Supreme Court of Zambia - 2014 July

36 judgments
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Results. 36 judgments found.

36 judgments
July 2014
31 July 2014
31 July 2014
Claim for excessive repair costs failed for lack of receipts; quantum meruit awarded reasonably and interest from writ left to judicial discretion.
  • Quantum meruit — recovery on illegal or unenforceable agreement — equitable compensation despite illegality when expenditure shown; Evidence — invoices versus receipts — receipts required to prove payment; Assessment of damages — ‘intelligent guess’ permitted on meagre or inconsistent evidence; Appellate review — interference only for perverse or unsupported findings; Pre-judgment interest — discretionary under Order 36 Rule 8; date of writ permissible.
31 July 2014
31 July 2014
31 July 2014
29 July 2014
Appellant failed to show entitlement to an interlocutory injunction; trial judge wrongly set aside writ without hearing application.
  • Interlocutory injunctions — requirements of clear right and irreparable harm; banker-customer relationship and bank's duties; disclosure of cause of action; setting aside writ for irregularity at interlocutory stage; costs follow the event
29 July 2014
29 July 2014
Holding association meetings on Saturday did not, without coercion or comparative proof, breach freedom of conscience or constitute discrimination.
  • Constitutional law — freedom of conscience (Article 19(1)) — meaning of "hindered" — requirement of coercion or positive act; Constitutional protection from discrimination (Article 23(2)/(3)) — comparative inquiry required — scheduling of association meetings on Sabbath not automatically discriminatory
28 July 2014
Whether repeated transfers constituted constructive dismissal and whether pre-1999 service gratuities are payable under prior practice.
  • Employment law — constructive dismissal — multiple transfers — contractual right to transfer — Western Excavating test; Pension scheme v
  • Minimum Wages Orders — entitlement to pre-pension gratuity; computation of accrued benefits by prior employer practice
24 July 2014
Court held the negotiated redundancy package was paid; no implied long-service gratuity; employer's error forfeited costs award.
  • Employment law — redundancy v long service gratuity — interpretation of collective agreement — implied terms in contract — taxability of commuted leave pay — costs discretion where employer's erroneous documentation prejudiced employees.
24 July 2014
Statutory vesting did not prevent Minister-directed transfer and suit, but mortgagee’s sale lacked proof of reasonable steps, so re-evaluation ordered.
  • Statutory vesting of non-performing loan portfolio; Ministerial directions under s.11A(5) validate transfers; locus standi; validity of Deed of Transfer; mortgagee’s duty on power of sale; re-evaluation when sale appears undervalued
23 July 2014
23 July 2014
Whether the respondent paid redundancy entitlements or long service gratuity, tax liability on leave pay, and costs allocation.
  • Employment law — Redundancy/retrenchment package versus long service gratuity — Interpretation of collective agreement and implied terms — Admissibility of extrinsic evidence to correct clerical/narration errors — Taxation of commuted leave pay — Costs discretion where employer's conduct caused prejudice.
23 July 2014
23 July 2014
22 July 2014
17 July 2014
15 July 2014
14 July 2014
10 July 2014
10 July 2014
Motions under Article 72(1)(a) and s93(1) to bar respondents from by-elections were dismissed for lack of merit; each party bears own costs.
  • Constitutional and electoral law — Article 72(1)(a) Constitution; Section 93(1) Electoral Act — applications to bar recontesting candidates in by-elections — stay of proceedings under Order 4 Rule 9(1) — use of test actions — dismissal for lack of merit — costs: parties to bear own costs in constitutional matters.
10 July 2014
Procedural misdirection on a confession did not overturn murder conviction supported by strong recognition and weapon recovery evidence.
  • Criminal Law
    • — Confession — Trial-within-trial and requirement for contemporaneous reasoned ruling on voluntariness
    • — Judges’ Rules — Admissions by private individuals vs police officers — Non-application of exclusionary impropriety where private persons are involved
    • — Sentencing — Extenuating circumstances and accused’s election to remain silent — Burden to adduce evidence
9 July 2014
Court upheld dismissal of the appellant for misleading the respondent and preparing defective security despite procedural lapses.
  • Employment law — Disciplinary procedure — Misconduct and dishonesty — Preparing false borrower identity and defective security — Natural justice and procedural compliance — Appeal on points of law vs findings of fact (Section 97 ILRA).
4 July 2014
3 July 2014
3 July 2014
3 July 2014
3 July 2014
3 July 2014
3 July 2014
Motions to bar respondents from recontesting by-elections under Article 72(1)(a) and s93(1) were dismissed for lack of merit.
  • Constitutional law — Article 72(1)(a) — Electoral Act s.93(1) — Motions to bar candidates from recontesting by-elections — Stay of proceedings as test actions — Order 4 Rule 9(1) — Dismissal for lack of merit — Costs each party
2 July 2014
Trial judge erred by deciding merits without ruling on preliminary issues; appeal allowed and matter remitted.
  • Civil Procedure
    • — Preliminary issues — Trial judge must determine preliminary points before deciding merits
    • — Appeal powers under Section 25(1)(a) — Limitations on appellate court rewriting undecided High Court rulings
2 July 2014
Enforcement of a Supreme Court finding of corrupt practice must be pursued in the High Court; motion dismissed.
  • Electoral law — corrupt practices — Section 104 reporting obligations — disqualification under Section 22 — obligation to prosecute — enforcement of Supreme Court judgments under Section 9 Supreme Court Act — High Court as forum for enforcement
2 July 2014
2 July 2014
Supreme Court lacks power to generate or compel a Section 104(6) Electoral Act report; High Court must do so and enforcement lies there.
  • Electoral Law — Election Petitions — Report under s104(6) — Duty of the High Court to prepare report on corrupt or illegal practices
  • Civil Procedure — Appellate Jurisdiction — Powers of the Supreme Court under s25 — Limits after final determination and prohibition on running litigation in the Supreme Court
  • Constitutional/Administrative Law — Enforcement of Supreme Court Judgments — Execution through High Court under s9 of the Supreme Court Act
2 July 2014
1 July 2014