athumani mashaka mzee vs crje east africa limited 2021 tzhcld 69 16 aprili 2021
- Citation
- athumani mashaka mzee vs crje east africa limited 2021 tzhcld 69 16 aprili 2021
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TANZLII
- Decision
- 1 January 2021
- Posture
- Maombi Ya Anuai / Ruling on Preliminary Objections
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TANZLII
- Decision
- 1 January 2021
- Posture
- Maombi Ya Anuai / Ruling on Preliminary Objections
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The application was brought under wrong provisions of law, specifically citing Rule 56 of the Labour Court Rules which does not apply to the relief sought. This defect is fatal and renders the entire application incompetent, warranting its striking out.
Court disposition
Application struck out
Orders
- Application struck out for being brought under wrong provisions of law
- No order as to costs or leave to refile granted
02
Material facts
Parties
Athumani Mashaka Mzee
Muombaji Counsel: Janeth KazimotoCRJE (East Africa) Limited
Mjibu Maombi Counsel: Ashery K. Stanley03
Procedural history
Posture
Maombi Ya Anuai / Ruling on Preliminary Objections
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the application should be struck out for wrong citation of enabling provisions
- 02
Whether failure to comply with affidavit requirements is fatal
- 03
Whether the application is competent before the court
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Failure to state the name of the document preparer is not fatal as the preparer is LHRC, and the omission does not affect the substance. The affidavit defect is a technicality attributable to the Commissioner for Oaths, not the applicant. The cited provisions are correct for the relief sought.
- Respondent
- The application is fatally defective for failure to state the preparer's name, contrary to section 44 of the Advocates Act. The affidavit's jurat is defective for not stating how the deponent was known, contrary to section 10 of the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act. The application cites wrong provisions, making it incompetent.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Jimmy Lugendo v. CRDB Bank Limited, Civil Application No. 111/01 of 2017; Edward Bachwa and Three Others v. The Attorney General and Another, Civil Application No. 128 of 2006
Wrong citation of enabling or applicable law renders an application incompetent and liable to be struck out.
- 02
Thabitha Mungawi v. Pangea Minerals Ltd, Lab. Rev. No. 48 of 2014
Failure to comply with mandatory affidavit requirements may render proceedings defective.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The application was brought under wrong provisions of law, specifically citing Rule 56 of the Labour Court Rules which does not apply to the relief sought. This defect is fatal and renders the entire application incompetent, warranting its striking out.
Obiter and limits
- Legal representatives should admit obvious technical errors and seek leave to amend rather than persist in futile arguments, as such conduct delays justice.
Court disposition
Application struck out
- Application struck out for being brought under wrong provisions of law
- No order as to costs or leave to refile granted
Source and reliance status
TANZLII · 1 January 2021
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
TANZLII
Judgment· 1 January 2021
MAHAKAMA KUU YA TANZANIA
DIVISHENI YA KAZI
PAR ES SALAAM MAOMBI YA ANUAI NA. 231 YA 2020
KATI YA ATHUMANI MASHAKA MZEE......................................... MUOMBAJI
DHIDI YA CRJE (EAST AFRICA) LIMITED .MJIBU MAOMBI
MAAMUZI Tarehe ya Amri ya Mwisho: 24/03/2021 Tarehe ya Maamuzi: 16/04/2021 Aboud. I Katika shauri hili muombaji anaiomba Mahakama kutupilia mbali maamuzi ya kufuta^shaurivlake katika Marejeo Namba 956/2018 lililofutwa. mbele,‘.,ya\niahakama hii tarehe 29/07/2019. Maombi yaliletwa .chink.ya 'Kanuni ya 24 (1), 24 (2) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f), 24 x XX—-</ Z-Vx V (3)s(a) (b)((p)Xd) (e), 36 (1) (2) na Kanuni ya 56 (1) (2) ya Kanuni za \\ 'vry W ?X Mahakamazya Kazi, Tangazo la Serikali Na. 106 la 2007 (Katika maamuzi haya itajilikana kama Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi). Mjibu maombi alipinga vikali maombi haya kwa kuleta kiapo kinzani kilichoapwa na Bw. Erick Mathew, Afisa Rasilimali watu Mkuu wa i mjibu maombi. Pamoja na kiapo hicho wakili wa mjibu maombi alileta pingamizi la awali ienye sababu tatu kama zifuatavyo:- i. Kwamba maombi haya yana makosa kisheria kwa kukiukwa matakwa ya lazima ya kifungu cha 44 cha Sheria ya Mawakili ('The Advocates Act') [SURA 341 KM 2019]. ii. Kwamba maombi haya yanamapungufu .kishei'iavkwa.kuwa na makosa katika kipengele cha uthibitisho (‘jurat of attestation') katika kiapo cha muombaji-kinyume na kifungu cha 10 cha Sheria ya Viapo ('Oaths'and?Statutory Declaration Act') [SURA 34 KM 2019] * t ni. Kwamba maombi haya-.yanamakosa kisheria kwa kunukuu < ‘1 i vifungu visivyo<sahihL Katika shauri hili, 'muombaji alijiwakilisha mwenyewe wakati '■■X )) mjibu
maombi aliwakilishwa na Wakili msomi Bw. Ashery K. Stanley kutoka katika),kampuni ya mawakili ya Paladin Attorneys at Law. Maelezdxya'pingamizi hizo tajwa hapo juu yaliwasilishwa kwa njia ya maandishi ambapo Kituo cha Msaada wa Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (Legal and Human Right Center kitakachotambulika kama LHRC katika maamuzi haya) kilitoa msaada wa kuandaa nakala za muombaji. 2 Katika pingamizi la kwanza wakili wa mjibu maombi aliieleza mahakama kuwa, nakala za muombaji zimeandaliwa na LHRC kama inavyoonekana katika kiapo cha muombaji. Wakili huyo aliendelea kueleza kuwa katika kiapo hicho muandaaji wa nakala hizo ameshindwa kutaja jina lake kama ilivyo matakwa ya kisheria katika kifungu cha 44 (1) cha Sheria ya Mawakili [Sura ya441t£M2001),. / ’> X*1* Akitoa maelezo ya pingamizi la pili wakili wa mjibu maombi alieleza kuwa, utambulisho wa muapajivni matakwa ya sheria /*• V \ yaliyotolewa katika kifungu cha 10 cha^Sheria 'ya' Viapo [SURA 34 KM 2019]. Ilielezwa kuwa, kifungu hich'p.tajwa kimeeleza muundo wa X'- >■'. kipengele cha uthibitisho katika kiapo (jurat of attestation) ambapo pamoja na vipengele% vingihe. shahidi wa kiapo ('Commissioner for Oath') anatakiwa(aeieze ni jinsi gani anamfahamu muapaji kama ilivyoamuriwa^katika kesi ya Thabitha Mungawi Vs. Pangea \r Minerals Ltd,Lab. Rev. No. 48 of 2014. Wakili wa mjibu maombi aliendelea kueleza kuwa, kiapo cha muombaji
kilichopo mbele ya mahakama hii shahidi wa kiapo hicho ameshindwa kueleza ni jinsi gani anamtambua muapaji, jambo ambalo ni kinyume na kifungu kilichotajwa hapo juu. Wakili huyo 3 aliongeza kuwa, kosa hilo la kutomtambulisha muapaji limesababisha maombi yote mbele ya mahakama kuwa na makosa. Katika pingamizi la tatu ilielezwa kuwa, muombaji hajanukuu vifungu sahihi katika maombi haya. Kwamba kanuni ya 36 ya Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi iliyonukuliwa na muombaji hutumika kwa mtu // 6-'\\ anaeomba kurejeshwa kwa kesi iliyofutwa kwa sababu ya kushihdwa kuhudhuria mahakamani. Aliongeza kuwa kifungu hicnoz hakitumiki kwa mazingira ambayo kesi ilifutwa kwa kushindwa kuendenshwa na muombaji (dismissed for want of prosecutionj:kama ilivyo katika kesi hii. Wakili huyo aliongeza kuwa Kanuni ya 56 (1) (2) ya Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi hutumika kwenye/maombi ya ongezo la muda na ■'\\x sio maombi ya kutupilia?'fnbali amri ya kufutwa kwa shauri. f"— J I"’ Mahakama iliendelea kuelezwa kuwa, maombi haya yanamapungufu oXX.. p kwa kuletwa'thini'ya vifungu ambavyo sio sahihi. XHivyobasi, kutokana na mapungufu hayo tajwa hapo juu wakili XX /> huyo aliidmba mahakama kuliondoa shauri hili. Akijibu pingamizi la kwanza wakili wa muombaji Bi. Janeth Kazimoto alieleza kuwa, haina ubishani kuwa katika maombi yoyote jina la muandaaji wa nakala ni muhimu kuandikwa kama ilivyoelekezwa katika kifungu cha 44
(1) cha Sheria ya Viapo [SURA 4 34 KM 2019]). Wakili huyo aliendelea kueleza kuwa, matakwa hayo ya kuandika jina la muandaaji ni pale ambapo nakala zimeandaliwa na mtu asiye na sifa kwa gharama, tozo au pato lolote kama ilivyoelezwa katika kifungu cha 43 cha Sheria tajwa hapo juu. Ilielezwa kuwa maelezo ya wakili huyo pia ni msimamo wa mahakama katika kesi ya George Humba Vs. JamesM. Kasuka TBR, Civil Appl. No. 01 of 2005 ('unreported' - haijaripdtiwa).-- Iliendelea kuelezwa kuwa, katika, friaombi;- haya kwakuwa muandaaji wa nakala anajulikana kuwa 'ni LHRC'ambaye amegonga na muhuri wake hivyo, kulilcuwa hakuna),'umuhimu wa jina la wakili aliyeandaa nakala hizo kwani hakufariya kazi hiyo kwa gharama au kipato chochote. ^Wa'kilP^huyo aliendelea kuongeza kuwa, kutokuandika jina la'muandaaji wa nakala sio kosa zito kwakuwa haligusi misingi ya, kesi yenyewe na mahakama inaweza kukataa kipengele hicho> chenye makosa na kuendelea na vipengele vingine X\ vya kiapdjviiivyo kamili. Wakili huyo aliongeza kuwa, maombi ya muombaji yana jina la muaandaaji ambaye ni LHRC lakini jina la muandaaji wa nakala lilizuiliwa na alama au mwangaza kwasababu bila kufanya hivyo nakala hizo zisingepokelewa kwenye mfumo wa kielektroniki wa 5 Mahakama ('e-fiiing'). Iliongezwa kuwa jina la wakili aliyeandaa nakala hizo liliondolewa kwa sababu hana akaunti kwenye mfumo wa kielektroniki wa Mahakama. Katika
hoja ya pili ilielezwa kwamba hakuna ubishi kuwa, shaidi wa kiapo hajaeleza kama anamjua muapaji yeye mwenyewe au ametambulishwa kwake na mtu mwingine, lakini kinachotakiwa \x \ \/ s \\ \'/ kuzingatiwa ni nani aiiweka sahihi katika nakala hizo..Wakili huyo alimtetea muombaji kuwa ni mtu asiyejua'sheria'-hjyyo, asingeweza kubadilisha alichoshauriwa na shahidix wa^kiapo ambaye ndiye Ji ’ // V. '*■;*•* mwenye makosa. V, • \ - Wakili huyo aliiomba mahakama isiangalie matatizo ya kiufundi katika kutenda hakrkama’jliyyoamuriwa katika kesi ya Githere V. Kimunga^(1979-i985j 1EA 101. Iliongezwa kuwa, muombaji alipewa \\ \\. " kiapo tayariikimeshasainiwa na shahidi wa kiapo hivyo alikamilisha tu ’’c / /xX. ' v. K jukumu la kusajili maombi yake. Katika pingamizi la mwisho wakili wa muombaji alieleza kwamba vifungu alivyonukuu muombaji ni sahihi kwa maombi haya. Alieleza kuwa, wakili wa mjibu maombi hajaeleza wazi vifungu sahihi vilivyotakiwa kunukuliwa jambo linaloonesha hakutafsiri vizuri vifungu vilivyonukuiiwa na muombaji. 6 Hivyo basi, wakili huyo aliomba pingamizi zilizoletwa na wakili wa mjibu maombi zitupiliwe mbali. Lakini pia aliomba kwamba endapo mahakama itaona kuwa, pingamizi la pili linamashiko basi maombi yaondolewe bila gharama na kwa ruhusa ya kusajiliwa upya. Baada ya kupitia hoja za wadaawa, sheria mbalimbali na // //\ .. kumbukumbu za mahakama ni wazi kuwa hoja ya
kuitatuani je v \\ \vz ■* pingamizi za mjibu maombi zina mashiko? X, Mahakama imeona ni busara kuanza;kutatua pingamizi la tatu kutokana na uzito wake na athari yake’eridapo pingamizi hilo litakuwa na mashiko. Katika pingamizi hilo -mjibu maombi anaiambia mahakama kuwa maombi ihaya yanamakosa kisheria kwa kunukuu vifungu visivyo sahiHi^Akijibu pingamizi hilo wakili wa mjibu maombi I ■ X—Xx \Xx\X ■' ■> U \\ ■ alisisitiza -kuwa^vifungu ’vyote vilivyonukuliwa na muombaji ni sahihi XXj '--XX v\\ \\ mbele ya mahakama hii. /KxV’' xx’ \ u o'}, > \\ Vifungu vilivyonukuliwa na muombaji katika maombi haya vimeainishwa wazi katika ukurasa wa kwanza wa maamuzi haya. Katika vifungu hivyo vinavyobishaniwa na mjibu maombi ni Kanuni ya 36 (1) (2) na 56 (1) (2) vya Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi. Tukianza na Kanuni 7 ya 36 ya sheria hiyo inaeleza kama ifuatavyo, ninanukuii:- 'Rule 36 (1) Where a matter is struck off the file due to the absence of a party who initiated the proceedings, the matter may be re enrolled if that party provides the Court with a satisfactory explanation by an affidavit/for his\\ failure to attend the Court. " <, \’ < / (2) The affidavit shall be filed in Court and the? Registrar shall place it to be heard.by ajudge in chambers to decide^wbetheCithe matter v. A'"" may be re-enroiiedpr not'>~ y Katika kifungu kilicKoqukuliwa hapo juu imeelezwa kuwa, pale ambapo shauri
limeondplewa mahakamani kwa muombaji kushindwa kuhudhuriaivshauri> hiloj huweza kurejeshwa kama muombaji katika kiapo cKake^ataeleza sababu za msingi za kushindwa kuhudhuria s\ v- j r mahakamanrhapo kama ilivyopangwa. Kipengele cha pili kimeongeza kuwa, kiapo hicho kinatakiwa kusajiliwa mahakamani na Msajili atapanga maombi hayo yasikilizwe na Jaji ili aamue endapo shauri lirejeshwe au la. Shauri analoomba muombaji lirejeshwe mbele ya mahakama hii liliondolewa kwa sababu ya yeye muombaji kushindwa kuhudhuria mahakamani, hivyo basi katika mazingira hayo ninaona 8 muombaji alikua sahihi kunukuu Kanuni ya 36 (1) (2) ya Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi. Nimezingatia maelezo ya mjibu maombi kuwa muombaji alitakiwa kunukuu kifungu kinachoelekeza shauri lililoondolewa kwa kushindwa kuendeshwa na muombaji. Lakini kifungu hicho hakipo katika kanuni tajwa hapo juu na hata wakili^wa. rrijibu maombi mwenyewe ameshindwa kukitaja kifungu hicho anachopendekeza kuwa kingenukuliwa kuwa ndiyo kifungu sahihi Kifungu kingine kinachobishaniwa na wakili wa mjibu maombi ni Kanuni ya 56 (1) (2) ya kanuni ,za'Mahakama ya Kazi kama ilivyonukuliwa na mjibu maombi katika maombi yake. Kanuni hiyo inaeleza kama ifuatayyo:- ' <^Rule'56.f£)'}The Court may extend or abridge z;-a/7y period prescribed by these Rules on (^Pljlication and on good cause shown, unless ythe Court is precluded from doing so by any written
law. (2) Where a party fails to comply with any notice or direction given subject to the provisions of these Rules, any interested party may apply on notice for an order that the notice or directive be complied with within a 9 period that may be specified and that failure to comply with the order, the party in default will not be entitled to any relief in the proceedings'. Katika nukuu hiyo hapo juu imeelezwa wazi kuwa, mahakama inaweza kuongeza muda uliowekwa na kanuni hizo kama muombaji ataeleza sababu za msingi za kuchelewa. Katika maombi. yajiyopo mbele ya Mahakama hii hakuna sehemu yoyote;muombaji ameomba kuongezewa muda wa kufanya jambo lolote. HiVyb basi, ni wazi W Xv XX x \> kwamba muombaji alinukuu kifupgu^'hicho.-jkwa makosa, kwani X- * l f " A 'X' hakihusiani kabisa na maombk yake ya kurfejeshewa shauri lake mbele ya mahakama hii. "xxX Ni maoni yanguX.kujiya'pale ambapo wakili/mtiwakilishi wa f tr" X' muombajiZmjillUemaombi amefanya kosa lolote la wazi la kiufundi \a. Z—- X x katika mabmbKyake, kosa hilo linapoibuliwa na upande mwingine ni vyema,au 6usara upande uliofanya kosa hilo kukubali haraka kosa '■-X ■/" ? hilo na kuomba nafasi ya kufanya marekebisho na sio kuendelea na ubishani usio na tija kwake wala mteja wake. Imekuwa ni tabia ya mawakili au wawakilishi kuendelea na tabia ya ubishani wa mambo ya kisheria yaliyo wazi ilihali wanatambua fika wamefanya
makosa 10 hayo. Tabia hiyo siyo nzuri kwani ndiyo inayochelewesha kesi kuisha mahakamani na kumchelewesha mteja kupata haki yake kwa wakati. Katika shauri hili ni wazi kuwa wakili wa muombaji anatambua kwamba kanuni ya 56 ya Kanuni za Mahakama ya Kazi hutumika pale muombaji anapoomba ongezeko la muda, maombi ambayo hayaendani na yaliyopo mbele ya mahakama /hii£Z Lakinix cha kushangaza wakili huyo ameendelea kusisitiza ' kuwa'Xvifungu vilivyonukiuliwa na muombaji ni sahihi kabisa.xKosa la kunukuu X>. Xx vifungu visivyo sahihi sio kosa dogo kamavambavyo wakili wa muombaji anaishawishi mahakama. hii kuamihi. Kosa hilo ni kubwa V J) sana na hufanya maombi yote kuwa na makosa kwani vifungu vinavyonukuiiwa ndivyo>nuipa nguvu mahakama kumpa muombaji alichoomba katikaMunguJilvyo. Hivypbasi, katika kesi hii mahakama haiwezi kuvifumbia macho vifungu vya maombi ya ongezeko la muda vilivyonukuliwa kimakosa z'? na muombaji katika maombi haya. Kwa msingi huo shauri la muombaji linastahili kuondolewa mbele ya mahakama hii. Huu pia ndio msimamo wa Mahakama ya Rufani katika kesi ya Jimmy Lugendo V. Crdb Bank Limited Civil Application No. 111/01 of 2017 ambapo iliamuriwa kuwa:- ii 'The issue that immediately arises is what are the consequences of citing a wrong provision of law? ft is trite law that wrong citation of the enabling or applicable law in moving the Court renders the application
incompetent and liable to be struck out (See Edward Bachwa and Three Others l/s. The Attorney General and Another, Civil Application No. 128 ,ofsiob6t \\ \y CA T, unreported)’ f ':r' XS Kwa mantiki ya maelezo yaliyotolewa hapo juu, mahakama inaliondoa shauri hili katika masijala yake kwa sababu ya kuletwa x । ( X, / chini ya vifungu visivyo feahihi.Xiyiahakama haioni sababu ya kuendelea na utatuzi wa;< pingamjzP zingine zilizobaki kwa kuwa maombi yote kwa ujumlassi>sahihi. Hivyo basi, hata kama pingamizi W j nyingine hazinaf mashiko;mahakama haiwezi kuendelea kusikiliza maombi ambayo sio -sahihi na yameshatolewa amri ya kuondolewa (struck dutjkatika masijala yake. ''s ZJ?' I.D. Aboud JAJ1 16/04/2021 12
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