19880226 TZCA Dar es Salaam4

dML AF.PI!U!L NO. 36 OF 1987 corJU,h NY.ALA.LI p b .J 12 MAIW.fm t J .A. 2 .And OMt:.Il z J .A· .. ,, t ' ' . ialI.Attll?.A tar.l'UNQ]]l KinA.YA •••••••••• , • .APPELLlNT I . versus t" I, i UNITilD 1..F.ilICl. COMPANY OF l T.AN'Z/JttA LIMX:TED • •••• ,, ••••••••• ~. RmSIDIDI!NT (Appeal from a jud.il9ment of the Rir)l Court ot T~ia at Dor e& Se.la.am (Mr, Justioe D,P, W.PIG.t.UO) darted. the 24th da;{ of Imoh, 1987 in Civil C0.$e No, 90 of 1987) JUlXl::JI:IliNT OF Tim COUilT NYALALI 1 c.q. l I Thi' oase odGinc.tes from an aotion inati tuted by tho appellant I in the Jligh C®rt at, llm' es Salaam for wro1'lgful termination of eoployment It• · 'by the Itespond.ent, und seok:iJ:1€ firstly, a. deola.ro.tion tho.t the t01'm1~tion ~s invalid a.nd secondly, payment of damages inrespect of suoh vrongf'µl o.ot EQ:ld oosts of the suit, The Iiigh court, Ma.pigano, J. disr!d-s~ed. the claim with costs, The appello.nt was aggrieved by the deoiE!idJl-, of th~ 1-t:l.,gh Oourt henoe this appea.l to this oourt • Irt tllis appeal t-4-, L~o, -aBBisted by Hr. Ka:colo-DundAla from the Tanzania Legal Corpo~o.tion, re,resented the a.ppello.nt, whereas l-~. Ada.mjee, appeared for the respondent. F.rolli ~ N"O~G~dilllis ~ this oourt and thEl court below, the -following llliltte~a o.ppear not to be in dispute between the pQ.rties. It. i~ oow,npn g:ound tlw.t the ap:;_:iollant wa.s employed in a managerial • I capacity by the respondent with effect hom 6th Na.rah, 1975 end held iii · ' ovontuo.lly . .· ;I 4 ' various posts and ·: ·.· ,; progressed to tha.t of_ technical comnn.micator which he },el~ at the time when his employmGnt was tei•minated. It is common l;t'ounci also·th.at a written oontro.ot of his em}?loyment was made -1 '' betweei:l th!3 appellant and the respondent, It ,-,as tendered a.t tho tria.l iis ¢!bit P.1. ,i ' I· j ,, · ~~ ~.,- .~ .. : ' ,-!: ~ ; . ,_ 2 - In June, 1919 a Ma.$GE1mont IIa.ndbook, which was tendered at the trial cs exhibit P • 7 ~s isl\.1.ed to the appellant and other members of the management ' ' i ;, . sto.ff of the responde1~t • This Mruw.gement Handbook contains regulations which hf,ve to be read together with exhibit P.1. By a letter dated 11th November, 1903 :tendered o.t the trial as exhibit P.5 tho appollant 1 s employment wa13 t~rmina•tod '1-ri th effect from 16th Noveml:ier, 1983. He ~ was pt1,id h,i!3 terminal bonefi ts and issued with a. certificate of service ~endered ~t ~be trio.las exhibit P.6. The letter terminc.ting the I: ,, appellnnt 1 e e~ploYJI!Gnt @lVe the reason for so doiJ:'lB as being in effect rodund4noy or ;-,;itranobmont of JQllnJ.)OUer due to deteriorntion of the oompa.ny 1 s bu$ine~s • . , 1I I There is no dispute thnt the matter of termination of the appellant's employmel'l,~ ~ soV1rned by the provisions of clause · 10 of the Service Ji.sreement (~lh 1) read toa-ether nth the provisions of clause 40 of the Managepiont Da.ndbook (Ibchb.P.7). Clause 10 of the Service 1.greemcnt provides as follows: "The Compa:i.;.y may term:l.nate the employment of employee, -(a) wi{4out as~igning any reason therefor by giving to the Employee two mont~• previous not~oe in writing or rlthout previous notice by Ol'oditing him in a0001.mt in its books wi. th two months 1 1:1ala.ry or ~:f tp.s llll!lployment sha.ll not have completed two year 1 s · · semoe 'ff.I.th tlle oompo.1v then one month's previous notic~ in writing or withoui twev:i.O\.\S notioe by crediting him with one moni;h1 s sa.lq.ry~ ' . (b) S_\lll1Il1M'qy ~t any time and rl thout previous notice if the lJ:mpl:,oyee q,pa~l ba suilty of o.ny aot or omission inconsistent with ~h~ a-po pertormanoo of the IUmployee 1 s obligations under this Agree111e~t ~.~lure to obey orders or o.ny other breach of tlµs l1.~eement."1, . ' Clo.use 40 9t the ~-emont Handbook provides at 1)0{.-e 19 as follows: TERMilT1~TifJ: ."The Com~PY mAy termino.te a. manager 1 s employmentby:- (a) givixig him two months 1 previo1.'!S notice ~n writing, or without Nev:Lous notioe by creditj_ng him in account in it.s books 1rith two monthe 1 salary if' he bas completed two years• service with the Company. If he has not completed two yenrs 1 service then he will bo given one month's previous notice in writtng bl' without pi,evious notice by orediting him with one month's s~J4ry. . (b) S ~ di$mtssa.l at c.1-iy time ui tllout previous notice. I Q1ausa 40 oontinue1 to pt\{Je 20 of the hnndbQok by stating:- - 3 TmUmUTION , (b) bef~e any termination takes r,la.oe the ma.nag-er will: ( i) be irtterviewed by his Unit Head who will clso advise. him in writinJ of his offence. · (ii) be a~ve~ every reasonable opportunity to defend ~imsclf at interviews and in w.i.·iting. (o) In all oases of termination, the manager will be given a I· lettp+• of tor):ldno.tion whioli uill be si511ed by tl10 Chairman o.nd whibh will inolud.o roaoons for the terminetion of his r I 13mploym~nt by the Company"• ' . .That ia a.a fa.r as matters tha.t a.re not in dispute in this case are oonoerned. W,e tlPrf ~u.im to llltl.ttors that a.re in <liapu ta between the :parties •. +t 'lfO.S th~ ,well.ant's oontention at the trial in the High Court that 1 ~1or to terminction of his employment, the appellant was subjected to 1J.nfair treatment in that he was superseded in promotions by his juniors 1 ai1d had his ·te.slcs assigned to incompetent junior persons whq ino<>illpetently porformed the tc.alm on his bohelf in ordor to opoil his name. Furthermore, the appellant oontended that the reason givop. for terminatil'l(I' his emploY1JE3nt was a f, .lse ono and thc.t infaot the termination wo.e r.iotiwted by improper motives nnd was therofore w;t'ol'lt'J'ful Md in brea.oh of 0L1uae 40(b) as stated on pac;o 20 ,. of the r.~ment ftAndb.ook a.s ho we.a neither inter.viewed nor given <; opportuntty to dofond lumaelf. hnnd The llesponddpt on tha othor/denied all these contontions at the. trial in the High Courti nnd asserted that tho termindion of : :r emplOYJiient lfO.S. properly done under tho provisions · of clause · 1o( a) of tha Servioe ~eG!l!Ont a.nd no misconduct on tho part ·of the appellant was in\rolved. At trial tho following two issues were f'ramedr 1. Whether the :p~ail'ltiff 1 s employment was unlawfully terminated. 2. ~p what reliefs a.re the pc.,rties entitled. The Rigµ Court, Mapigano, J. found in reopoot of the first issue that the appollant 1 o employment w~a teltllinAted under the provisior. of clause 10(a.) of the Semoe Aaroement and not under the provisions of clause 40(b) ot the Management Rtmdbook. ,., ' . \i : L :i.. ,. ....../4. i. i !. I I ,: • ·t ;ij '·\;1.i .i'T•·' ,:r .:, T:·..~i: l[li,;lfall!tl , :·"' ,,_ ··1 ·i·,:f'[:iiri·! ;Ji:~:!, /,.i· IJ- i.,,. j_.:1 :l,,. '1·· ·1· . '!'I ; !'.• ·j,:;J]<1_•.;tr,l1,,,1. •·j,1 ·l·t,_l I: ,' ,,.;- ~:;JI(;:,:•::.'. ,,:,,,!.)).i,L :::,;, ,::i:,t:•: ': ::\ :· : ;:'.t::t:(f-(' l· . I:\i' . . 4 - 1 1 .I l ', !, Mapi~o, ¢~.i.~~!Il~: , ,, .to;, t¥,t II oonolusion in tho lic;ht iof evidence which . .. ;:~,~'-·ii~•';:.' "! .• ·t ~ . ~~owed t~t -~.~~ .+'~a.s~n[jgj.ven for terminatinc tho ... !appolla..'1t 1 s employmiani; a.~iet'<!id P.~• ndooonduot !l.(;;£1.:i.nst tho a:ppop.c.nt. In the l\ ,. ( ::!. .lisht of ;.~hif! ~ , ~ quootion a.risos oonoernina construction of •11·' I f.ii::_; -i .. 1,1 ·.' ol~uso io(~) p~ t~ Sopvioo .~700ruont. It is be~.-o_nd diapute that . ' ale.use 10( ~) on'"'blos ·t~ o,mployor to torm.i.110.to the employment without ~ssi~ ~ fdf:1-!iOl'l by EP,vin« tho approp:da.to notioo or by ma.king the t;f.Pixt'<>*i,ato ~ym~r~t iniil1ou of such notioo. '' ' 'I : ,! Does ~his t~t of'1 tho employor to·; torrilina.te employment ui thout {r.Lving mi.y l'Ot,son encojnpass t~rm1nahi:nr!' of°1 eciploJlllGht by trivinc rcmaons? l'To thinlc tho.t whoro nn I\ I o;,,,,l~;v,u'. ~::~t1tl/i4 It~, to:rmilllltO tho emplo;ymoi,t of his omployeo · ·. w~thout gi~'nw raa.son 1 tho employer is necessarily ontitlod to tormina.ta" ~H~~. -~lllPlp~nt l>y giving r0asons, bocauso tho lo.tt0r is a. narrower oxproido 'ot ~!3 uidor entitlomont of tor~nating employment without ~s~eru.11(&. arq ~OC'.aon. Thoroforo 1 on tho a.va.ilablo ovidonoo, 'WO ,Oort~ with tho finding of Ull.piga.no, J. tha.t th~ a.ppollant's I ' ,; , omploymoJ+t was yormt?J:8,tod by tho rospondont under tho IXL'OVisions of . - , ,I I ola:use 10(0:) of t~o Sorvioo .•\~Qomont. This doos not rnoan tha.t such !· i,, tormina.tio~ was nqotjsoa:l'ily la,tful booouso tho roo.son givon pould po ' '. I, o~tr.ary t9 ~b1iQ ~li~y o:i.• in viol'1'.tion of tho lc.w of tlio ~an4. · ' ·1i}! . I, .• . . ; ;, ' I ,' . Tho roruJon givCilp' for tormino.ting a.:p,l)Ollo.nt 1 a omploymont was! I , ,: :rodundo.n;by. ♦ ;;. ~oqrctloo , ~0 tho ostnblishod omploymont Pl'0.0tico ~ this . . I : 09~try, ioilW:idarHfar is Jovornod by, inter o.lia., · thq rule of 'FILO' -that . ; 1 , \ : ' · ,' ,!, •I I ' ., I ·u, . · . '. ·.; .- -, ie 1 First. +n; ·W~ Out~I! Und.or this rulo, the first ·poroon to loose ✓his I .. ' - ·, job in c. t~~CUl.ll9Y i)xaroiso is tho ·omployeo ,rho bas· boon in omploymont . . ; ;- , I . ',I. I tor tho· sl:io:r:to1Jt por:i.od.·in tho sootor concerned. 'l'hoso who lmvo boon tti. th 'I - . · · •: ·. '· I :J ·. i. tho firm .fof tho .io~"Ost ' poriod .a.rQ the lnat pooplo' to loose . their. ' ' jobs, in ~ · Givori so~tion of 1-rork :unl,oss thoro aro, .;ood r0a.sons ' ,, ' ,· justifyiaj a·dopo.rtu:t'o from tho GCnora.l ruloo . ' I , . • In thb. F,q,otjt pnso tho appoll~t 110.s oorta.inl;>' not tho newest poraon I , I - '. . •. j, Thoro i,.t;:1 a. epoond ~oµnd upon uhioh tho tormina.ticm of tho I' a.).')pollti.nt I s QJn~fOp.lOl)t OQ.n bo hold to bo \ll'ongful • Tho a.ppollo.nt ) . tofi'tit.10d ;p i~q U~¢1 001,U't Md hi.8 ovidonoo l10.S not oha.lloc;od, to thp • 9t:topt thc..t i.1~ to 1S80 b$.S,;J>0rformo.n00 a.nd sta.ndirl(£ in tho pyos of , • I 1- • . I .·· . . hie superiors t,p,s ·var, so.tisfa.otory. Thoroa.ftor, and ospooia.lly in . .. I . -. . ' 1~82, ho wv.p 'bp!~ ~pQ~,oq.od 1n promotions by bis j~iors, o.nd his . ·. .,' ' 'I , ·tf~~. uoro _1:>m.~ :p.~~~Pj ·ri;o 1noo~otont j\U'lior st~f ito spo:U his I • l I JI I I • rop11to.tion, , no. Qompl!Up~d!·ebout this etc.to of a.:f'fairs in eovoral lottors to ~~_pU,~orio~~, but thoro wcs no ros:ponso. This stcto of·. o.ffo.trs ou~to4,.: !i,ri,: tJ10 lot tor of tormina.tion of hit:l om::.,1loymont ' sivon to hil!l :I.~ lTovo.mbo~~ 1983. On this ovidonoo wo ~ actisfiod on .a. bo.l~oo of FPb~bilitios, thnt prior to tormin..~tion of tho a.ppolla.nt's _omploymont, };9 :Wll.S fo-::: Q~motimo aubjootod to -uha.t is commonly known .I:' ' ' . ! ". undoi- la.hoiq;- ffO.Oi;ioo QS, 1 viotimizo.tion 1 • Wo 'o.ro o.wcro, th.at public_ i'. i1 poUo;y in thi~ OOUJ1try :pi;-ohillits viotimiza.tion in omploymont • :j:t foll@oo-; t1:+o:i:9foto, tit~1i i;llq t~min.:;t:l.on of tho a.pl)Ollo.nt' s omployrn~n~ whiqh ,-1qs a. ®J.mino.tioµ o,t,yiot:1,lllizc.tion wco wroJ1Gful. , ' : 1! ' .'Uh&;t t:oµ l::o_ ~lj.~ iril oonsoquonoos of this wro~ torminc.tion of Ol!lploymqnt? .T~o~9 ~ ~o doubt toot a wrone:f'ul' too;min..~tion of • , I .• ompl~ymont Ma no offoQt; ~ 1~~,. Thoroforo, tho lottar da.tod , I l 11th Novombo;~ 1~0,:3, be,d no logo.l oonsoquonoos 1 and did not bring t.ho ' • '. t • • , contro.ot of P!ll:i,:>lo;ymo'1t. of itho P-1-,pollont to o.n ond. In othor uord.s, tho (a.) · .A doo_la.ro.~ion thc.t tho purported torminr,tion of the : . p104nti,f;f 1.s :,omploymo,1t is invnlid ond p~intiff is still . .,. l ·: ~ .~ · en· bmp~o~o : : •·ot tho dofondo.nt, :,,, .', . . (b) ·oo~~r~l ~~s, (o) ·co~~s of this Du.it, I ' ;; l ;i· :1 It is·obvi<n.$ ip: our judgomont th~t tho a.ppollant is ' ontit1od to I 'I' ' ', I ' • I tho-dool:,~tiqn; w~qh, ~ sooka c.nd WO ·So doola:ro. llS to tho prcyor for aonora.~ ~~, · ~ t ·is :~so obYious tb.:l.t tho o.ppolµi.nt is ontitl~d to bo . ;_ , ' , ' ' .. I, ! . I 'I j r j .' · pt\id ·arrotirG. • of :r¢lUmorc.tion ! I I which wn.s :pc.yo.blo to, him under •, I( . ' I his oontraot ~:t. o~p+o~r).t ,c.t tho timo ,mon it wa.s _wro~ly to:;..'llti.natod. 1 In oompu-tiJi8 t~o amount pcynblo to tho a.ppcll~t o.J.lowanco must bo . ' .::· .1.,: !· :· ' ; i~ ' . !·. llf® -Jbr p.tW ~O\lnt!S !o.lrot.dy paid to tho o.ppoll.nnt' by wo.y of tcrmino.l I bonofits~ Iri. tho .t~l o.na.l;yais, wo o.llow tho o.pfcl·, sot c.sido tho judgo~ont . I ~Jld.• I'dc:io.roo. 'I : . of' tho llioi Court ,nth coats. Do.tod at Dru:- cs Sa.lo.o.m ~his 26t~ ¥1 of ~ b ~ , 1988. ., . i1 'I . '' '! ••::I '.I ,.' -l! ::· J;• ( 1,. iL Uo.kamc ) JUSTICE OF J,.PPEJIJ, · '. (A.Omar) JUSTICE OF 1'..PmJ;L ' ' this is a. truo copy ot the o:t'ig:iwl. t:/--tl/t ·.:J[Q ( J. II. l.tsoffe) {:, ,·.,(1 Sl!NIOR llEFUTY; P.:oJISTil.!.R •• I .:·,,· }(ill! ' ' I· .· .. /..:.J·' 'i · ·.·:,:t: ,Hf!fi J: 1 tl'l'.J? ..... •1 ..