MAREJEO NA
- Citation
- MAREJEO NA
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TANZLII
- Decision
- 1 January 2024
- Posture
- Labour Revision / Final Judgment
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TANZLII
- Decision
- 1 January 2024
- Posture
- Labour Revision / Final Judgment
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The applicant failed to provide timely and relevant medical evidence to justify his absence from work during the period in question. The medical reports submitted did not cover the dates of absenteeism, and the illness argument was raised only before the Commission, not during internal disciplinary proceedings. The employer followed proper procedures, and the Commission's decision to dismiss the application was correct.
Court disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The revision application is dismissed for lack of merit.
- The Commission's decision is upheld.
02
Material facts
Parties
Jacob Kalenge
ApplicantCocacola Kwanza Limited
Respondent Counsel: Innocent Felix Mushi03
Procedural history
Posture
Labour Revision / Final Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the applicant was unfairly terminated due to medical reasons
- 02
Whether the applicant's absenteeism was justified by medical evidence
- 03
Whether the Commission properly evaluated evidence regarding the applicant's illness
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Applicant argued that his absence from work was due to medical reasons supported by doctor's reports, and that the Commission failed to properly consider this evidence. He claimed the employer lacked proper procedures for reporting illness and did not provide sick sheets, forcing oral or phone notifications. He asserted that the employer should have maintained medical records and that he was ill from 2018 until termination in 2023.
- Respondent
- Respondent, through counsel, argued that the applicant was absent for over ten days without notice, admitted to absenteeism, and only raised the medical issue before the Commission as an afterthought. The respondent maintained that no medical documents were provided to justify the absence during the relevant period, and the applicant failed to notify the employer in writing or attach medical evidence. The medical reports submitted did not cover the dates of alleged absenteeism.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Cap 366, as revised 2019
Absenteeism without notice constitutes a valid ground for termination under employment law.
- 02
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Cap 366, as revised 2019
Medical evidence must directly relate to the period of alleged absenteeism to justify absence.
- 03
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Cap 366, as revised 2019
Employee must notify employer in writing and provide supporting medical documents for illness-related absence.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The applicant failed to provide timely and relevant medical evidence to justify his absence from work during the period in question. The medical reports submitted did not cover the dates of absenteeism, and the illness argument was raised only before the Commission, not during internal disciplinary proceedings. The employer followed proper procedures, and the Commission's decision to dismiss the application was correct.
Obiter and limits
- The applicant's claim regarding lack of proper sick leave procedures at the employer's office does not absolve him from the responsibility to notify and provide evidence of illness.
- Raising medical reasons as an afterthought undermines the credibility of the applicant's case.
Court disposition
application dismissed
- The revision application is dismissed for lack of merit.
- The Commission's decision is upheld.
Source and reliance status
TANZLII · 1 January 2024
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 2024
KATIKA MAHAKAMA KUU YA TANZANIA
DIVISHENI YA KAZI
DAR ES SALAAM MAREJEO NA. 30976 YA MWAKA 2024 KESI KUMBUKUMBU NA: 202412091000030976 JACOB KALENGE..........................A.................................. MLETA MAOMBI
DHIDI YA COCACOLA KWANZA LIM ITED.........................................MJIBU MAOMBI
HUKUMU Tarehe ya Amri ya Mwisho: 28/ 02/2025 Tarehe ya Hukumu: 26/ 03/2025 MLYAMBINA, 3. Maombi haya ni marejeo dhidi ya maamuzi ya Tume ya Usuluhishi na Uamuzi (itajulikana kama Tume) Kinondoni Dar es salaam yaliyotolewa tarehe tarehe 01/11/2024 mbele ya Mheshimiwa Igogo, M - Mwamuzi. Katika shauri hilo, Tume ilitupilia mbali maombi ya Mleta Maombi aliyowasilisha kuwa ameachishwa kazi isivyo halali. Baada ya kutoridhika na maamuzi hayo, Mleta Maombi amewasilisha maombi haya akiiomba Mahakama itengue maamuzi ya Tume kutokana na hoja zifuatazo: i. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alijichanganya katika hoja ya sheria aliposhindwa kuangalia kwa makini cheti cha Daktari kuhusu maradhi ya Mleta Maombi kwani ripoti ya Daktari ilikuwa wazi kabisa endapo mheshimiwa angezingatia kilichoandikwa na Daktari. ii. Kwamba, Mwamuzi alijichanganya katika hoja ya sheria alipokubaliana na ushahidi wa uongo kwamba Mleta Maombi alikuwa na utoro wa siku kumi mfululizo tangu tarehe 10/05/2023 hadi 21/05/2023 ambapo wakati huo Mleta Maombi alikuwa kwenye matibabu katika hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili. iii. Kwamba, Mwamuzi alijichanganya katika hoja ya sheria aliposhindwa kuangalia kwa makini ushahidi wa DW1 na DW2. iv. Kwamba, mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alikosea katika hoja ya sheria aliposema kwamba mgogoro unakosa mashiko kwa sababu alishindwa kuangalia mlolongo mzima wa matibabu. v. Kwamba, Mwamuzi alikosea
kisheria alipotupilia mbali madai yote ya Mleta Maombi kwa sababu Mleta Maombi kipindi chote hicho alikuwa mgonjwa. Shauri hili liliendeshwa kwa njia ya maandishi. Katika kuendesha shauri hili, Mleta Maombi alijiwakilisha mwenyewe ilihali Mjibu Maombi aliwakilishwa na Wakili Innocent Felix Mushi. Ijapokuwa Mleta Maombi ameelezea hoja ya kwanza peke yake na zilizobaki kwa ujumla, Mahakama inaona kuwa hoja zote kwa pamoja zinaweza kutatuliwa kwa pamoja. Mleta Maombi alieleza kuwa hizo wiki mbili za mwezi Mei anazodaiwa kuwa alikuwa mtoro alikuwa mapumziko aliyopewa na Daktari na aliwasilisha vielelezo ambavyo Mwamuzi alikataa kuvizingatia. Aliongeza kuwa hata wakati anaendesha kesi mbele ya Tume alikuwa bado yupo kwenye matibabu. Alioeleza kuwa mwajiri hakuwa na utaratibu mzuri wa kwenye matibabu kwani ofisi haina hata fomu ya matibabu (sick sheet) kwaajili ya Mfanyakazi kupatiwa matibabu badala yake walikuwa wanatuma taarifa kwa mdomo au kwa simu njia ambayo sio sahihi. Mleta Maombi aliendelea kueleza kuwa hata kama kweli alikuwa mtoro ni jukumu la Mjibu Maombi kutunza kumbukumbu zake za matibabu na kuthibitisha juu ya tuhuma hiyo kama ambavyo imeelezwa katika vifungu vya 37 na 39 vya Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini [Sura ya 366 Kama i/ivyorejewa mwaka 2019} (itajulikana kama Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini). Iliongezwa kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa mgonjwa tangu 2018
mpaka kipindi anaachishwa kazi mwaka 2023. Hivyo kutokana na hoja hizo Mleta Maombi aliiomba Mahakama itengue maamuzi ya Tume. Wakili Mushi alipinga vikali maombi haya kuwa hayana mashiko na kuomba yatupiliwe mbali. Alieleza kuwa Mleta Maombi alituhumiwa kwa utoro wa kutokuwepo kazini kwa zaidi ya siku kumi bila taarifa na alikiri hilo katika utetezi wake wa kutokuwepo kazini, kielelezo D3 na hata katika kikao cha nidhamu kama inavyoonekana katika Muhutasari wa kikao cha nidhamu kielelezo D5. Aliongeza kuwa, sababu ya ugonjwa Mleta Maombi aliitoa kwa mara ya kwanza mbele ya Tume ,kitu ambacho hakikubaliki kisheria na mheshimiwa Muamuzi wa Tume alilisema hilo katika ukurasa wa 19 na wa 20 wa tuzo. Wakili Mushi aliendelea kueleza kuwa hata ukisema unazingatia ugonjwa/kuhudhuria matibabu MOI kama sababu, bado sababu hiyo haina mashiko kabisa kwa sababu zifuatazo:- kwamba, Mleta Maombi hajawahi mpatia Mjibu Maombi barua yoyote au nyaraka yoyote kuhusiana na ugonjwa. Hata kwenye barua yake ya utetezi ya tarehe 20.5.2024 (Kielelezo D3) hakusema chochote juu ya ugonjwa wake wala hakuweka nyaraka yoyote na hata wakati wa madodoso kwenye Tume alipoulizwa uthibitisho kuwa aliwahimpatia Mjibu Maombi alishindwa kutoa uthibitisho. Kwamba, barua za matibabu hazihusiani na tarehe ambazo Mleta Maombi alituhumiwa kwa kosa la utoro. Hivyo aliomba shauri hili litupiliwe mbali. Katika maelezo
jazilizi Mleta Maombi alirudia yaleyale aliyoeleza awali na kukazia kuwa Muamuzi hakuzingatia ushahidi na vielelezo alivyowasilisha mbele ya Tume. Kama ilivyoelezwa na pande zote mbili, na kama inavyoonekana katika barua ya kuachishwa kazi, kielelezo D6, Mleta Maombi aliachishwa kazi kwa utoro kazini bila taarifa tokea tarehe 11/05/2023 mpaka tarehe 22/05/2023 alipopokea barua ya kujieleza. Kutohudhuria kazini bila taarifa sio kwamba ni kosa katika ofisi ya Mleta Maombi pekee, bali ni mojawapo ya kosa linalopelekea kufukuzwa kazi kama liiivyoelezwa katika Kanuni za Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini, Tangazo la Serika/i Na. 42 /a mwaka 2007. Kabla ya kuachishwa kazi, Mjibu Maombi alianza na taratibu za ndani ambapo alimwandikia Mleta Maombi barua ya kujieleza, kielelezo D2 atoe sababu ni kwanini hakuhudhuria kazini kwa siku tajwa. Kama alivyoeleza Wakili Mushi, Mleta Maombi katika majibu yake kama yanavyoonekana katika kielelezo D3 alieleza kuwa kiongozi wake anaefanya nae kazi anamuwekea mazingira magumu ya kazi kwa kumpa adhabu mbalimbali. Lakini sababu ya ugonjwa haikuelezwa kabisa katika barua hiyo. Pia hata katika kikao cha nidhamu alichojibu Mleta Maombi kama inavyoonekana kwenye muhutasari wa kikao cha nidhamu D5 ni kama ifuatavyo: Ndiyo nakubali sikuwa kazini kuanzia tarehe 11/05/2023 mpaka siku napokea hati ya mashtaka. Vilevile, baada ya kukutwa na hatia Mleta Maombi aliambiwa
ajitetee na alijibu ifuatavyo: Ndio nina matatizo ya kiafya mgongo unanisumbua sana na pia ninamatatizo ya vidonda vya tumbo, hivyo naomba maamuzi/penalty izingatie afya yangu. Ukiangalia muhtasari hakuna mahali Mleta Maombi ametoa ushahidi huo wa ugonjwa alioeleza. Kama alivyoeleza Mwamuzi ushahidi huo Mleta Maombi ameutoa mbele ya Tume jambo ambalo halikuwa sawa. Pia vielelezo hivyo vywa ugonjwa, A3 Mleta Maombi ametoa ripoti za Hospitali za tarehe 06/06/2023, 19/06/2023, 16/08/2023, 18/08/2023 na tarehe 15/09/2023. Hakuna ripoti yoyote inayoelezea tarehe ambazo Mleta Maombi hakufika kazini. Hivyo basi, sio kuwa ripoti hiyo haikuzingatiwa na Mleta Maombi bali haikuthibitisha tuhuma alizokuwa anakabiliwa nazo Mleta Maombi. Na hata sababu ya kuwa Mwajiri hana utaratibu mzuri wa kutoa taarifa ya ugonjwa, Mahakama inaona utetezi huo hauna mashiko kwani hakukuwa na sababu yoyote inayomzuia Mleta Maombi kumuandikia barua Mjibu Maombi kuwa anaumwa na kuambatanisha vyeti vywake vya Hospitali kama Ushahidi. Naungana na maamuzi ya Tume kuwa sababu ya ugonjwa kama ni wazo mbadala (afterthought) kwani Mleta Maombi alitakiwa kutaja sababu hiyo pale tu alipopewa barua ya kujieleza kwanini hakuhudhuria kazini. Lakini hakufanya hivyo na kutoa malalamiko ambayo yalitakiwa kutatuliwa kwa kufuata taratibu husika na sio kuzushwa baada ya kutuhumiwa kwa utoro. Hivyo basi, kwa Ushahidi uliotolewa katika shauri hili ni wazi kuwa Mjibu Maombi alithibitisha wazi tuhuma dhidi ya Mleta Maombi. Maamuzi ya Tume yalikuwa sahihi na Mahakama hii inayaunga mkono. Shauri hili linatupiliwa mbali kwakukosa mantiki. Imeamuriwa hivyo. Y.J. MLYAMBINA
JAJI 26/03/2025 Hukumu imesomwa leo tarehe 26/03/2025 mbele ya Nehemia Munga na Glory Elifrank Wawakilishi Binafsi wa Mleta Maombi na Godfrey Ngasa kwa niaba ya Mjibu Maombi. Y.J. MLYAMBINA
JAJI 26/03/2025
Case-aware research
Ask AI about this case
The judgment and available research above are public. New questions open in a separate private conversation grounded in this case.