond memorandum of appeal; mandatory vs prohibitory injunctions — restoration pending determination; appellate power to grant relief.
18 December 2014
15 December 2014
9 December 2014
9 December 2014
Group attack causing injuries justified a 20‑year aggravated robbery sentence; appeal against sentence dismissed.
  • Criminal law — Aggravated robbery — Sentence — Whether sentence excessive — Group attack and grievous harm as aggravating circumstances — First offender — Appeal against sentence — Notice of appeal without grounds; failure to file Heads of Argument.
3 December 2014
2 December 2014
Strong circumstantial evidence and common‑design liability upheld; appellate court defers to trial judge on credibility and dismisses appeal.
  • Criminal law — Conviction on circumstantial evidence — standard of cogency permitting only inference of guilt; Parties to offence — Section 21; Common design — Section 22; Appellate deference to trial court credibility findings; Burden of proof remains on prosecution
2 December 2014
2 December 2014
November 2014
Circumstantial evidence and res ipsa loquitur supported finding of medical negligence for a broken hypodermic needle.
  • Medical negligence — administration of injections — broken hypodermic needle — res ipsa loquitur — circumstantial evidence — duty of care — failure to detect/remove or refer — assessment of conflicting expert evidence
20 November 2014
A counter-claim or set-off will not ordinarily defeat a mortgagee’s right to possession; stay discharged for lack of realistic repayment prospect.
  • Mortgage law — possession and foreclosure — counter-claim/equitable set-off does not defeat legal mortgagee’s right to possession absent contractual/statutory limitation — equitable discretion to postpone possession only where mortgagor can realistically pay within reasonable time — appellate preview of appeal prospects in stay applications
19 November 2014
The respondent was justified in summarily dismissing the applicants for refusing to attend an investigation.
  • Employment law — Summary dismissal — Contractual approach — Disobedience/insubordination as ground for dismissal — Conditions of Service/disciplinary code not engaged where no formal charge — Admissibility and weight of unpleaded Audit Report — Appellate restraint on findings of fact.
17 November 2014
October 2014
Provisional liquidators are usually paid from company assets, but courts may refuse payment where the winding-up petition was abusive or statute-barred.
  • Companies Act s285; Companies (Winding-Up) Rules r8(6) — provisional liquidator remuneration and expenses — court's discretion where petition fails or is rescinded — assessment requires detailed, itemised justification; abuse of winding-up proceedings; refusal to make company pay where petition is vexatious or statute-barred.
31 October 2014
Court allowed appeal: provisional liquidator ordinarily entitled to fees from company assets, but court may refuse payment where petition is an abuse and quantum must be properly assessed.
  • Companies law — provisional liquidator remuneration — s.285 Companies Act; Companies (Winding-Up) Rules r.8(6) — entitlement to fees from company assets — court discretion where petition fails or is abuse of process — requirement for itemised assessment and proof of expenses.
31 October 2014
Section 11 does not bar court challenges to title; caveat removal can be included in writ with related claims; amendment costs lie with the amending party.
  • Lands and Deeds Registry Act s11 — Registrar’s correction power not a condition precedent to court action cancelling title; Certificate of title challenge for fraud must be by court action; Lands and Deeds Registry Act s81 — caveat removal generally by originating summons but may be included in writ where part of interrelated claims; Amendment of pleadings — amending party normally bears costs; costs discretion must be exercised judicially
30 October 2014
Buyer entitled to reject unmerchantable heavy‑duty printer; warranty silence did not negate statutory right to reject.
  • Sale of Goods Act s.14(2) — implied condition of merchantability; hidden defects; buyer’s right to reject unmerchantable goods; reasonable time for rejection; warranty terms do not negate statutory implied conditions
30 October 2014
EIA consultation rights extend beyond title holders; subsequent consultations and agency approvals can cure initial EIA defects.
  • Environmental law — Environmental Impact Assessment — right to be consulted not limited to title holders; scope and cure of EIA defects; discretionary admission of further evidence on appeal; mining licence outsourcing permitted where affiliate licensed; reliance on agency approvals and mitigation conditions
30 October 2014
A Supreme Court remittal obviates the need to commence fresh High Court proceedings by originating process.
  • Civil Procedure
    • — Remittal by Supreme Court — Effect on commencement in High Court — No requirement to file originating process when remitted under section 25
    • — Mode of commencement — High Court may give directions following remittal but should not require de novo commencement where remitted
  • Administrative/Land Law — Jurisdiction of Lands Tribunal — Registered land disputes and certificates of title fall within High Court jurisdiction
30 October 2014
Deposit of title deeds creates an equitable mortgage securing credit; liability apportioned equally where a joint venture incurred the debt.
  • Company Law — Directors' Representation — Holding out as director and liability under Companies Act s.203(3)
  • Property Law — Equitable Mortgage — Deposit of title deeds creates an equitable charge securing third‑party debt
  • Civil Procedure — Appeal on facts — Trial judge's factual findings not displaced absent perversity; apportionment corrected to avoid injustice
30 October 2014
Non-parties to a bank guarantee lack standing to challenge payment; negligence claim failed for lack of particulars and evidence.
  • Banking law — Bank guarantee and facility — privity and locus standi to sue on guarantee — beneficiary's written demand not essential as against non-parties — negligence claims require pleaded particulars and evidential proof — appellate review of factual findings
28 October 2014
22 October 2014
Third‑party mortgage unenforceable where creditor failed to guard against undue influence and ensure the respondent’s informed consent.
  • Banking law — Third‑party equitable mortgage by deposit of title deeds — Proof of deposit and consent — Undue influence and constructive notice where surety has close relationship with borrower — Creditor’s duty to warn and to ensure independent advice
22 October 2014
22 October 2014
16 October 2014
14 October 2014
Convictions affirmed where recent possession, leading evidence and re-enactments excluded danger of false implication.
  • Criminal law — aggravated robbery and murder — circumstantial evidence — suspect witnesses and corroboration — recent possession of stolen property — leading and re-enactment evidence — common purpose liability — sentencing of juvenile.
14 October 2014
13 October 2014
Insanity must be pleaded and proved; conviction for unnatural offence upheld on credible, corroborated eyewitness evidence.
  • Criminal Law — Sexual Offences — Unnatural offence (carnal knowledge of a child) — Proof by eyewitnesses and corroboration — Penal Code s 155
  • Criminal Procedure — Fitness to Stand Trial — Procedure when question of unsoundness of mind arises — Inquire under CrPC s 160; insanity must be pleaded and proved on balance of probabilities
13 October 2014
13 October 2014
13 October 2014
12 October 2014
7 October 2014
5 October 2014
September 2014
29 September 2014
29 September 2014
29 September 2014
25 September 2014
23 September 2014
23 September 2014
23 September 2014
18 September 2014
18 September 2014
Only applications specified under the Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act may be commenced by originating notice; other claims require a writ.
  • Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act — mode of commencement — Originating Notice of Motion only for statutory applications; Writ of Summons required for declarations and damages — multiplicity of actions — deeming inappropriate where mixed/misconceived claims
16 September 2014
7 September 2014
2 September 2014
Earlier valid allocation and payment confer ownership despite non‑occupation; limitation defence waived if not raised below.
  • Property law — Government pool housing allocations — Civil Service Home Ownership Scheme eligibility (bona fide sitting tenant) — Competent authority to allocate — Limitation defence waiver — Typographical errors in property descriptions and rectification of title.
1 September 2014
August 2014
A dismissal for inactivity under Order 53 Rule 12 does not bar a fresh action if the claim was not adjudicated on the merits.
  • Civil Procedure — Commercial Court Rules — Dismissal for inactivity under Order 53 Rule 12 — Whether dismissal bars commencement of fresh action — Fresh action permitted where claim not adjudicated or statute‑barred
21 August 2014
Application to impeach a judgment for alleged ministerial fraud dismissed as abuse of process and not fresh evidence.
  • Civil procedure — impeachment of judgment for fraud — fresh evidence requirement — finality and res judicata — abuse of process — pension entitlement and ministerial error
21 August 2014