19900212 TZCA Dar es Salaam
An unincorporated association that is not registered has no legal existence and cannot sue or be sued; any proceedings brought by or against such an entity are a nullity and must be struck out.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 19900212 TZCA Dar es Salaam
- Parties
- Appellant: KIMAM STOHE CONSUMER COOPERATIVE SOCIETY; Respondent: SILU MPINDA
- Court
- TZCA
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Judgment Date
- 12 February 1990
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court to Court of Appeal
- Outcome
- appeal allowed
- Legal Topics
- Legal Personality of Unincorporated Associations, Capacity to Sue or Be Sued, Representative Actions
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
KIMAM STOHE CONSUMER COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
Appellant
SILU MPINDA
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court to Court of Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether an unincorporated association has legal capacity to sue or be sued
- 2 Whether the High Court erred in extending judgment to a non-party
- 3 Proper procedure for representative actions under Tanzanian law
Ratio Decidendi
An unincorporated association that is not registered has no legal existence and cannot sue or be sued; any proceedings brought by or against such an entity are a nullity and must be struck out.
Court Disposition
appeal allowed
Orders
- Judgment of the High Court set aside
- Proceedings of the trial court nullified and quashed
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
·,, TANESCO 'COf~PANV S~C\JETARV 22 MI\R. 200\ . RECEIVED L·.!o~A~R~-~e:!s1::S:::A~~M,mT""oP ,.r>PE:L m-· •1•::1:z.,ur.:. . . . ·-:. ~--•H I liS SJ.L'~.'J-1 . ~~-;~}~'. - _tr_::~:~~:~~..!-~-~---~-._,_Jg§~~;~~A,_ 4.lL i ~..L- An4.J.~f•fi';J)Jr.0·; ;.T .~ .: :. r.TL ,2:t-'7./u. 't!O. 16 O!;, 19!1<; '.)J'C~G (;Ci:1S1Jr-.U::t CC-CPE:t.A'.l1rm SOCTh'l'Y ••••••APPELUN l' .'Ind SiL.lll lllPINTu\ •• .- •••• ~ ••••• ~ ~ ~ •• • • •. , ••••••• ~-, ••••• IlE3PClQJ~N'J: • ,• ' I, I : I I • I ! ( ~\1;-11qal 1':ror.i' t~o Jud.(.'Om~~; o:r; tho 1:l4-;.l1: Co{u--t of 'l'nm::unia,in~ D.'l.l· os So.la.am,· r.~. J\!otico·.A. DD.11ati, cl.~tod 20th May, 1~87 :i.11 Ci'li·il Ap:poo.1 no, _13 of 1986,) ·, 11.· CClr1'1', . l •·L : I .. i'". .I . . . :I I. The 1~p:pollant 1 l'k'\moly ;J,;,:{(CliN STOilE CCNSUI-IKtl COOPEH!ATIVE SCCD""TY, is ~r, l~li~lt~~l?O;U;~d· -~~~ o:i' ,\GSOciation l01· pc;,rro~ ,d~o ~u-poriadly 0 i 1.u::;ti~,\;,i•.··:).· ouit i~'·t.l~o Di~t-;ict °Cour~ of Il,1.ia Di~trict ut Kim~tu, ·1~- -.;:; ti.~1'.1,,1;; a,,.:.1 ~1st t:·1-3 :lc,~pondo~t, namoly S1JD lUPilrJJA, . uho li.:.G -~110 0 ;c~c~~::;·.:..,.'~l'. :l_i ~l.;~. ,l.SU~ci;~~l.on, . .'.!.nd .:..11ot1¥,r:. nD.Jll\;lly, 'sGL'.l'l~~I !TJ~SOUO(, ,• . . ·- ,,. t-,. ' I ·> :-. .• .- . I i I l1C.~-:!.'JJGWA, whc, ,,J.s'·tht: Soc:i.·otru,7 of thol sumo. , Tho IJllX]?Ortod suit ,-:.us · '\~cuu::;:H ~]· -~:1;_-i~t- tho Jles1>0ndont only. · ~~l~o Jtho;. '.dof~ndnnt ,' ·that 1 :i~ ~ ,. i :-sJ11r.•.m· -l~·- ~\S,.So:. t,.~o. ucu'M.: .I-IGWJ,. •., ~. .. "~~. ~:toricra.tecl .•, . :i:"r~m !1.uiy iiul>ility. '.Pho ll0sponclonb i I ' . ·, i ! 1 ~ I . ''-:-o ~~'.;."v,li!tl•y the, u.001sivn ~f tho ?ist:.:-iof jCo:w,--; un~· ho ouc~co(Jfdly ni,pc.ilu~ ·~v tL.o llii):l Cow.--,; a.t D.-lJ.'-<3o-Sa.lnAm.; i In ovorttlrni1'16 the dtjcio:i.on '1 ,. : •••• ~f' tL~ Dist:i:'iot_ Cow.'t., tLo lii0 . I, . t; . ,, bCow.-t, ~t,i~? ~ ~1d1:~'11!' :I 1 . 1''.d~ th~J.'Oi'o::;~ I E..(790 with tho :first ·:kound. !o ::al? 0.1 • 11 I • I . . . . .., :1' I ' ; 1 J I 1 I • ' ' I' ·' ·.: thlltdhe':lom.'JlOd' S.onior llosidont -~rn,d.dtra.ta.1:err6d ).n lau I ·: in ontortp.inilx;.;tho procoodiws.·.as :thd :p;to.intiff had no .:+o~l onti~r,_ for i;t t~ s~o ?l' ,E,O suocl laf :.:t';hudI :noP/ueon ! rocistorod. · Sine.a t!u.a, 'apppal mz,y •1.Je 'diapoaod of ~Y :-;: ' · · '. do_cidin:,' ·on thi:; · 0019 g r ~ ; of o.ppo.:.l !I do, not 1:i.nj;ond to . :pu;l'/ru9.·,tho; other ~~ of a:ppoa.1~ I ·~onsqg_uo4~tly, -:i.llou this np~nJ. with ·costs. Thia order covcr:;i tho ,.,,...,.1'•"· :lofc, ,,,_. .nt 1!h.l' di,1 not oppo.-.1. n '.i1·,c .::.1,.:.,ulk1r~ :-,r:~ ,,;~g:i:::.u·vud by- ti,iE- d<:lo:tsion oi' ch: Gi[,;h Gour~ ;!oncu tl:.io :;oco!1d. oppuul _~y th/fl. 9,-.,ui·t, IDUd.~, witb the lou.Y? o-J; tho' lligh Cou.;:t. 1 tl:L·. B. 1:,. :\:}•CJ.a~c. 1 lCJu:t>n1d· a.c..._vocu:t;~, ropi·ooonto~ tho_ J.'~t3pondo,1t whuruuG l•lJ,'. ,\.:u ..(1ci ~J.j-4!-'1~, .- tllo cw·rc,11,1 :cl'IA:i.ra.u.n of tho J?:i'<'J.ont "up1)cl111nt :.. I ... /2 .. -. 2 11:1 .: ,1; . . L;p..:.:....·oJ. on tllo otho1.• aiclo. u~I l ~ dono tho oo.m~ in -tho hrt• ,..i.. ·:, ,1,.- 1,c.: .1.~•1.11;1 the ~oooodirl(;~· 1)~i'~;o \ £ ..:.;: tl·.:o' t,1t. c:;. •. · ~~- I 1 ' i.\''. ··t· :·.u J:&U~• ,-.>1>r0t1entod tho oihor eiclo o."bly :i:oc;a.rdl1ouo 01· thb .i"t.•.c-L :- - \:'1 :.1 i;_'w . cv111!.'I0,1co1:iont 01· tho ~()CU:~Ilf_. o{ tl.is ,-fm.>O~l M.i.' •. H C;-::'.C:tll~·., lee:: ·, , .• :-.rocn·i; ... , 4•..:.i.so,:i t,rc, p:.Nli:air~:..ry points• of olijoction conco1.·1u.ni:1 tho . . . . . .. ~ c,"J:;!~)ut.r:: 1;:,.· oi ~hu u~lJ?ul. 11e _s\il>~:ted,thnt i;h,1,~ep:poal ~s'incom1)ot rrt . ,.,;, ;;i,1.: •.~·p1i0.i.l was ti.me-li,u.·•1:od ond thn.t no security for costs had hoop p:11.cJ 1 u,,c,•:-·d.i.n ~c• iinlc ~3 of tllo T,:,.nza~-~- Co~·t of ,po::.l Rulo~, 19'{9. llo lt,tcr 1.:1,,:c0uC<: i;;.;..i. his proli.itli,iru.y.i" points .,.,. of objoctton- uorc m'lf'ounclod uftor I'lw aPI•CC.l boforo ~ts. is 1 as i·~ al1ould:b~, p.~oly on points ol' lnw. l~r ~il;ona, hus_ 1H.,u1.ri.ttod in-ofi'oot t¥t tho,_lo~~o_d ju'½n-e,Jm.hpti;JJ• nnor- i.1~ lt'.\1 ii~ cond.ecuri.ng tho UJ:i,noorporat~d o.ss~~4'ation to ..J?O-~ couts . . " • . •i'••· . . . '0:a.' it ht\!• no lu:.;al p..,1.·sonulity· cr.d:no oapo.city to_ -~~o or be suod.'.J c.nd t1r,at . ; I . . I • . ' , t~o; :L\~tl.Ul.' .::.1..•.1;-~cl ,il: ,1xi;~1,!(il.JI(,; hie dooiaion to' oovoi; lthr:, othor pOl:'IJOU who .. ,~ not c. :.i-.:..-ty t.o tho o.woal .in the liich Co·:u:-t. ·U.:-. Uc"Ct.ouln. 1 lcu.:,·aocl •~do. n~ -~~w1to:.:- ~'\.1lmi!)Giono. j ilo o:..-o no~ :J\1.J.'l_Jl'lrod. ! 'l'horo c..,~1 ,_. ,, ,l dcivocnto J . ~,<J :·10 ::c:.:-:i.:;w; cuuntol" aul:ir:ti.osion_. Wo_ propoe.c to 4pal. bri~fly! ui th . ' 1• • • • ::o:•. 2J ,:•,\r1r.':;. :;ocoud :;,•}:;;risoion. Undou~tcdly 1 tllQ other poraon, t),c.t is, . '· ,. ' ··', . ~lJJ.•L~n :.._',,"-jS()ll.O'~lGlf~!-\liGli.·.. , 1-rllo had boen tho. SCCOXlQ. 1dofondD.nt 'in tl!O Court . ' ;. o1 fi.r::'1 i.ntrtauco·~·:; ~1il.d not ·o.,~~i-~d t~ tho Ei;): Cqurt. Obvi~sly hu I :, c01.'.ld i?:l~t bo -~~octod tc, n~al ·~i~c~ tho 0{1it O{_;n~nrit him bad fliilocl. 'l'!:.Ol'(• \ 1-P.:< •_:)1'.t~i nc, basis u 1,on wJ~ich the· jud.,:;t11i1ont of;.. +110 Ri~), Co1.u:t 1,;oulcl .·lie prc111.)~·1.~, Jxtondod ·to cuvcr'¥,i.1~. rTo thorofor•o_. f~:14 Jhj1t tho IIie:;11 Con:i.·t . 'f..~J • I i I• i o:;.•.;:od. in lc~r in doiu. oo. ilo ;·;ou t;~T!~ tv t,111.• _i'il•st ·. suiHniG1:J~on of if { S~i~:o.~·. It i:; cor.:um.m · .·..·cunil ";hat 'tl!O nppoll.:i.m: ~!.Ssoc:i.aL:tvn lli:!.u uot :uqql.\:i.ioed a. lo{;al pti:.•c;on.1.li t:y : ... t~•.O -l;i:Jt~ 1rhon. thil:i .:1rit l/cl.l;t,,in~t.i.t.,_,_ted iii. ~(11.rct\~;· 1'1lv position i1,i . ~ '. .. : ~ c:i.!rl.lo:..• tv ··t:,u.1.. whioL a..·ouo ill "the i-_·.o_,,vn... • n o,l.so of li'OH'l' HALL IlAXElIT SUPPLY !.,;~'!..•y_;_.]5DJ'Df<Ll:.IIJ..:f..01:;i~~DE..9.!l.i19-5.9} E.:~1. In t_lcat: ca.so a., ~u·t ,cs -- i: .:' ;•·':' t:.·• ,_., , •:~· 1•,11 1.m:..'Oc:;«to:.:-od. f:i.rm of' over ·tuont;t 1i10mi;oro whoso c 1:·wtu~1co • ., I • j . ·-· ••.: \" .:a.r: no'i. . .l.'OC;Oi;. d.~ocl il. 1::-.11 ~. 'l ! ; : i.(.;:l: Cm.'.l.'t ol' l~cnyn ut;:::(;c,C:' :.i.t i I' p,;---:.:,o 47'.:i. 11 ' -~ ... :i:t .. ia i:io~.:.t'O(;istoreQ._ as G.· compui1:f uncler_'..tho CoCJp.:i.nicu; 1 ' C;;:ctin.:i.nco o:..• __ for,~<l. ;1:n ~•au.a.nee jof oomQ~ other ordili.:-,~1co 1. 01· Act of Pt'.:..•lit:.inont ·. Ol;' 'lotter::i po.ton.t • It cannot > I thorofo:;.•o 1,o ~:·ococru2.od ·c.a havil'l{J e.11y loc.;.l exi~1t.onco. In the uo:.:-ds of r:.UJ!J!S, L •. J. in lli,!quo Int.::rn::l , a1.:,lo <lo Coi.1mu:..•co cl.o Pct:.:-oc:;rad V8 Conko., 3S.:l.ou 1 ( 1923) 2 l'•I,.. 60~~ et r,.6Cf•. I I : ' ,,..-f< ' o I. !' t 3 "" ; I I ,!f . ' "the, v..:~·t:· _oooldn~ to i~:l.nta.in tho ....1ition-~l:·~~riL t!\c o::o of our l~u no -:i?o.rt:· at a.11 b\ t o. m. :rp n..--.c:\O 01ll.y1 vitll no loe:.·a+ o~~tl.)r,co • 11 , , •; 1 1 ~}!, . ,.,_ non-<:x:i..otont pcreon cc.nnot "-UO, c.nc. onoo th , •:,cpn:ct! j_n ,J;:.Clc ~.;lt'..:i.~ tJ•a.t the plc.;.ntiff is non-o::r.istont, · c.nd tho1.·oio:i:o inc.:-.p;:::1)1(1 of llll..l,j.ntc.:i..nins t!\e nctio~, it· cci..nnot stllo~~ tho o.ction to l)I'OC~od. - . f I 'i'h..: \,),.·J.o:.: of tho Cou:,:t is .tllet tho action :{o G~ruck out, ::.::. t.:1.:: c-.lloe;"\3d lll~intiff Lo.o no cx:iotonco. s}nco! a. 'non.- ' ·..:u~:tcn1. · :rilr.intiff c;:l.n noithor pa.y no:..' 1·ocoiv~ coµta tlioro c.:.1, ::ic no n:.:do:i..• a.s to costo. 11 !· = ~k ·-.cco11t t~o princiulo stc.tocl in thio Konyan cz,.oo a.o ,cor.i;oct. It I ·(.I J.ow·.;. t~o1•oforo t!~·-•.t tholI!i(2ll Cou:;:t, 'Dah~ti, J. orL'Od in k,1r i~1 ocndoranire .' :'..•; u.._¼·,oll:..,~-- tt; ll.'•:· <:1.1~ts. 'l'hc p:i:-opo~ o:.:dcr w'. .icJ'. , .'.,ould l.1Uvo bco!1 r,i.:,clo ' I I ,.--1 ;;,_c, IJ;~~.l Cou:.:t ii1 t: iu c:.:.:;e; \/O\.Ull htwo b1::on to .i.1~ow \tho 0.1>1,cal,. ,mllii":, 1• ··•r• 4, ...c.!·. ·:;;,_.~ r..:·occo1.b.1\{,U of the ti·ial Couxt cm«.!. 11clco 119 di.l.·o~tion n.u to 1 ~: :.·;.:.i. ,.i 1:· •-.· u111l 01· our ;j,:td;·.<~ ..1~nt uo ar~ · n~:i.11,,; to romcid:, t!1is or.i:oi.· 'uy II •+o. i'' :.,,c fli::h c,l C=.-t ·O' u-.ht ~o l,avo ' ,;,;;~: by .,;J.-tlto Of tho . po;,o,o vontcO I: i:r t'.~::, ,-ou.,:. :,;; r.i,v p.i.·~·.r.ia .. 011;.J vi' soctj_on 4 of tliol 4ppollcto Ju.:-::i.sdic'j;ion .'irt, ,197~ uu c.uendod by_ "-ct lio. 16 of- 1964. -';S .. Dcfori:: 11~· (il) i;;\) ·houcvor, WO ).i.:.v-e ,;o ~o.;/t1::.o· attontion of ;10 ;pa.rt:i.yGi • I . I\ ll\ . r.ll thoco con~u.i:·noo. tba.i; tho l,ll'Onl'll.' r- w:ocod.uro fo'l: ., soekil:}[;_,.,. . n:, a ,'!al rornoc.:v ~ • .·:o c~rl,)O,:"-to ~;d.~te11co, id 1Jy ,r.;,,y of ;,fi ct>u.,-:- L ;,;,' " '.ou;: o1~ poi'fon~ ,-,ho h-:-.vo o) :.."O~"Oucntutiw 6\U'l;\~_ ~ovidod under'._·~~dor 1 fu~l~.· ~ho Ci-!il l': :ocou.t1.r<j ~:.~sf 0 c!oo~, •1:1c:ro i1, is stutod:·'· .• . I ·.. ,:\/::.; 1 • 1.. , {l< ) .. Il u 1 lniul.'O tho::.:o m-o nwnorous I)Croono ~yine; :tho so.co : 11 = ,::,r:,w 1 :intoi·ost. i.11 _0110 B\.ut, ono or moro of o,~oli~J~~Gona rn,~-~r ,r~t~ thu porr.u.so1.on of tho Court, ouo or bo ouoi.l,ri.1 or ·:;; dofonl1!, 1n ouch G\'.it on bcha.lf of orJ for tho bonof~i,il..or oo :i.nto:i:ootod. DL~t tllo co~-~.r.ll in ::auohi.QP-aa .rrlvo at t:ilo porso11:S IJ,l :pl,1-:inti.ffla o~nso, notico' of. he• inst,;t.*.t~9~}0 ,JtilO sui~ to all aucb ~rsons .either by:, ·•si°nal~s~o.e;o•, whoro ;fro,~., the numbor o~ltho porsono or ~ othor ,CO.Uf18h~c 1 so.rv-.ico; !is not :..'<>Mo1~".Jly practicab~o, 1ly · :blic' a.dv9pipompnt, cb tho 1 C,1lU-t 11\o'.l'! 1ll oe.ch CO.Sa d.iroot·. · •. I • 'h'ttt.-· '•' ' • .... 1•' r {,2) f.rr;,· pc:.:son on u•.:,.oao bop.a.lf 01.• 0 i'J ~r~1oa!;°'bio1:;_ofit o. m:it io 1notit\.~tod o:,.• dofendod -undor s\"JJl.'\.Ue ( 1 )· ruAy i:J.ppl:y to tho cot:tt't tt;o• 1,n ~-:-.<lo c, :p.'.U"'ty t.:i' tho suit. 11 : ' I .! /1:: -~;:c, l':.n,.l ; :1,~l.'.•~is t:,c,:i.·01'0:i..·o, ~rG ullE" this a-p:po.i.1,/ sot ;,.:=:;idc tho r:tli,O•~llt ,,r tl:.o Ihc;t_ CoUl·t, nt~llJ.fy nnd quo.sll th~ p::.:-~coodint,u of ifio trial ~•)·,•;;.-t .::.nd. ~uko no ore.or a.s to cooto in thio CoUl:t nnditho' two cor-.rt:; J:,elo,;. I . \ ,. r --···.-·--............., ··, 12th cluy o:f . .I F. L. lf'L~' .:.-::I CID:i~? ..J{;;; 'ICP. ,. ' ~~£~r· . !... s . ~: • • ' I • ~.1110: i .t,m.it!. 1,'·i . . \ _,. : __ ;• ., I' I I :I .,/