AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd v. MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd

AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd v. MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2024-11-14 - Case/document no.: RCOM 00005/2025/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

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AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd v. MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RCOM 00005/2025/CA (Kamere, P.J.,) 14 Ugushyingo 2024] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Inzitizi – Iyakirwa ry’ikirego cyihutirwa – Ikirego cyihutirwa cyatanzwe n’umuburanyi warezwe mu bujurire nticyakirwa kuko nta rubanza rw’iremezo aba afite muri urwo Rukiko. Incamake y’ikibazo: Sosiyete AFRICA PANTHERSS RESOURCES Ltd na Sosiyete MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd zagiranye amasezerano y’ubucuruzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro ya gasegereti na wolfram, ariko nyuma yaho, impande zombi zaje kugirana amakimbirane. Nyuma yaho AFRICA PANTHERSS RESOURCES Ltd yareze MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko itubahirije amasezerano bagiranye kuko itishyuye umwenda imufitiye ingana n’amadolari 146.481USD, bityo isaba kwishyurwa uwo mwenda, hamwe n’indishyi zitandukanye. Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeje ko ikirego cya AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd gifite ishingiro; maze rutegeka MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kuyishyura umwenda remezo ungana na 146.481USD hamwe n’indishyi z’igihombo. Sosiyete MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ntiyishimiye imikirize y’urubanza, maze ijurira mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, ku mpamvu yuko Umucamanza yabategetse kwishyura umwenda utarigeze wumvikanwaho, kandi utaragera igihe cyo kwishyurwa, avuga kandi ko yategetswe gutanga indishyi zidafite aho zishingiye. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye

urubanza, maze rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd nta shingiro bufite; bityo ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe usibye inyungu ziyongereye. Sosiyete MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd yajuririye nanone mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, isaba Urukiko gutegeka ifatira ry’agateganyo ku mitungo kugira ngo harindwe inyungu z’urega kugeza igihe Urukiko ruzatanga icyemezo ntakuka kizashyirwa mu bikorwa, maze hasuzumwa inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego. Uhagarariye AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd, yiregura kuri iyi nzitizi avuga ko yibaza impamvu hagenderwa ku byemejwe mu zindi manza zaciwe mbere aho kugendera ku ngingo y’itegeko. Incamake y’icyemezo: Ikirego cyihutirwa cyatanzwe n’umuburanyi warezwe mu bujurire nticyakirwa kuko nta rubanza rw’iremezo aba afite muri urwo Rukiko. Inzitizi ifite ishingiro.

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Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya185 Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RCOM 0011/13/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 10/01/2013. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 11/10/2023, sosiyeti AFRICA PANTHERSS RESOURCES Ltd na MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd zagiranye amasezerano y’ubucuruzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro ya gasegereti na wolfram, nyuma impande zombie zigiranye amakimbirane, AFRICA PANTHERSS RESOURCES Ltd irega MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kutubahiriza ayo masezerano, ivuga ko itayishyuye amafaranga angana na 146.481USD kandi ko yagiye itanga isezerano ryo kuyishyura mu bihe bitandukanye ariko ntiryubahirize, isaba Urukiko kwemeza ko yishe amasezerano, ngo itegekwe kwishyura umwenda iregwa, indishyi zitandukanye, amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. [2] Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu guca urubanza RCOM 00795/2024/TC, rwemeje ko ikirego cya AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd gifite ishingiro; rwemeza ko MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ibereyemo AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd umwenda ungana na 146.481 USD ukomoka ku mabuye y’agaciro yayigemuriye ntiyishyure; rutegeka MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kwishyura AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd ayo madolari; rutegeka MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kuyishyura 2.000.000Frw y’indishyi z’igihombo yatewe no kutishyurwa aya madolari ku gihe, 700.000

Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka, na 200.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza ndetse na 20.000 Frw yatanzeho igarama irega. [3] MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ntiyishimiye imikirize y’urubanza ijurira mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, ikirego cyayo cyandikwa kuri RCOMA 00224/2025/HCC, ivuga ko Umucamanza yabategetse kwishyura umwenda nyamara utarigeze wumvikanwaho kandi utaragera igihe cyo kwishyurwa no kuba yaraciwe indishyi zidafite aho zishingiye; isaba indishyi zo gushorwa mu manza kandi ikanasaba ko izo yaciwe zakurwaho. Ku wa 19/08/2025 Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd nta shingiro bufite; ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RCOM 00795/2024/TC, usibye inyungu ziyongereye; rutegeka ko ibyemejwe muri urwo rubanza bishyirwa mu bikorwa ari byo ko:“Rutegetse MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kwishyura AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd amadolari 146.481USD; Rutegetse MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kuyishyura 2.000.000 Frw y’indishyi z’igihombo yatewe no kutishyurwa aya madolari ku gihe, 700.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 200,000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza; Rutegeka MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kuyishyura 20.000 Frw yatanzeho igarama irega”. Urukiko rutegeka kandi MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kwishyura AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd inyungu z’umwenda iyifitiye zingana na 34.999 USD; Rutegeka MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd kuyishyura amafaranga 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka n’amafaranga 100.000 Frw by’indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza; Rutegeka ko

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amafaranga 40.000 Frw y’amagarama MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd yishyuye ijurira aherera ku isanduku ya Leta. [4] Ku wa 25/08/2025, MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd yatanze ubujurire bwa kabiri muri uru Rukiko rw'Ubujurire, bwanditswe kuri nimero RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA, urubanza rukaba rugitegereje kuburanishwa. AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd iregwa mu rubanza RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA nayo yatanze muri uru Rukiko ikirego cyihutirwa cyandikwa kuri RCOM 00005/2025/CA ivuga ko gishamikiye ku bujurire bw’iremezo RCOMAA 00162/2025/CA1 bwatanzwe na Ets MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd, isaba Urukiko gutegeka ifatira ry'agateganyo ku mitungo ya Ets MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd, ishingiye ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 185 y’Itegeko N 022/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi2, kubera imyitwarire idahwitse ya Ets MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd yatanze ubujurire bwa kabiri mu buryo bunyuranyije n'ibiteganijwe n'amategeko mu miburanishirize y’imanza, igamije gutinza ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry'icyemezo cyafashwe mbere, kandi hagamijwe intego nyamukuru yo guhisha umutungo bishobora gutuma ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry'icyemezo cy'urukiko ridashoboka, kugira ngo harindwe inyungu z’urega kugeza igihe Urukiko ruzatanga icyemezo ntakuka kizashyirwa mu bikorwa. [5] Iburanisha ry’urubanza RCOM 00005/2025/CA ryashyizwe ku wa 03/11/2025, ruburanishwa AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd ihagarariwe na Me MASSIEGMO IDRIX Steve hari n’umusemuzi we Kamikazi Liliane naho MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Uwizera Zeno, haburanishwa ku kibazo cy’inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego yatanzwe n’uregwa. Isomwa ry’icyemezo Kuri iyo nzitizi rishyirwa ku wa 14/11/2025. II. IKIBAZO KIGIZE INZITIZI MURI URU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYACYO

Gusuzuma niba ikirego cyihutirwa RCOM 00005/2025/CA cyatanzwe na AFRICA PANTHERS RESOURCES Ltd kitagomba kwakirwa. [6] Me Uwizera Zeno, uhagarariye MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd, yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira iki kirego, asobanura ko imyumvire y’iyi ngingo ya 185 y’Itegeko yavuzwe hejuru; iyo ngingo yumvikanisha neza ko ikirego cyihutirwa gishamikiye ku kirego cy’iremezo kiri mu rukiko cyemerewe gutangwa n’uwaruregeye kuko aba ari we usaba kuramira ibyo yaregeye mu gihe urubanza ku kirego cy’iremezo rugitegereje gucibwa, hagamijwe kurengera mu buryo bwihuse inyungu ze ku byo agitegereje kuzaburana mu rubanza rw’iremezo. Avuga kandi ko iyi ngingo y’Itegeko ari muri ubwo buryo yasobanuwe mu rubanza RCOMA 00006/2022/CA rwaciwe ku wa 23/05/2022, aho mu gika cyarwo cya 10 aho Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwagize ruti: “Urukiko rurasanga ikirego cyihutirwa ari umuhango w’iburanisha utuma uwatanze ikirego cy’iremezo mu Rukiko agira ibyo asaba urwo Rukiko kugira ngo hafatwe icyemezo cyihuse kigamije kurengera inyungu ze “. Avuga ko aha Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwumvikanishije neza ko uwo muhango wo gutanga ikirego cyihutirwa utagenewe utaratanze ikirego cy’iremezo, ko umuburanyi uba warezwe

1 Mu iburanisha ababuranyi bombi bagaragarijwe n’Urukiko kandi bemeranwa ko habayeho ukwibeshya kuri iyi nimero y’urubanza, ko hakurikijwe ibigaragara muri IECMS nimero y’ukuri ari RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA.

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mu kirego cy’iremezo atari we uvugwa muri iyo ngingo y’itegeko ko yatanga ikirego cyihutirwa, bityo ko iki kirego cyihutirwa cya Africa Panthers Resources Ltd kitagomba kwakirwa kuko gishamikiye ku kirego cy’iremezo cy’ubujurire cyatanzwe muri uru Rukiko na MUNSAD Minerals Ltd. [7] Asobanura ko ibimaze kuvugwa haruguru urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwagarutseho ari ibyari byaremejwe kandi n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza RCOM 0011/13/CS, haburana BEN BENZINGE na Natural Resources Development Rwanda Ltd, aho Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwasanze mu gihe BEN BENZINGE (waregwaga mu bujurire) nta kirego cy’iremezo afite mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, ikirego cyihutirwa yatanze kitagomba kwakirwa kuko cyatanzwe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’ibiteganywa n’amategeko. Asoza avuga ko ibyabaye muri izo manza bihuye neza neza n’uko ibintu byagenze muri uru rubanza RCOM 00005/2025/CA kuko nyuma y’uko MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd itanze ubujurire bwa kabiri bukandikwa muri uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd (iburegwamo) ari yo yatanze ikirego cyihutirwa gishamikiye kuri icyo kirego cy’iremezo cyatanzwe na MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd. [8] Me MASSIEGMO IDRIX Steve, uhagarariye AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd, yiregura kuri iyi nzitizi yibaza impamvu hagenderwa ku byemejwe mu zindi manza zaciwe mbere aho kugendera ku ngingo y’itegeko ariko akanemera ko mu gihe habonetse ikibazo gisa n’iki kiburanwa cyakemuwe mbere n’uru

Rukiko, rutahindura ngo rwivuguruze. Asoza avuga ko kugira ngo nawe ashake izindi manza zaba zaratanze umurongo wagaragajwe n’uburanira MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd yakenera undi mwanya, urubanza rubanje gusubikwa, ariko Urukiko rukaba rutarabimwemereye kuko rwasanze yarabonye igihe gihagije cyo kwitegura no kwiregura kuri iyi nzitizi yashyizwe muri dosiye ku wa 18/10/2025 ikaburanishwaho mu ruhame ku wa 03/11/2025, runamwibutsa ko aramutse hari ibindi yungutse nyuma y’ipfundikirwa ry’iburanisha kuri iki kibazo yakubahiriza ibiteganywa n’amategeko muri icyo gihe.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [9] Impaka hagati y’ababuranyi zishingiye ku kumenya niba hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 185 y’Itegeko N 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018, AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd iregwa mu kirego cy’iremezo RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA yakwemererwa gutanga muri uru Rukiko ikirego cyihutirwa kandi MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ari yo yatanze icyo kirego cy’iremezo muri uru Rukiko. [10] Ingingo ya 185 y’Itegeko N 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ibi bikurikira: “Iyo hari ikirego cy’iremezo, ariko hagomba kugira icyemezwa by’agateganyo mu buryo bwihuta ku rubanza rwaregewe urukiko rutaraburanishwa, ikirego cyihutirwa gishyikirizwa umucamanza ushinzwe kurangiza impaka zihutirwa w’aho zigomba gukemurirwa hakurikijwe uburyo busanzwe bw’ihamagara. Ikirego cyihutirwa gitangwa mu buryo bumwe n'ubw'ikirego gisanzwe.”

[11] Ikibazo nk’icyi kimaze kuvugwa haruguru kandi hasesengurwa ingingo y’Itegeko imaze kwibutswa haruguru, cyasuzumwe ndetse gitangwaho umurongo mu rubanza RCOM 0011/13/CS rwaciwe ku wa 10/01/2013, hasuzumwa uburyo inkiko cyangwa abacamanza bumva ibirego byihutirwa biboneka mu manza ziri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko barimo, nk’uko byateganywaga

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n’ingingo ya 316 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi32 yakoreshwaga icyo gihe, ku bijyanye no kumenya niba Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rudafite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibirego byihutirwa. Urwo rubanza akaba ari rwo rwifashishijwe mu guca urubanza RCOMA 00006/2022/CA ku wa 23/05/2022, Urukiko rubihuza noneho n’ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 185, igika cya mbere y’Itegeko N 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, aho abahagarariye Muhimpundu Rosine bavugaga ko ku rwego rwa mbere, yatanze inzitizi asaba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kutakira ikirego cyihutirwa cyatanzwe na Nzirorera Cyprien uregwa mu bujurire bw’urubanza mu mizi kubera ko uregwa atemerewe gutanga ikirego cyihutirwa hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’iyo ngingo ya 185 y’iryo Tegeko, maze mu gika cya 18 cyarwo, rwemeza ko ikirego cyihutirwa cyatanzwe na Nzirorera Cyprien mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kitagombaga kwakirwa kuko nta rubanza rw’iremezo yari afite muri urwo Rukiko nk’uko byari byemejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu gika cya 15 cy’urubanza RCOM 0011/13/CS rwavuzwe haruguru4; bityo Urukiko rw’Ubujurire na rwo rwemeza ko umuburanyi uba warezwe mu kirego cy’iremezo atari we uvugwa muri iyo ngingo y’itegeko ko atanga ikirego cyihutirwa

kiyivugwamo. [12] Dosiye igararagaza ko muri uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire hari urubanza RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA rutaraburanishwa, MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd iregamo AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd, ijuririra urubanza RCOMA 00224/2025/HCC rwaciwe n'Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 19/08/2025, ikiburanwa muri izo manza kikaba atari umutungo wimukanwa uyu n’uyu waba uzwi neza, ahubwo ari ubwishyu bw’amafaranga urega aramutse atsinze urubanza yashakira ku mutungo uwo ari wo wose w’uwatsinzwe mu gihe nta mategeko yihariye abimubuza. [13] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza kandi ko ikirego RCOM 00005/2025/CA cyatanzwe na AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd kigamije gusaba Urukiko gutegeka ifatira ry’agateganyo ku mitungo ya MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd, mu gihe hagitegerejwe ko urubanza RCOMAA 00064/2025/CA rucibwa. [14] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rushingiye ku murongo watanzwe mu manza zimaze kwibutswa mu bika bibanziriza iki, rurasanga ikirego cyihutirwa RCOM 00005/205/CA cyatanzwe na AFRICA PANTHERS Ltd kitagomba kwakirwa ngo kiburanishwe mu mizi, bityo inzitizi yo kutakira iki kirego cyihutirwa yatanzwe na MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ikaba igomba guhabwa ishingiro.

2 Iyo ngingo ya 185 iteganya ibi bikurikira:”Iyo hari ikirego cy’iremezo, ariko hagomba kugira icyemezwa by’agateganyo mu buryo bwihuta ku rubanza rwaregewe urukiko rutaraburanishwa, ikirego cyihutirwa gishyikirizwa umucamanza ushinzwe kurangiza impaka zihutirwa w`aho zigomba gukemurirwa hakurikijwe uburyo busanzwe bw’ihamagara. Ikirego cyihutirwa gitangwa mu buryo bumwe n'ubw'ikirego gisanzwe”.

3 Iyo ngingo ya 316 yateganyaga ko: “Iyo hari ikirego cy’ iremezo, ariko hagomba kugira icyemezwa by’agateganyo mu buryo bwihuta ku rubanza rwaregewe urukiko rutaraburanishwa, ikirego cyihutirwa gishyikirizwa umucamanza ushinzwe kurangiza impaka zihutirwa w`aho zigomba gukemurirwa hakurikijwe uburyo busanzwe bw`ihamagara”, 4 Aho rwemeje ko rusanga ikirego cyihutirwa ari umuhango w’iburanisha utuma uwatanze ikirego cy’iremezo mu Rukiko agira ibyo asaba urwo Rukiko kugira ngo hafatwe icyemezo cyihuse kigamije kurengera inyungu ze. Ntabwo uwo muhango rero uba ugenewe utaratanze icyo kirego cy’iremezo.

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III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [15] Rwemeje ko inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cyihutirwa yatanzwe na MUNSAD MINERALS Ltd ifite ishingiro. [16] Rwemeje ko ikirego cyihutirwa RCOM 00005/2025/CA cyatanzwe na AFRICA PANTHERS Resources Ltd kitakiriwe kuko cyatanzwe mu buryo budakurikije amategeko. [17] Ruvuze ko amafaranga y’amagarama y’uru rubanza yatanzwe na AFRICA PANTHERS Resources Ltd ahwanye n’ibyarukozwemo.