Tanzania Judgment

TZHC

20100921 TZHC Mwanza

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The affidavit supporting the application is incurably defective for failing to state the place and name of the commissioner for oaths in the jurat, as required by section 8 of the Notaries Public and Commissioner of Oaths Act, and thus the application is struck out.

Court disposition

application struck out

Orders

  • Application struck out for being supported by a defective affidavit.
  • No order as to costs as the matter emanates from a labour dispute.
  • Applicant allowed to file a fresh application in compliance with the law.

02

Material facts

Parties

John Marungi

Appellant

Ushashi Ginneries Company Ltd

Respondent Counsel: Makowe

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Appeal / Ruling on Preliminary Objection in Application for Extension of Time to Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether the affidavit supporting the application is incurably defective for failure to state the place and name of the commissioner for oaths in the jurat

Party arguments

Applicant
If the defect in the affidavit is real, the applicant should be allowed to correct it.
Respondent
The affidavit is incurably defective as it does not state the place and name of the commissioner for oaths in the jurat, contravening section 8 of the Notaries Public and Commissioner of Oaths Act; thus, there is no proper application before the court and it should be struck out.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Section 8 of the Notaries Public and Commissioner of Oaths Act (Cap 12 RE 2002)

    Every notary public and commissioner for oaths before whom any oath or affidavit is taken or made shall state truly in the jurat of attestation at what place and on what date the oath or affidavit is taken or made.

  2. 02

    Ashura Abdulkar v Director of Tilapia Hotel (CA), Civil Application No. 2 of 2005; Registered Trustees of Joy in Harvest v Hamza Sungura (CA), Civil Application No. 3 of 2003; Fares Munema v Asha Munema (CA), Civil Application No. 9 of 2003

    Failure to comply with mandatory jurat requirements renders the affidavit incurably defective and the application unsupported.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The affidavit supporting the application is incurably defective for failing to state the place and name of the commissioner for oaths in the jurat, as required by section 8 of the Notaries Public and Commissioner of Oaths Act, and thus the application is struck out.

Obiter and limits

  • The applicant, being a layperson and unrepresented, is allowed to bring a fresh application that complies with the law.

Court disposition

application struck out

  • Application struck out for being supported by a defective affidavit.
  • No order as to costs as the matter emanates from a labour dispute.
  • Applicant allowed to file a fresh application in compliance with the law.

Source and reliance status

TZHC · 21 September 2010

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Judgment text

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Source document

TZHC

Judgment· 21 September 2010

20100921 TZHC Mwanza

/ ATMWANZA. i II CIVIL APPEAL NO. 25 OF iod1 . (Originating from the district Court of Bunda at Bunda in Civil Case No. 2 OF 2004) -JOHN MARUNGI. ....... ~ .............................. APPELLANT

VERSUS USHASHI GINNERIES COMPANY LTD ... RESPONDENT

RULING 21/09/2010 NYANGARIKA,l. i The applicant unsuccessfully filed a sµit against the respondent for a claim of his terminal benefits at the district Court of Bunda at Bunda (hereinafter referreq to as the trial court). Dissatisfied by the decision of the trial court, the appellant preferred the above appeal which was struck out by my sister Sumari, J. on lih February, 2009 for being in competent. On 20 th February, 2009, the appellant filed an application for extention of time to appeal out of time, b~t, on 16.6.2009 1 .'i · the Respondent filed a notice of Preliminary Objection, which is the subject of this rulif]g. When the-matter came for hearing, the applicant appeared in person and the respondent was represented by Mr. Makowe, Learned Counsel. Mr. Makowe, submitted on the first objection that the jurat of the Affidavit supporting the application does not show the place where the Affidavit was attested in contravention of section 8 of' the Notaries Public and· Commissioner of oath Act (Cap. 12 RE 2002} and therefore it is defective. He referred me to the case of Ashura Abdulkar Versus Director of Tilapia Hotel (CA}, Civil Application No. 2 of 2005, Mwanza Registry {Unreported}. The Learned Counsel for the respondent, also, told me that I cannot disregard the defect on the ground that the it is merely a technicalities than justice and referred me to the case of Registered

Trustees of Joy in harvest Versus Hamza Sungura (CA) Civil Application No. 3 of 2003, MZA Registry Unreported}. 2 ' . ~fj'.t1~: . S~condly,.. the Learned State Attorney submitted that .the name of the commissioner for oath who attested the Affidavit · ha~ not be disclosed apart fro~ .the signature whose. name . . I cannot be easily detected by vision. He insisted that the defect is serious and also contravenes the provisions of section 8 of the Notaries Public and Commissioner of oath Act {Cap 12 RE 2002). The Learned Counsel emphasized that the word "before whom"in that Act connotes that the name of the commissioner for oaths has to be disclosed which is different from the word "who"where it was enough only to show the "title or status or designation of the Commissioner for oath. Further, he said that such requirement is essential taking into account that there are · so many Magistrates at the court of resident magistrate. The Learned Counsel also referred me to the case of Fares Munema Versus Asha Munema {CA} Civil Application No. 9 OF 2003, DSM Registry, {Unreporled} to support his argument. Mr. Makowe, insisted very strongly that this court should hold that the Affidavit supporting the application is incurable defective because the place and name of the magistrate is not indicated in the. jurat He said that once I find that the application is not supported by a proper

affidavit, I should also rule out that there is no application before this court as 3 . mandatory provided for under Order XLIII rule 2 of CPC and strike out the application with costs. · In his short rejoinder, the applicant told this court that if the defect alleged is real, then he be allowed to correct it. Section B of the Notaries Public and Commissioner for Oath Act {Cap 12 RE 2002} reads: ''Every notary Public and Commissioner for oath before whom any-oath or Affidavit is taken or made under this act shall state truly in the jurat of attestation at what place and on what date the oath or affidavit is taken or made" It is therefore vividly clear that the jurat of the Affidavit of the applicant, ·one John Marungi, supporting the chamber summons filed on 20.2.2009 does not state or show the date and before whom is was sworn. I agree with the Respondent's Counsel that the Affidavit is incurable defective, and sustain the objection raised by striking it out with no orders as to costs as the matter eminates from a labour dispute. 4 ... . , " However, considering that the applicant is a layperson and was not represented, I allow him if he still wi~hes, to bring a fresh application which complies with the law. ,- Jl. M . .N~

JUDGE ~.:::~·7';""' ., ,.~D '"""~. ~ , At Mwanza 21/9/2010 Date : 21/9/2010 • Coram : Hon. Nyangarika, J. Applicant : Present in person Respondent: Makowe -Adv. B/C Rose 5

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Ashura Abdulkar v Director of Tilapia Hotel (CA), Civil Application No. 2 of 2005

Case cited

Registered Trustees of Joy in Harvest v Hamza Sungura (CA), Civil Application No. 3 of 2003

Case cited

Fares Munema v Asha Munema (CA), Civil Application No. 9 of 2003

Case cited

Notaries Public and Commissioner of Oaths Act (Cap 12 RE 2002)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Order XLIII rule 2 of CPC

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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