19940812 TZHC Dar es Salaam
The house was not intended as a matrimonial asset, was not acquired by joint effort, and there was no evidence of contribution by the respondent. Therefore, it is not subject to division under Section 114 of the Law of Marriage Act, 1971. The appellant's appeal is allowed, the District Court's decision is set aside,...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 19940812 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Parties
- Appellant: Appellant (wife); Respondent: Respondent (husband)
- Court
- TZHC
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Judgment Date
- 12 August 1994
- Procedural Posture
- Appeal / Final Appellate Decision
- Outcome
- Appeal allowed
- Legal Topics
- Division of Matrimonial Property, Interpretation of Section 114 Law of Marriage Act 1971, Matrimonial Assets, Contribution to Property Acquisition
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Appellant (wife)
Appellant
Respondent (husband)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Final Appellate Decision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the disputed house is matrimonial property under Section 114 of the Law of Marriage Act, 1971
- 2 Whether the respondent (husband) is entitled to a share of the house
- 3 Whether the house was acquired by joint effort or contribution during the marriage
Ratio Decidendi
The house was not intended as a matrimonial asset, was not acquired by joint effort, and there was no evidence of contribution by the respondent. Therefore, it is not subject to division under Section 114 of the Law of Marriage Act, 1971. The appellant's appeal is allowed, the District Court's decision is set aside, and the Primary Court's decision is restored.
Court Disposition
Appeal allowed
Orders
- Judgment and decision of the District Court set aside
- Decision of the Primary Court restored
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
..w.. ·J:...:.... ........~",J • l .,: C. ,.. ~'J{j,iLu,._,"i.:_ J.1&~!ri1.~ ·~ '1 ....... i1 iL ~.:., .. ~ 1~. .. .~:.. ._j.~. ................. C ·r.:-::L.;c:.~ JUJ.,7. ~-~ • .JL1 00004&.(,.oJ...Ctt••.,o•tl•••·~I\r • t.:~r. U 72 'l'...io a.p::,1olla.td c\:·:.·. -~:. · :-:-oo;,:,ondo:-:·~ iL c hil.'J1)a:.·1c'1_ a.nd-wi:i?o. Tho::~'.:·:.· 1'061)0ll0.a..'1t was t:=.o b,~;b[~l~i.. ,!..:.l(i. t~c .- ar>J;'.'. .lc~- 1 WM t~:i.o trite. .J.v l\ dooi-oo .: ~suoct by -t;:.o ?rima.r,:J ~ :· :.t o.t ~~ :~,. :.. :~o.. 1lirJtr~.ot, they 1t()5:'o \. diw:road.. Foll°'tiJ.1g -t'... 0 t:.::.: "~a arJ. isr... ·:: ~~-····:o ~-.--; to t;..;.o di.viJ35.on of a. llouno o.t ~c1'l.U'Uni, !fov.no ~.':). 3fJ4, lluct;. ·.:.-.i::...... ~-.:. . ., ,~;.: :"~dn_.:i.n, i.'i iGl11a o:f ~cation 114 of tho J..,2,\; of' Ha;."l'i~;c ,. :t .1:.,71. · i ho roc11ondont el.aimed 11 1 t -'---",,". t , ·..,~-,,·,-.•·L" ·•·. <Jf -'·he ·,"11~~·'Gi"'n t J-.'-"••· ,1..i,,,.. s-.:d ;.•,ou··-r., -· ·" "~ ~ •-,,-.,.• bu.iJ.J. (,;,\iaJa ._... ~ ' ~JJ ~ "'··'°'"' .,,..... .~:(..- (~\,U·;r.;._ . .. I_: .......... ,'tt#f-J ·-~ nhioh ,;,ra.s not do11,.od by ·tho ~'.'):;;1ollr:.i. 1 ..izy -~~0:t:,:. joint of:.f-0:;.."to, ullio!1 far: divinion of the how:o. vnJ.uo. Tho Prim.-1.lzy' Oo\Ul't a.aoic1.ccl.. (',:;r-.~..11:3t ;d.n1 -c,.rnl. ho a~'.l1,ocl.od. to tho Dir;trict Court of I:1,l'lt.. TJ:'.o la.tto:c \. ~ Ctcincaru. SDM' al.:i~Oirod. tb.o P.,:·:>:::.-oal <Uld 01"<forod. :H..vid.011 of t>.o ruo1 #iio.o ~- part of tho:i.:..' ~tl':t:1onial r..snoiw. ;l1l10 a:-:;!)OZ'J.J.e.n:c -w~.e l\'.;.~- ·:'J"irocl,. a.n.<1. she han 11cnr cones to this court. l-liss ~hoikh :l.oa:t>noct '-"'htlcatc, ail.vooatoa ·:o,:, l~. Tho rcc1?0~1cto:rt lTaG ::::~"'"'>rod by. l'--',bl irio;Uc-ll 'J? or i~:o hcn:ring oi -~;_YJ ·alJ.POC'l. • Re (.Uc1. not a.]?J?ODZ' tJo tho ho.~il.:..g i~ocacdod ftl. W.S ak:01100. l;t~n Ghci!:J.1. :tilod 1~it:ton su.'bmir~c j, ona. T'JJ..o a.,.rpcl f: ... --t , ,. 0:1.'JO 'UM -t:1at tho b.ow:o i.i.1 .:'..i11iuto ir.: iJ.1 ho~ Ottit i ~......... ~ tJ naIDGe Sho io t1,,,... J.,..v 0:10 li'i..~O oo~~oa· tiib 1uot cm., 1f!i.ioll it J..r.J .,A· ......... """" •• ..;.. ll • '"; She then b\.\ilt it .from. l\O:r.' O'tth i~o~os, with -~! t: ar.:_r::iotanco of ho:~ fa.thor. Sha_ tfaid tho hot1.;)o 1r1 ·not 'a n,-xt;d.rni:mhl '.<.oti<Jc. Sho daiC.:. ,Jij~).C:,;O ....... ~ - ..... _......,-' ... ·- ·- r-,..,1... - - •• ,..,•.. "·· ...• .... 4~"'1 :. _........ • • •;"t~_'\,, ":!' ••• .,._ ,l# .... ~ '··- . I ••• •I '4 ballQfi:t_of tl:o chil=.i'o:1 oi' t~•.c :in.1 ..t .-_i.;::;o Mel s'"D.o \l'ill bo Qonto11t 1rHh- ·tho 0:10 ~1 cl..:l.sl)uto l1or,:. f~:::-, ·: ·,:j t1.ris hou:10 irJ >or m-m o::.r.clu.sivtilY and ~ :i.a not a mE1,t:rin01:d,...l ::,Ju.so. Ti:..o fi.i.d.. is uto wo:r~ cc.-..lloc\ 1TJ' tho respo- nC:.o~-rt GS wit;1oor:: ").:; , :.". -:'.. ::: ··;·.n'o t .10 o·~.os -wJ:~o 1:n.uJ:~ ·!iho b.ou.~ci, i"TOl'<? ui1a.n...i..rJOLID in tl10:i.:;: o--.--~. ·,· . J -;;· .•:~; t".oy : c:i:·o 01r;c,'~o;:l ~:3;· tho D.1?11olJ.rJ.1.t _in cling to Iolr.J:1ic :c:::t0s. f.io by ti::.o t:ir ·.l th-: ).:.01:.no :1.J.1 thu:J OM~ .-rM boil;g lmil t t:,~_,:-) :)2..:rt i.c:J ~:...\<.::::·.· ::., ---~;o wu::i -·,lro:~ _1.y.·.iir: ~ rr~rJ,to of ntrain. In rulou:i.aJ tlle a~:;1:orl o::: t;.10 ~.u.wb:!_.1~. ·i···.o So1u.01• Diatrict Mt\·?:~:ra.to hold.a- 11 Gofo,:; t;:::::-01.1<,;.:'. -~ho rocor( J. ·~·\t:10:r ·r::...•,;i; tho pmicEl woro r;uw:1':;.u.-l 011. 7/G/7a ai '· lu-.,.l J. ·'; .·•Jt1 he.:pplly for 1l yo~t'31 i. Oo n:,:· 1;o 1989• ; :'.? t!:,o :.'.C."1.WO in qU-OGt foll. UM it ia om.ouo thr.t t:1.0 :.,::nu fa a joim l_y rJ;,::.:J.:,>.Jc~. ;.):;.·o:~x.izat1 2-CC':)l'ilillG to tho il:rlio:i.•1,:-;:, ~ ,-kt ion of _l,. · .l'o •..~:,:;.;.~~~ ::-!.........o·:> ·--;;"·, or,0 ~¼ ',)h"'rsio: ,.. ..-, .• ·.-~. U,1:.c.:i:- t::.o ojx<Jt.v~-t2..1100r3,- •.. , t\1''.:?olJ.ant (husb[l.lltl) is c'lso oditlod fo1.· ::, sl1[l..t'O of ·[ o <l:i.r~~~ttocl houoe as well nfJ ·~).:..o :rolo"ir'c'..l.tt I.,.ouzc hol, o:r.i~octa citi.ns Section lJ.4 ot tho L~w of Mt,,r:i.'i .··_;o .-lot 11To.,; 0£ 1971,;. :C.'1 hor r:.ul'I!,iccioar.:: hl ~1:w oov.rt a:piritorl uttn.c!:: no ·GJ:c o.bo-ro holdi.ns nnd ·n.mrs t tho loo.t'11od So,.1ior District Hatfat:catocl.. Sb.o o~ in pt\l"t in hor ·m1 lT:'ll'MI 11 I 21.fc:lit, uith "11 duo roS!)oct, -~:.1D,t tho ioc..rnor'.!. J,:.c.,1:>0112-·lic Sc11:tol:' Dintriot Uag1st;.~n;to grously mir.r c~ircctod. bjJilsol:f' in J.n1r ~.. West uhon ho held t:.:.~'.,t tl:~o DJ.'Oj)OOty t}io subjcot o:i: ·, .:.~.E: caao iB l'Jl,.:,,,ti•i- :~•:,;:d.c.1 :,)J:o:;_16i"'1iy. T4o moi~o f,11.rf; ·L::-.t ·bho prOJ?oi::•:tr i"T,.'J·, a it o:f:' assets I fa c":.0:d.vou. :':2-o ·:'. :::cot i<m. 114 ( 1) of tho Lro,r of l:b.m."12.._o ~•,.ct, 1971, wluoh olc.-:,ly onvieacas thd t~~o v:.-~::ot~ mu.st "be mat:d801ual assets -. n.nc!. t:).c;/ n-.;s~ l1c.1.vc ·boon eoqu:Li:-ocl hy the )?~ tios ,-''..1..::>..~~::: __, ·.;ho l)l,"'.lJ.Tia,:;o by thofr ~ joiltt ir,:·..)J. :r:;·,:-.J.rb in t:ic :•ir.. ..:::!_1:ll,,:L·J~l ol tho r:;e,ic1, 11ro:y_,:;.--t;/ in ·~ho c,-;--:-;~ri;, ;2 ·;;):i.c clis::iol ut ion of t;_:;.o ::'.)lo-"r,;.1t mro:-r .. -,_;o. T!;,o loanod. So:1for lfoh;;:;.:icJ. ·-..,. lJ.ly ,:8:..11., -~a:~u--t _ofA1>1-,ocl Civil Appot1. Ho. 3/03 o..i.,.d. so-ct j,ol1 114 o1 tho La:1; o:i? M Marri..·,,,ec .i\ot • 197 1 .. ti .Aftor roprocluoin& tho rolo~v'c'..i.rt -__,::-.rt O:i ::::c0t~.on 114, Miss Sheikh goos on to ou.bnit that t:.'.c ,_;mi.::;rt o~: Ap]?Oal iJ.t tho !~!2~9-~_oc,1:i:Q did. 11ot i!Jtorprct Soot :i.olt J.J.4 t U noan ti!.8, ·. ClJ;j/ ~iorty aoqui:~•oc1. during tho subsist en '/k v, U.:i:..-:da:,r; is join.1 ·:l ~q-~.:tod l)l'Oporty r0i-~ardlc::;s of physicel co1~tl.'i~:u:Ho:1. C·.1 th _ , .oon~ra.l""".)"~ ~c-. oonton{-:.r::, tho 001.u'ii of A1_1Dotu i.11 t:o.::::'li cc;:;o ::.:,. ~tcri,:,c ·•.1.v; ocction 114 holtl t:..·.at tho wol"'ds " thoir joillt t.d'Xorl 11 _.:md. ~11:0rk1; ·. ·-·:·c:.;,,":;J t!J.O ooqtiJ.r:i,l'\1 o:;; ot tho nr.:1so-bs ha\'C to bo om1r.1·i;l'l,i,.icl ~ omb:,_·OJ..:i ; ·t:.o ":10I.1ootio· offo;;.~tr:;:, or 11work" of a hoooa.nd. r:-11d wiic M~s Sho:lkh ::-c .rocli.'.Ooa tho follofrii.lG holclinJ of tho ccu:Mi of_ kz:)Oi:'1 ~ AL~. 11-:i::.r;. :2t.!Jl o~o•- na o.t ·tho t-imo of &solut.iot -_,.~ tb;o mc>..:rri;:,.:;;c of' tho,l)r;r.•U. Js tho ~,.ouao ,rOJ;; \W(;) ·_ 1Jy ~0. ;)t~t:i.oo 1 t!icir ·fllc.'\ti..i-i:1011.inl hooc. •• I,• ~. . -. ;.~, •..;1.... I oasc ,ras not uood l.zy tho ::>:::.,.'"iiioi:! :,::: t.\oh O.O:~l"iiu::-n:1.2.l homo at .tho th10 \ of i;hc c.1.issolutL,::i of t:.'.o 1u··l'r:i.....,,::o, L cn;:..,2wt bo rcs~dod no ll. mc.trinu>- nial -'Dl'O':')Ort'l'.1 . . ., accord.int:,' to ·c\:.u r~ccii::i0.n in tho ..Il•;:t:tt ........... Mohc11,1od. _Jllh_..... ca.so., ~~ _unl. oss thOJ."O is ovid.onco to t:::; 8~l1~:..·r.ry, Mi;:;a s: :(d.ldi aubmitc furtb.or tl\a:b . ( n.) E-vi.'.~o~i.co of ,eon·: ·:ibn.·c:'.f)ll r,i:-,rlo )y ot'.C:.·L 1)l'.rly it1 r.n~:.o~r 1 j)X'O-!)erty o. ·;rn:t·:.:. · po 0 oes 0~1, 11 ln t):/J :POt::Oi1'G 0:J.Z,. -tJ ci"v:i.LLvllc0 011 rcr:::or(. in. tho ... , M cJ~i:ro:.~ ·d: c1.faputod hcuso .u1d. tho :)l.'\,'30 hold itoma ill ~10::c homo (b) T!~.a ?.1our.:;o iz; q_~' ·1-'G io11 Wall no~,. boil.){~ unod. aa tho nut;d,mo llisl .hOlllo ·.-11 tllo time of tho dio~Jol- ution of tho ~.irri~sa.. \ ( o) Tho lTifo alone i)rt· ~.ilod the money fo1• ncqu-r ri.ig tho l~onr.;o w$/i;h so;·) ~sil:Jte.nco f'roa l:or :M ft:i:1;2).or, UJ.1.::. for nootinc -t~;;.o co::ponsos of ;.,,_iilcl:i.r,g tJ:o hcft.-s.qa: 'tho oost o:f 'b.~..:J.Lli:l::; rac,tc:dals ,JB ·iroll ( d:) T},'.Ol"O is no o"lid.ol'tt".0 '.(' ~ ['lrJ' 06Ut'.!:':i.lr.:c·b :1.r./.1 a1.do b,}'" tb.o liUl5,)n.t\d citl'!.0:,:- in 'J,:. .;.~uJ, :;I'~'-')cr-t:• Oj~ ii-cdc • the a,oq_ull':i.,1c-; ot -·;:,:,_o oasotn. to 1il.1.!'Wl .., ,, _.t. ~~···· ·- : -, ••• r'. ·:.•.,•- •-•e ·•·· . .,.. olea:-dy t:. -) '.J.,, ~: .0. was ,.10Jt: 1:i.n·fonded to 1)o ;_\ m2-.trl.1110nial assctr ~ '~'' ..,.. ; :;_:-i c--.icl..enco tllat tb.rJ 2.::-,:.:,oJ.L~.nt was 2. /fc.:.e wor,u-:.;.1 o:-:· L.-.:, _10::·1.o~:.:l; i2,oa:.w, r1J,_o;c::i1:).oyocl :111 a s~op With J.'cr:i 1,ect, I 0,:;:roo 1~:~·t:. dl 'tic D.'bove ~bmiosj.o;.~/oo_ntcnt:i.ons of Miss Shoilai Soctio1t 11f:. of-'<-~.-'; :.u of Mai-riec:;o Act, 1971., :;:-ctoxrod to by the Sc11lor Distrj..~t I.:c>str:-.to J;U'Q~vic1.esa 11 114 (l)· r:.::10.- C0t.-i:-~:-. -::)all he..V01l)Oi'rnr., rrho11 c;cantj.ng or subr:;oq_uc:-rt to t .· :):Qnt of a c1.co,~oo c:i; D01,tr..ratio11 or a.h:.,:rr.;o, t<> ordo:c V·.. u divfoior1 ;:iTliwoon tfao pa;rtios 3UOh 2.::1::.:,;-~ ~'..t".l,l tho 'i.' ··:t5.J ·m 1)otsoi:m tLo J?.:.:t~ios ot . tho irococds of rm.lo. (2) L"l m:croisil\'} t:w :,JOU,):~ 0011:::'0.1,rod ·u;7 St\bsootion (1) 1· t)~G c::r.,;;rl o~·;,;;-,.ll :.,~w :~o:_;c,,:r:l: . (a.) to tho custom ·1:? the coDmunit;r to 1rhioh tho • J?c'll.'tj.oa boloit_: (t,) t.Q...t.hc. •..o:..~1t..A~ .t.llo. cordir11ut1.om ,tl.'.l.dQ. .lzy:,~:l,l~..iJ:.. -Jl\C'~~Q,~.4'l'l!-.Ua;ck ~ ..... _ ....,... - ·"- - ..... ~ .. t:1.0 .. ............ ,..... MC: ~~ .. ~ ..._..~.-- .Ul:'il""" of tho - ·• . _. -~ ... ...... .. ...cwoo'lis , : - (o) to ~v ;:,_01Jt;:; Ol;it::;:; bf oitller 11~~, i7hio11 t·To:i:·o 0011't:-:v..cYL11 f ·: thou: joillt l,onoiit, ruld. -(cl) to tho noc~~ oi t.~1, :Lr.ta.11t obil<l;;:011, if ro:zy1 of tho Jnn:1..-..ci~o, nn-~ imbjoct to -&:1m;o ooMi- . d.o:cC1.t ic,1,:3 a!l.,J,1 ,.ncL.aca t·cnrr.i.:cc1r.-i oi;1y..rl :ity of di vfr:j.on''. I As :f!o-i:o tho or:so o.Z P~~..¼'1.:1911 r!.i..l th,;_·: tho . . o,w.~ oi;' Appeal, did in 'lib.ct Clat:JQ n~ to rcoo;;;nor.io 1'.ou1c:rt,.ao ~ : or ao~os ;,:011d.orod 'by .. ., · a house wito 313 a joil'i-t off'ort 01: oontri~tio.nt ;~1tt.r8.D t1~o a.cqui'.Jitfor1 of aSeots \rit4i11 ·tho r,10DJ.1~ ot Sootiori. 114 c.bow•. I11 otho~ w-oro1;;, tho court of Ap:poal t,t t!::,c.;l; c~o d.oc1 lod tht:'-.i ~<" ''work" in 500tiol1 114, it die. not mon.n only formal wo1·k1 zuoll ~ omplo3fi10l1t 1 · iJu.tdJ.wos otn. DomorrHo Sor-v-:i.ooa of [', houso wi:to 1 it ~hey 3.!'0 rondorcd tu ioi') ~M bo considorcci. a;:· ~p'i11,3 -vtork ....... c,ton wb.c~o t::~o ::::c,i:".. r;-~.o::.r:;c co:·~:.•i"'.Jt1-cod. no:i:t:.:.or money, :pj:'OJ.io:;.:t;r or irorlc tovra:r-cki tl:o:i.:c ,.'.O(:_u:i.r..:!.t ion. T'.1ir.: 1 ::.:.1 r.:.y -v:t..lw, i:;1 act t::o h"lr o.;.1c1.. tha lant. D..C(!.U5.::-o,". -~: ..o ~1.o·,.1::0 i~i i\.i;.::_::.:.tc r olc: · · o:;. !:.or Ci"i·:n, ·t;i•;;:_:•.<A'.t oom:ribut ion of a..v fo~n l,:,. t:.~o ro:J;_10:~:'.o:-:.t ( towr.z·· n r!. · :_t·.:LJ:·inr; i"b) -c:.-.onj1_, c:? oou~so, 1 it was iwqu:b:·o:l c1l.1:d~ t 1:;o 0;~1.'bfJi::.:·'·cnco e,:,; \\c rat:•.r:rfr,;o. I ::old. tt.orofore ...\tJ.J.Q,11 ,~ __... "tho "'"'ir,..:..· ;'--o-,,..,c ,.,_., ., l)·T t,.•,c -p..,.;,._,,., • .,.~ "'""''"""" to u. .'·''""' ... \,,~ I ~,1,' t',r o·t'·r--, l14 ··-~ ··-~..J.1. · ··. y'•c, .-~u..L--L ,__ ;.i t.:.· . .J 1 :..; ; .••. -..!.. V'-'\,-1.-;!J ~14C..~ci•. ; ·00. 1 ,.,..,..ttJ 1•r,:, 1~Q·,,~1 ,,_.,,.,.1·''"'1•.,.,.,..,,./ Jl .,..,, .;,.,-._ -,,-h , •• ,i'.)-l,-,ct to (14 ''-'-"-'0'' ~'-"~~<>;t..-..a . . . ' VlieJJ :, J.:. - - • i.;,,.,_u ~.;J V\.i-i....r ~J.•.-4. , •.• J..l..;J • .J"' ,J ..... i • t)Y !.I,, VJ..1.J .t. J.-la, ~ ,-'1:·~a,, .1.J,,..,.. . . I m91tial MfJot ;. I allow t::;.o e:.i_:r:)ollc.1.1t ·3 n::r~:oJ.1 to tb.iG oov.rl, gy.a.-:Jh and set a; · - asido the juC;--;r,to::it oi- docicion c:2 -~hc3" Jir~·~:t'::..:lt Court r.ncl I :,::>~::rtoro the.t of . t~o Pr~; C01.u"ii;. T!10 u,J?J)oUc..nt if; tc ~.:.v,7o tho costs of t . :.:.r.1 r.-ntlt ;1 in this oburt ::u1,l :i..i.1 t;:::.c t;-iO c:ov.rts below. t~ :f'ollow5..n:; fosuor.: ror c1"o·l;o.'T.'O:ll1c,tio1:,_~ ( ', clia1::o'J.ution o:r µ_,_~c'l'L.,..;o, (ii) custc,\::- 2,1~;lf·i11tc:].~'..l100 of o1:.ilc1:c'cL .):i. +.~o ma:r-.cin.,;o ( ;:i;.1.J. / or former s:9ause)/(i1.i) ·r:i-v"irJfon o:l,' qo.t::·:i.;:,o:.1i':l!• '"'..s~;ets. All ·Lo;J.a \::-,,re to. .t Jucl::;mont <lol i-irorod.