19960911 TZHC Dar es Salaam

·, Ii/, • Jlf TBE lUGH CCURT OF TM~.AlIT.A AT .D1SALAJ,Mo CIVIL .APPEAL 1Wo 87 OF 1993 (Original Kir:,•utn Resident Magis"lira.t<3 Cou:d Civil. Ca;se lfoo 149/93) TtTi!1 IDXHST3PJID ;l'RT]STEES or O.TP .filfGLJ.CilJ"r CITu'RC~ .&DJ O'I'.:JTIRS Vers1•.s COLEriL~-T HOLDI:TGS (T) If.i1D O o o. o. o o o,, RESP01:T.DEifT • - .f The &gis.t.Gr.ad. Trustees. of the A".lglioan Church ancl. others lost ;i.n..aP,,,~.tc.ati~'l at the Ilas:i.dent !Jagistrate 1s Court of fur e:;; -S~la,am a.t Kisutu, in nhioh th~y had prayed for the setting_ aside of an axpa:rt& ~ itb.at hail. ooen e11tered a.ga:Lnst thorn in f<:C..rou..:r of" Coleman .Roldil'lgS (T) Ltd .. · 'I.he memorandum of aI)l>eal w;:i.ich wa.F.l' dxa:wn and filed by Mlmno and Comp.any ~~tea. contains three eT0\1.nd.s of appeal.. It is submitted on the first ei"qlllld of ap~ tha.t i±e le.a.mad Jnag.is.tr~;to erred in law in not ap1}lyi.ng his m:incl to tb.e question of lill.Gtb.er th.a ap_pollants rzero .prc-v9ted l:>y sufficient. ~ f o r m . . ~ or pot. 01. the second ftround it is argued that tb.c learned magistrate .erred in law as in a.rriv5.:.1(~ at his doci:::ion he took matters e:rlra.neoua to the applicu:tion.o Iastly 9 the· a:ppeUants submit in tb.air t;,.i:.."d. ground of appeal that tne learned magistrate e-rred in fact in holding that the defendant a.id. not intend to appearo Miss Kassonda learned advocate ropresented tp.o apJ.)Gllants at the ·hearing of the appeal while Mro Safa.rt,, learned counsel app0ared on behalf of the Respondent. In support of ground one Miss Ka.sGonda argued that tho 10arn0d .Resident Nagir.;trato did not give an:·r consider- ation to tho reasons advanced by Counsel :f6r the applicant and those advanced :by Mr. '.fihogolo an Officer of one of tp,e appl;i.cant ins ti tut ions for their faHu:re to make appearance. Tu otb.Gr words Ns. Kassonda contend.Gd that there was no consideration givon to the reason;;.~ 3"iv0n for· non-appearance to determine wh.ethe:r or not they wno~.tcd to· • 0 ••• /2 r' 2 m:.fficient causG. ...'Is for ground Ho• 2 Misso Ka.ssonda :1ubm:i.tted that there was a misdirection on the part of tho magistrat0 who considered the histor.f of t!lc ca.so in arriving at his d0oision instead of sticking to what b.a.pr,en,;:;d on the material date. The a.ccision of the loElX!lea. mag'istrato is cb.allcmgod also fo:r its failtu~c to take into a.cco1...nt tho fa.ct that t:10 dcfendnnt made aJ.1 a;ppoe.rance on tho date fi:wd for • tho. he a.rin~ of tho . 0xpai~tG proof. Mr. i3afa:ri, learnod advocate :in arg-.Ling tho appeal on bollalf of tho Respond.cm.ts mibmi ttod tha.t _tl1c loarnocl magistrate's d.ismiasal of the applicatio:1 iraz ,iusti:fiod becc:l).lso no m.1.ff:i.cicnt ca'..'.::;e had been given for non-ap:pcnxanoeo 'Ihis cn:sc iJ.as a long histor.r• Jiowov-or 1 for tho pllI'I)osor.; of this appeal it ir. ncconsa.ry· to have o. loo~-c at tho procccd:Lncc o:i: t.c J.owor court as :?ro1;1 1/6/94. On t~1is dt1:'( 1 J.oJo 1/6/94 t::..e :roccrrl o? t·he court sb.mm thr.t the plaintiff hod cnter,:d 1?.r,p3arancc., The tofcndant d:.fci.1dci.1t_o· · ~ '.J: l)I'r-3¥..(;.d for lc::w·-:. to file 11ri ttcn ;:;t11tcmc::.lto fon:-11-c ira.o {jT."":ntvd 2nd tac ce.oc wr:.D f:i.Xcd _for hc2rb.:; o:;_1 14/6 /96., Ch 1,1./6 /96 nonG of the dcfcnda;:its mc!dc nny :1ppca.rGl.lc,; t;.1c C.'.l□C war.: f:ixccl for c:;q,c.;rt::.- pJ.'doi on 22/6/94 upon applicn,tiou by plaintiff o On 22/6/94· tl.:.c plafotj_f':::' a.a 1-rclJ. w Mro I:/h..fu'\Joro for t:1c defendant \1crc l)J."Cr3Cnt. Ch th.io G.,:.!7 titer it w2.::: rccordccl thc.t t:1.c afficbvH of p:;:,ocxf YJ.nd lJcr,;n filed the 0£1.:.iC unD act fer cxp;::rto ju.C:l,;;cncnt on 28/6/94. 0.1 • 2e/6 /94- the fird defendant i8 recorded 0...'1 llt.:\d.nt~ been proucnt but jud.e;cment nc:rJ cntcrod ncvorthcloco. 'Ihc lol:'.,l'i1ccl. m.:i&fotrQtc 1·coordccl the dcfcnrl.a1.1t <W lao!.i:JJ1·'.:\' locu.o ato.nd:i.~ li.tt-;a:pt'.'J to have tb.c ox_paJ.~tc judg'Ollicnt 1JGt n~.d.rlc proYod futile hence t;u;-1 C\}.J11cn,l. fo :::ds rv.li.'1c,; 9 fao J.carnoo. BcD:l.<lcnt m~.:,·iotr::?,tc consiclo:Pr;d. thr:t the test in or,r.;cG ..• such as thiG enc is uhct:.,.or the ,:::D:c:licv.nt tI'iccl to enter appoo.rni1coa J;_c nlso considorod t;:tc 18rF'.G 1·Y'.1ct:J.cr· thcr0 UG:iX, triciblc t isov.cs to 1,c of relevancy., I How, :i.n 2-. cn.r::c wncro n.11 c::-:pnrtc j1-1.d:.,Dr,1on-b hn.s bee:.: on-tcrcct followi11g dofnitJ.t 5n cppcnrMcc b;;r t:.-.(~ clc?cncta.nt~ in ~n n.::?:::J.:i.cc1,tfo11 to act a.oido thc..t jU.'3.J'Cmont the primro-:r toot :i.s 1-rhothcr tho dcfm1da.nt e o o • o e /3 .. l r -. ,I 'c'• .,""",. •.. ·"" p ·-:, .• , t;,; • :a,- .... , • )llf;:AQ oo: -~ ' ·tjll_.· ~;.1!'! 1 3 was :prevented by su.ffioient cause from <,mt01,:i11G appearance.. !l.l'l exparte ,jud..,_,tTGIDGnt mey aJ.so b0 sat aside where t;,.e a;pplicant sc1tiGf:i.es thG cou.rt that the su;:-imonf'J Wru} not dvJ.y ser0o<J.. SGe R...J.e 13 ( 1) of order 1X of t)lG P.roccdnro Code o In deter1ni11:i113 w'.iJ_ethGr the dofemlaut wao p1,ov011ted by sufficient cause from ,011t0rfa8 appearance foe co"L:.rt has to consider uhct;1er tho dGfendant b.onostl;;r intended to 1.Jc FCGflCYlt at the hcaril.1..'."_;' of 't'.l9 st1it and d:i.d h:i.o, bost to do aoo \ ru:iido of CXJ?a;i.,to orders ir., 9 I belicv-o, to :p1~omotG the ends o:i: justice by givinG' cver7 pe..rty an opportvn:iJ;1 of bcil1~{ heard.. The en.so of ~vans Vo Bartl am ( 1937 AC 473 lai<l dmm Principles ·which arc ve17 pursuasivo cvon in our. s,ystemo The 1,rj_nc:i.:pJ.cs laid dow:: by t::J.n e,. <lcc:i.sion are i - (a) Tllo jv.risdiction to set ,wide a j°L,a.,3"Gm0nt entered in defcli--!l t is not b.ed.gecJ. by cornli t:i.ons, and tlJ.c 001.1:.rts llb.ould not lay do,m ri:;'icJ. rules on how t'.10 disc:;.:ation should be exerciDCdo (b) Tho purpose behind tho ru.lcn a.7.lo,:rjn(; default j1:d.c,.umonts to be set a.side j_n to avoid injust:i.ce" (c) T'.nc l?rimary considcra.tfon :i.n c:::oroisine; di:-;;orotfon iG 1-~1ot}1cr there fo a defence on tb.o · meri too fa another ca:::e, JJ.pim Bulk Trarn:rpo:-ct Go.. :G::1 Vo Saud.a Dacle S?1ippin(; Coo Inc ( 19D6) 2 Lloyds RGpo 221 9 CA Sir Ro0,-cr Ormrod. saj_d il1 rofercnco to defence on tho rncri t that " tb.ic mcanr:J tha.t tho defence put forward by the defenda;.'l.t muGt bt; one which ha!~ n. roo,l prospect of r::v.ccoss .. If there ifJ no dcfonco 0;1 the m0ri ts, S(;ttii:1r~ a.'3id.c j1..1£.l;cn0nt is uastc of tin1G., If 'i:i.he1,e is a defence justice demand- that it sho-dd be adju.dica.tecl U:J?Ollo i; '!::..•.~ -~·:;·•') '.~::.:';r, :-.,'(');~clT(::'. ·.:: ·r:>-.,1,:. ~; :.'~---- T-'·.::·, ;-•:y,-,,; ~j Miss Ka,r:;nonda for the appellants 2..rc,-uod that the tuo a?:f:'io.avi ts 1. s,rorn by Dro Mapvnda and r!r-e Bb.ogolo sho1mcl that au.ff iciis.nt ca:v.SG ha.d been cstabli:±od. ~rr. Safari hcwovcr, a.r[;"1tcd that m1.fffoj_ont causG oou.ld not be said to ~av-0 been r3h01m considering t'J.at Dro r:lap1.1.nda 's affidavit uas ba.sed on a date that the case hn.cl not been set rll!\,Ot,.-4.,«• ..,,.,._..,., ij 4 do,-m for hoarinc,·. I have read t.he affidav-i t of Dr. !>'.!ar,1.1.nda. and have noted tb.at it is· talktnt.;" of 16th June? 1994 while the T:llc-pnrto ordc:;r 11an i:la.d.o on 14/6/1994. lio;;mvor, the affidavit of A,.°'lflcwrn.n Fhog·olo, t>.s Cb.aj_rmmi of the An.:;lican C'.uv.rch ub.o aro tho f.:Lrst clofonda.nts shm: that ho Has in co1.:1rt on 14/6 /94 for the j.nteotion of cl0fcnclin5 tb.c suit hut 1.lo was unable to seo tb.o trial Hac;istrato unt:i.l 11o30 am uhon hG ·:;a,:~ forced to lGavo tho cov.rto 'lhc rGCord of the CO'..Tt however sb.owo t:.~r..t none of tho dcfo~11le.•nts mis present a.t 9~ 10 e,.,,m.• ·i·:.hon tho ca.sc 1ra.z cal.led. outo 14/6/94 t 110 court made an ord.O,t' [:'J.'2..nting leave to t::·.e plaintiff 0.1 to proceed C)..l.)arto by fil :iJ.1~ affidavit by 21 /6 /94 To.o ca.no uas th<m o set for o:i;:pa.rtc !1Gari,ng on 22/6 /94. 0:1 22/6 /94 I•'iro L5.,ll10.:;o:eo 011t0rcd appearance for t;J.C 1st defenclant but t].1.0 :2ocoJ~cl does not :i.nd.icatG ttlletlicr hG wa.0 t:,·i~n on:y aud:i.oncc. 011 -(;';.is clay :re:z:pa:rtG cJ'ficlavi t 1; 1-;as found to '.1aire b,3Gn fikrl and tho cc:.sc was set for GXJ}a:rte ju.clgomcnt on 28/6/94 t:10 record shows that the 1st dofcnc.bnt was presor.t. Tiowovor, f ollow:i.n;_;- tho pl a.in tiff I s pra;vcr th"t tho case WNJ coming for Gxpartc judg'omcnt W1d that no counool :for t:1.c other pa:rty wns :prcscnt and that they la.c):cd locus stancb; • jud6--omont was cmtcrcd for tho plaintiff. li1 dismiscing the a:r,plic2.tio11 to set a.side tho 01'.'11a.rto jud.gernent the loai'nGcl Bcsid.cnt J:.!agistro.,tc found thG aff:i.cl.avits of 'both deponents to iJ.avc been bo,soloss a-,3 t:1cy wont to cr:.urt on a day their cas0 had net been set. Tho J.oa:r:Y1ctl rr1r.:>Gistratc alF.io fo'l.'..l:lcl.. it us ostnbUshctl th2,t the clofGndMts dicl not ~toncstl,y btei1cl to ~~:ppaa.r in court on thG material day.. Now, ub.Ho Dr. lh2:iunda 1s n.ff:i.rlav:1.t talk of e·oing to cou.rt on 16/6/94, a day -:.fnon ·tho case had. not bcc:n sot for hGaxing, the reply of lmdorscn 1'b1kogoloto t:10 counter ai'f::.ci..-1.v-:;_ t mror11 by Sost~t<.mes s. f:iaiari show that ho wns b cvu.rt on 14/6 /94 ancl wo..i tad until 11a30 .:1.rn. u:Lthout being info1.,-i1cr.'!. n.rJ to 1rb.on ho coulc1. .J::·pcnr bcf O:rG the tr:i.al mae;:i.stratc o It is El~}]?a.rc,·/G tL.o. t the le QlYJ.G(L ii1.1.5istra.to dirl not giVG cl~·.0 conr:iid.ora.tion to llro Hw.102,olo 1 s aff:i.1avH WT.:. Le merely dismissed it z.!.s being- bv,soloss., 'Sc overlook0i tllc :l:'act that the date given by 1tto }fuhogolo for his 2\,:poa:ra.ncc in cou:ct u.ci.f:fcrcd from ; I' that which ,ra.s (?iVon by Dro Mnpuncl.?... 'i111C lc;a.1.'}10(.l 'Rcsidc.i1t Eat':;istrato also founcl as 11 matter of fact that t~1c defendants did not intend to f a.:ppGar. f[mrever, considering 11'.a.n.t treJ1spired in tho co1..1.rse o:1: the f' r proccc,i:in[sn I do not think that b.0 ua.s ju0 tified to arrive. to the • that conclv.siono Going by tho rocor<l of 1/6/94- it a,ppears that it i·ras only the 2nd defendant l'rb.o had cntoroc.l nppoarancoo It Hc:.;s on this otJ1er def0;.1:lantr_:; wera not in oou.1~,~ ancl :':..t :VJ not olea:r m1 t!:.o record lfhetn.or. any not:LoG for hearing on 14/6 /9~- 1":8;) 130T"J'6d on t)a;:10 B:mrovar, to i:.tc. Hi.10;; O10 ho Uhd0rctooc1. t;,.a.t tho ca.De oo,D.rl not have OomG 1 ,1.p ·;"'.·0-.1.~ ',.1.oax:1.n::; • on 14 1!t:;' u 0.,1 4 a.r:.: had not bocn oom2.)lotecl.o AB po:IJ1t0d. 0,1-t 00,..-rl~.cr, acc,ordi.n-ts to J.:.:i.r: n;i:::?irla:,ri t 1-,l1ioh un::: .0.1ot given d,,.o con1.J:~,l0ra.ticm on 14/6 /'.;-4 '.:.10 rn.118.c ap:pcarancc i:n. oo-:.trt, O.1 22 /6 /94 J.:i.e ""ca.i;.1 made a:ppca.ranoc c>.:.1c.1. 2.J.rJo 0:::1 28 /6 /94 o Hoii', if he !lad I not i:.1t0nclcc). t:) ma~m B.li.J" a.::.>1,oaranoc on conclv.dcd by t;::.o loarnsd. rnagfotra.to why cl:i.cl h0 bother to 2:9:poai'.' oa 22/6/94 a.no. 213/6/~4? The 1st flc:('ont.-:.v.l1t mn.cle aripoa:ranoo 0:.1 22/6 /'.74 1Jb.en the oaoo >.ad been :3et to be ;1orox',. 0rpart00 T:10rc fo not'..d.;.1•; on rocord to r..:h.ou tJ.:..a.t he uaD availed. of ,""!.:::1.:r opporti:mity to C.Df.;:i.~;11 1-v.Jo.sonr...: for ::,.:i.r.: no.;1-a;Q:PG&a11O0 0:1 14/6/94-• ~,.c:,1 o:;.1 20/6/94 >c 2r.::a:i..n ontcr::;d. GJ>p8a.r2.nc0, }:.ouGv-or1 H .... U2!3 0111;7 v.S:l.G p:i.a.i.ntj_ff lrlb.o l'JQ.O $i:;rc11 n:u.dicnco, a;:18. he ;:in.icl tl.--..a.t the clefcn,J.an.t lao~;.tHt locu.r~ 3tc1ndio I:1 or r.rl~c:1 circumr:;ia;:.1cc::; :i.t .\[3 a,ppc a.ranee • are i.11 tlJ.0 file and in my opinion t;_:.irJ c2no :ra.it::cs sor,.1s vita). ir.::r.:uea 0011.oorning ric., ~l10 ov-0r reel proper-(;_:.'" t!:.'.a.t c1.emand toa:r:i.n:~ bte:r partfos. l:.learj.ng :L.'1. mhd. tb.a.t tho purpose bG}1:.m1. t;,_c· l"l:..les a1101i:L::1:.: cl3faul t j1.1.dgsrnent:1 to ba net aside ir.; to mroj.(1. inj,.:.rJtico 1 anc.l oonz5.d.or:i.ng all the oircvi-:1atDJ.1cGs of tho 02.se it J.. ;1 111.J con.:;:1.clerc<l. op:i.n:i.on that foe learned Bes5.ll.ont I1agi,:1trn.tc 1ras not jv.r:it:1.f:1.oc1.. to d:i.Ga1lo~r t,1.c ' applicatio:1 :i:'or HGtt:L.'1,:S a.side t].1e expo.rte ji1r.lgemcnt \:.c :-1.aC. entered. Jt :b o~ccJ.crccl that the oa,se b0 :~earrl on r:10ri t bcf ore n;.1ot;_,_8r n-:,'.lgiotratG o:;': oo~10to:,1t j·t;.risd:lct::.on. I m.'12;:c no orclor a~) to oost:::i ub.ich wiJ.1 ,-10 :i.:n tho . event follow:i.11.:;· thG h0arin,'.; inte:rpa.:ctierJo PRIJ'WIPJL RE3I:DE.:TT EAGI:JTRATE C¥.~:~i.µw-2:.~~CTI o;I) • ' 6 Date 1 · 11/9/s,6 Befiore E. A•. filco, PRr.!~ EXTE!IDED ~ruru:SDIOTICTI o For .AppG 11 a..'1. ta .Absent For .RoS}?Ond0f'lt ·- - · 1-!r •. Safari. .t .... ... -,.:;' )· . :: ·, .. . . ' ·... _Appeal allowed. ..-..;.. : t' ,·) . . ·-f'-~-- (fl'.ldrr. A; ~O . P.:3.LifCIP .. AL: P.JTI3I:tiE:?r 1,TAGI3TRATE . ~ . (E:~TKi.fflID JT;1lL32)!CTION")' 11/9/;6 - . .... , ., ,r ··- .. ...: -·-. ...... ... , . '