Charles Mukinkila Chitengi v Attorney General (SCZ APPEAL NO. 41/1995) [1997] ZMSC 63 (7 February 1997)
The appellant failed to prove on a balance of probabilities that he was a Zambian citizen by descent. The evidence presented by the appellant was inconsistent and contradicted by credible testimony from the respondent's witnesses, including relatives and local chiefs. Therefore, the Minister of Home Affairs was...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1997] ZMSC 63
- Parties
- Appellant: Charles Mukinkila Chitenoi; Respondent: The Attorney-General
- Court
- Supreme Court of Zambia
- Jurisdiction
- Zambia
- Case Number
- SCZ APPEAL NO. 41/1995
- Procedural Posture
- Civil / Appeal From High Court Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Deportation, Citizenship, Burden of Proof
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Charles Mukinkila Chitenoi
Appellant
The Attorney-General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil / Appeal From High Court Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appellant is a Zambian citizen and therefore not subject to deportation under Section 26(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act, Cap. 122
- 2 Whether the Minister of Home Affairs acted lawfully in issuing a deportation order against the appellant
Ratio Decidendi
The appellant failed to prove on a balance of probabilities that he was a Zambian citizen by descent. The evidence presented by the appellant was inconsistent and contradicted by credible testimony from the respondent's witnesses, including relatives and local chiefs. Therefore, the Minister of Home Affairs was entitled to issue a deportation order under Section 26(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed with costs to be taxed if not agreed.
- The appellant remains subject to deportation under Section 26(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
IN THE SUPREME COURT Of ZAMBIA 8 CZ APPiAL NO. 41/1 995 HOLDEN A'f LUSAK A (Ci v ll Juris1i~ti~n) CHARLeS MUKINKILA CHITENOI Appellant and THE ATTORNEt-GENERA ~ . Reepondent Cor-am: a~eupe o.c. J., Cnaila and Chirwa JJs on 25th May, 1 ~~6 and 1th February, 1997. ~or the Appellant: Mr. C. K. Banda of Chifumu Banda and Assoclatea For the R~tlpondent: Mr. D. K~ Kasote, Assistant Senior State Advocate J U D G M E N T Cnirwa J.s. delivered the judgment of the Court. This ls an appeal by the appellant againet the judgment of the Hi~h Court that ruled that the aopellant was not. a Zambian and therefore c ould be deported by the Minister or Home ~ffaira under Section 26(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act, Cap. 122. The hiatory of th~ matter is that on 2nd day of March, 1990 the appellant was apprehended by tne Chief Immigration Officer from Inter-Continental hotel and detained at kUsak~ Central Prison. On 17th Ma~ch, 1990 he wae served with a deportation order signed by the Hiniater of Home Affairs o n 16th Maren, 1990 pursuant to Section 26(2) of the Imml~ration and Dep o rtation Act. Cap. 122 and taken to Kasumbalesa border post for his deportation to Zaire. The Zairean authorities refused to accept t ne appellant, alleging that he was not a Zairean and ne was re-detained. 2 I .•. \ \ ... Jc ... • w-rlt. or th1.a• ro110wln$ n~.rb•a:1 0orpus. tJu11i-e wart both atfid~vit ~Ylden~~ and v1v• ~oc~ e~iden?e b, ~h• appell•nt and •t trio ~••ri~& Qr tlu ;Hrl.t. ob~a1ne1d lest..-t> ~.,au.s- to !\• -ilt.:.t.t.e witn~n.'l':!.t. t~• tYJ.done• u::' ?.lH .-sp;ifil.tant v,~~ boi-n •t K&llr'11.'i. ~1l11'r,q, 1Ct-;a1Gt1t .• t.~ th~ otr11-ot Utttc ne wae :t.a.~i-tt; o~· Z,-;ablan pa!"entl'J• ff• went to 90,it .. til t:t<J!,•l'.' ur,1.1 th~ r\r$t was his ~ot~9P ~n~n ~t •a• vs~y rnun3 and hts fath•~ lm&t t~ L~6~ 1 h~ wa~ QOll•~ted ~, t1~ u~cle aern~rd Mu~1nk1l~ who lillla h L .a ~i t.n~ua ~t. t.~~~ ,Hrn ~ l.n~: "'f' '; r.s ,1 .- i ';. ~ r ~l),LH1a~ o onnu~ .• ,,hud z;" c.f' bo"";.h t'~l"•r\t. CI, t.:i,•(~•l i,;:u iH&: a.n'-' %11T1:bt • totn•r-'e nar.,• vi1• Pa~-r1ole lh::n.tniUl~ K11.:ihot111 troa Ka.eem.i,a iiot.lHn· o.t Har.-1et 8ele.i1ga r,•~.!!) Chloo:o. On !$.~i:'l. Y11l in tie et4rt~•1 "'"!'':tf ~.u~ _,~,,i' In lJ i. ; ·. ij ;,,,E1 ,)t ~n•• .'!\~ n~v.. i1:, • ;-: ~-\.,a;, •. ~ Contr~l lr1~cn fo~ 1~ day~ but l;:)ot)I QU~ii)t.toMH1 ht!& about wh•r• l\111 1?8~ h• ~•a d•ta1n~d a~ ~u~a~a 1 n() ;.•~.\Jl(JJ')!I: t.'~l"I '.(l\"QM, l';l!1t, ¢.t.~11. i'\'"Qii!. th 11l.5o t~l~ ~l'\6 r.:;:;,it,1~1: tt;at ~,1:;'.ltH, lr.. Z.at11'i>la h• h•d ~'!Ni \f'Ot'ki..rw; t"'ol:" St~C.oit )!outi·~ :.l,t ,11~ •':'1:t Ul•tP!. l!!.i:iotra >1.n,J fl;"•l· t.htJI. ig•.rn~ ~,f'til1'\1:'I. II a11113gllt1&"A \i~t•e ,t:h••n ,1• 1u1.i. hi• f°l"Jande tt« ~~!dirt~~, ctoubt~O hll or!$1A& t~e, iK~ C$rs and ~O'l?e~- ~ould n~t ~••• •~?lOY~~ h!~ ln suoh a~n~1~1v~ J~ba. "at1.:-J~ .... 1 ~21~:3t.r&ttnn Ci:,.r!! ~!H.~:, ~~ ,,btr.itn11d ht r.u.v• i" 1966 ft. I.. -~a•w•l• ~illage •a.-~int thti 1.1~ C~l~f K•lll•l~ tn ~ol~~il Q[~~~i~t~ ttt~ a~~ell•nt ~ald ~bat i t w•• not. him who gave r.ha vlt'o All rat a.a ho 1, or hi II vi tne ■ i, but. a.tie o~"Q$~~ed, ~e ~a1 b~rn 1n Za1r• QC Zeab1•n pa~~~t5. lte.e •t no.• d.i ed.. :;>i'lr-tlcu.l.~r-» bl. It i:'ll.• aunt.. li>•~t1oular•• \ui; ~orn ~~ tho toil.a~ t.!le 'f11e .r.p'i'l"'ll:u,t. 1 s w1;;,~~~ -s 11..-tt n.itu,...i,'4 .rtao ola1tted tn.e •on <1r hi;i th•t th• app•llllnt ......... hiz!I el4•r bro,a•~ ~ho ~ied i~ ta1~~ and tb~t h~ lett fer XQ1rR ln l~,4. Be ca~e to knQW th~ ~P~•ll•"t ln 196~ ln tai~• ~h8~e ~o ~e r~rth•~ t~ld the o~u•~ tn~t hie ~ttft$~ ~~a Mangl ~a• b~rn. "&Qt1'11 aod r)• WA .. tf.:i~·.1n;d.li. •rad \hAt. ijab1PHUU,t Wf!l.8 ~I\'# &lil(iri" ol~lt;;.;· ~o Hi.~ {P!I~) aotc•r. ~- eat4 th4t ! f 9~b!~eflU ~-,~ ettat ~he ~~1, had baby g1~1s. 8hl would bit tellin5 l.:\.0S Ill~ nh• Wili:I t-h·l- ~°"t.~. J:• or Jo:i<11rir~ Chit~H\11 and was bo~n n, Mundaki vlll&~•, Chior K~see?A• Kiee~pa dist.riot. 31._. - J3 - Porth• ~••pond•ni. 8 ~,t~•a••• a••• ev14•n~•• fb• tira\ , ar• ~•latl••• or PW2, e,rnard K~kift~lla. DVl -•• one ot the tlv• 4au1~t•r• or &abtnonu •~d \bat tb• ta\h•r wa• Naansula aad tDa\ tb•J na4 no bot in t~•,r taa11,, aa4 that t~•~• waa nG Jo ■eph Chltaa11. Sh• oontir••d ~h•~ PV2 ••••eon or ,o~ft& 111,er ot b•~ •o,~•~ an~ ah• n•y•r knov 'b• •PP•llan,. ~W2 oontlr••d ~h• ••tdenoe ot DW1 i~ r••p•o\ at lbe ftU•••r •ft4 ••& or t~• OQ1ld~•n ot Ba~1neaw tba\ tbef ••~• only t1•• \ha~ \nere "•"'• t alrl.•• t.ta• a bttf• only PW2 i• otlildren, aJ.t.••· ,~. Oltler on• to.r•• died., DVZ'• Vf.ll•··· end f,IH' tie a•v•~ went \o ta1~•~ K• 4oee not k~ov ,~. •~P•ll&ftt• ff• al1r1 ~n•v ttH r• ■.111 or PW2 j s.trl• and 2 1>011 and o.r DW3 1• •notber telat1v• ot ,wa. ebe ioo do•• not kne~ th• appellant.. ow• waa Chlet ia111•1• wbo 4•nte4 n1v1n1 a villa&• oall•d Ka•wala 1n bl• •r••• OW5 wae r•a1ai~a\1oa ottteer ~bo 1aeu•• ta• ap,ell•nl v1t~ ~he Wational ••&1•,~•\lo~ ~ard. Me a••• t-• p~oe•du~• roqu,~•~ 1R &iving •ac and in \nl• u••• ~h• aip•11•ai p~od~o•d a ••hool Oel'tittoat.• aad be endor••• •• \he back o,t t.ae o•r,itioa~• Tft• apJ•l11n\ ··~· t~• partiQ~l•r• ht•••lt •• b&Y1n& b•tn be~ft Oft ~ad Apr11, 19-1 11.t Houae Me. ~028 Chl ■v••"'• • He i••~•d ~A• ••con l&tb Janua~y, 1968 •ad \bai \be?-e v•• no A••4 ror 'h• •PP•llaat ~o -• ■ oGo■pan1•4 ~, aftr •~•t4l•o ot par•nt •• ft• wa, is 1••r• Gld and •t••r Ube i~f. OrMall•a b• tut,l1•d ••• v,1tt•"• •• va• tn'" 1 l•d t.o 10 throuah 1, and n• •iatl•d. l1\1Hw l>W6 ••• •n 4s,•1•t.•nt ClU. •t' 111101:ttttat.ioo or.r 1••t- vtlo a ave lh• •PP•ll1nt va• ••telonoa tl'l•t aocor4lft& to th•1.r borA . , lal1Adi IOhoollng an4 t~•r•at,er did• -o~banio• oour•• tn Z•i'• •~d aa•• io %a■,ta 1n 19·66. ln 1•1r• vh•r• ho 414 h19 rtQOtd•• they bad r~rtb•r into~••,1on lhat be oo••• troa laawel• vill&&• 1ft Sol•••i •nd •• ,h1• 1At~~-•~lQ~ vould a~t •• oo~,1~••d \bey conolvd1d tha, ~• va• a t•lr••n an4 • • 4• arrao1•••nt1 to depoPt 111 •• DVT v•• Beato~ Supotln,•nd•ai 1n 1.1.■bia t,eot.iti•li that hi 1988 b.• ap•n.ed • 4ooket lftC oa 18tft 1>•rta1a1n,1 10 bl1 ob~alo1na a .,,~nae be va• 1nveat1aatldl 11,••• fh• 1ato~••l1oft ~o ~-• ••al•\~•r• wac ortla• wb•~• be •tale4 ~hat ho c••• rro!l'I Canal& vi 11•1• • Cbltf ICalil•l•• tr,; Solwtal • M• ,eoorded a w•rn and o•uiton •~•t•••nt troa b1a w~ioh ~• lat i-t•tctl• 1919 ~--~ Pol tee Poto• wno on th• appe.ll&l\i;. JaQuarr, 1961 at wa• 11v1aa r•l•• \tH oour-\ belov. L.aler on f>l"041o1ioed 11.reot.or or PuJtl lo Pro1fcnatloa.s teaued 1natruo U oaa ttle 1nve•i1aat1on, io olo•• •• wltn••••• •••• oonr11et1na •videnc•/ •~•t•••nta. fo,- 111. OWi w•s Sen1or Svpetlnte~d•nt 1~ t••b•a1 Poll•• ro~o• ••o in•••ttaai•d tba 1spact ot appell~nt'• el•l• tba~ tt• 01•• t~o• laawala Ylllagt, c~i•r Calll•l•· •olwest. H• Yia1l•d ~b• obiet 'th.e ohiet• • who 4•til•d ba¥1DC any 11illai• bt suob ~•adM•n aleo deni•d ih•P• been an, •~oh Ylllaao. • «uite. In ~on•tde~lng t~i• ••tdaQae \he l•a~n•d \rial j~d•• looked \.tao ap$)elia-.t ••• bot',. in 1Ut.w• and n• aL the pa~iloulard ao g1vort on tft• ~~ttoftNl regietration c•rd whletl J. QiUo•\•d th.at hail•d rro• k•cwala ~11l•ae. C•i4f Kal1l•l•. s~ !01WGS1 dl•trto,. t~, ble ••ld•no• in dourt va• \ba, ~• waa bor~ 1n &air•• la to vn:, tfte app•llant .,.,od that th• P•riioul•~· w•r• at••n by \be AOW 4•o••••d &Unl who w•• \b• ~ire or fV2. Att•r le~ktna at ~h• e•ideno• ot PV2 tb• l•arn•d t~l•l j~d1• toun4 th•~ tbl• -1,n~•• ••• ua,rut1ru1 and ~•J•ot•d ~l• eTldenoa 1n •l•w or tbe •Yideftoe ot ova 1-~. t-h« ou•d 1• dltr.,•en~, lnror•at1on oft I. As ,, ... - J5 ... tb• 1••~••4 trial Juds• t~•A oon~luded ,~at the appellant vaa ao~ a iaabian •n4 \h•ratar• ••enable to Seotion 2i(2) or th• l••1&rat1on •~d O•poPiaiion Aot an4 1n e•s•~o• dta•••••d th• apJ11~•t1oa to~ -•b••• eorpu• and i t io this tlndlnt, •• we ••rlt•P aatd. that th• appe1lan\ 1• appe&l1nc agalnat. Ia a~gu1~1 •hie a,pe•l• Nr. Banda a4••aoed one ~rouq4 of •PP••l aod •b•t va• ~ba, ,h• appellant••• vron111 4e,o~,.~ Ynt•r aeotlou 16(1) or tbe I••tar••ion and Dop$rta\lon lot br \bl N1A1s,.p lft -~•t tb•t »e~tlon doa• "ot .,,1, ,o l•Mb1aa•· ••nno~ be 4•P•r,od rro■ hte ~oua~r,. i t the A &aa~1•ft appellan, •11•8•4 ,~a, be.vaa • Za•~1aa, th•r• •ho~ld be oroor \b•t ~• va• ~o~ \~, ~•••~•• ~h•r• ~•• ~o ewoh proor t~• St•t• at~eapt~4 \~ D~~•eoute bla r,~ 4lvlu1 t•l•• 1nror•tt1oo ,o th• th•~• we• not aurr1c1•n1 •••1•\~•r t.aba,S.\t.•d th,al 8,1to\1an 13(1) ot ••14.•tui•• •&iQ3 al•o f•tled •• fuf"tber Mar. D. GUldA &h• e1t1a•n•~1~ or Z••~l• Aol, Cap~ 111 appl1•4• 1~ reply on b•~a1r ot ,~. lt•t•, Mr. ia•o,• aub•l\••• \bat l'Ai• ws.,n•u• waa no~ rellab:i.1 . ,ae i••ue ••• v~&tber tn• app•i1ant wao a ianb1an o~ noi and 1r n• w•• not 'A•ft ~b• M1A1•~•r oould ••,ar~ n1 ■ and ba•• ble de\.alt1•ct pentUa1 deport.au.on. lie •11t.•1t.t•d t.hal; tbe •v1den•• or th• app♦llaft\ aatd In Cour, \be •",el laftt atai•d tbat ht va• bOl"tl 1ft 1.aire and , . , t.l:I• ,ar\.io-.1.•I"• i.~ •n• lt•1l•tt"&I" were t.b.at he was born in Clsi.•wealltt 11\-• _d, ~n•t •• o•••• rroe ramv•l* 91lla1•, ca1•r t•lilela, Solweti. PQrlber tbe part14~1•~• ot ~i• paroftt• •~• not •l•~r a,sct tb.••• vu•• dl•P•l-•4 , , ,n• r•spond•nt•• vitia•o•••· fro• t.h• •Ytdenoe, it va• •ult•1~t-•d that. ,,,.. cppellant waa not, a Z•••1•a, tb• tao, ,~a\ 1ave1tl~e,ton, on ~t• ob\ai~1n, \he .aa.tioasl rea1,t.r1.u.on cat'd w•ro di~~~:attau•f Oft 1n•hruot.la"• froa ,ne D1realer or fiu~llc Pro••outlowu flh,•• not ••k• Ill• a ta•b1an-. Ve bate oona14•~•d tbe •T\defto• •~d Juda••nt on reoord and ~h• au~aieeton• bJ ¢&~fteal ~eto~• ua. 6/., . - .,, - Th• •Yldenc• &ddao•d br tbe •PP•llan, and Oh bl• b•halt b&• lQ b• 00•9•~•d W1tb ~hat •4duoe4 by ~b• ~oapon4•n~. 11th r•~•rde ,~ ••14oGe• in oo~rt •• to vh•~• ~c wa, b~r~ anf tb•t &lYen 10 the r-e111, ... •t.too otr1oo~, 11, tbe tb• aJp,llant. vae QD\:ait1i111 th• oal"4 111 difr•r•-i,.o••• When 1168 he va• 25 Y••ro old, be d14 a$t ft•e4 to b••• any suardl•R the evt••••• ot DW5 va• to 11oooai,an1 !a.la ~o ol,t.a1n • caar4, very et.ratani rorwai-d an!lt 'l'b• •Pt•llant- 1• all.•C•4 ~o nawe •••n &lw•n •• opport\lnlty ,o ,. •• , throuah .ta dJ.rt1o\l1.t. to aoc•rat t t. ••••• ••n••. tterol"o ~• st,gnad 1uHt it ht.11 all•«•d •uot •••• VL"'oac tor• . A tu;,i-n. be abOGld tu.rt ••d• "'• inro ... ••a.ion •• to 11a•ro ba waa: •of'rtotloit• ••to. I"• b.• wae h1oa11e4 111 \JI th• o•td. P'ur~b•r •~• llfhJ be !lad to •• , ~1• IIUQt. i~ go 111\ft h.111 to ot.ll~aJ.11 ;tiay-, Mtftt. it vat PW;? who oolle•t•d \hl• •1•• i'ba, ,no •~ld••u~• of \he ohi$t lt. .ls ole,aa- 'he a o•rd Wher.1 1nr0ir•Jti.1n •iut 'h•r• t• "& 7111ac• Kanval• lfl C~i•r lelllela•• •reas. WOfUII,.. on It\• t·ar.ber and met.h.•r, i i c,a■e out 'fu•1 ole1:r tbat PTU w•• t••• t101u1.11t. aed ~heretore ivJ.4oAo• at th.• .a9i,,e.llaata • t'tl•~-- taa111.,,. t.• PWZ and wo lo r1aaon 1• ~pp;art,tnt ,oi, re&ot'd ~bl' ow1 ... .- t4oul4 unt.rilltlt',.n., l do DOI 41•tut• lhat \el.1 .lt•• &l)c>U\ 0'111 !So not. ••• ,hat tile•• t11t'ee tl\11 ara r•J.•ti.•d vtin••••• •~~l« ~•v• ~oa1p1~•d •~•ina, •~• apJell•n\ so•• te caea, bi& in ~O\al'I; • • IUU1~ ... 1.t-1v.. fb••· VS.lin••a•• Olea. Ply ei.pl.a1fled ltleir oonnetllon• and \bey «•a1•d t,eon •••• o, ... ••lled J•••Pll Chltengi or Joae-,b thUl&ftl\l MakiftJc11•, ll I• al•o or•••• 1nt•t••• ~hen•••• ib•I tbe appellao~ gAve 1ft 11• vaPn •nd ••~i,on •••t•••GtJ tb• .rea,oadeni•a wttn••••• It 1• 11ecst1•ar, t• loole at ,1111 ••id•n••• a•v•r Knev r1-..•t.l7 lalunc t.he app•ll•ttt•• ••1deooe \nat he ••• l!cu•n 1ft Zlllr• of t.a•lii,Ul p•rottta l>•o•u•• it 1. t. ee.n be e11ovn \bet hit• -pere111,.a ••re taabi,arut and W6Ml.4 ti••• •••n l••b1•n• lQ 19611 IJu:t tor tl\elr dea.tta, t.ne &ppella11t. 1101114 be a J.••blan by d'eacent. •~d ib•~•to~• oannot b• 4e~ort•d• thet'e ev•I" t.b••• - J1 - ther•t~~o a,en vil.la,1~ \hie •w.td•nc•• it ie oloar ittitt. ihat hl~ parG~t• vera %tt•blana, Th• Cnl•t •••• ••t••n•• th•~ there vaa no K••••l• Yill••· fl•&d.aan Handalc1 1•v• vetriy sood 1n M.• ...... ll~••s• •• ,~.~a• wbicb ~l••rl1 -~OVI ·~-~ ihe only brQthor ot PVZ wa& t•ra• wbo died 1ft •~• vill•t• aA4 no, 1n ZA1~•- Pro■ \IU •PP•ll.ant ba4 12ot ehovn •llboua~ he waa bQrft 1ft &alr•• •r vtr,~• leetioa )(I) or tbe Co~•t1tut1oA , o lh• .l••••i& X11<leponde111c• orti•r, i ta•) ot iuuu.a ( Bo~ed!'lt i Tb• •alr •vldeoo• ,n., WII b• 1• a Z••·••n b, d••t•nt. -~e•,~•bll 4Q4 tl••n by t-• ~,,.11aa, •ad bit ~it••·· ta t~., vb.,111111• evidenc• tdduo•• lty ~h• r••P•n•••', •• e•ttAO\ taul ~ ,~. ttndina or,~. l••~~•d trlal Ju•«• t•at the ~,p$llanl v•• not a Z•abl«n ~u, • i•eretove ~he N1nt•t•r ooald prop•~1r 4•p•r, "'• unf•r l•o~leQ 26(2) ~r tbe Iaa1,ratlon aad t1ep1rt.61tlen &ct &tld • • • as,e>•:t.1•,a& '>• pr•p.i•ly d•t.•1c•d pencUra1 h1• deportaU.oft. Oa t.t:iS.• •••1• 110 would die10a1 th1• . , , •• 1. ta1~eaa, -oaft Th•r• Y•• one o\-•~ ••~••' all~ded to_, Mr. 8an4& •nd that 1• th•' OeoiitQ 13(1) et, •• C1\ll♦Gab1• ot ···~·· Aot. Cap. '-b•t. 01-.1seo ■ta£.p vaa al••a io tll• appe11•n~ 'ttr "-n• tt'eaid•n, t~i• appeal 1• ~••~•ror• 41aa1•••d wit~ •• a tak•~ er boo~G~. tc oo•t• ••~••d 11 det•~lt bo be taxej • be ...... , ......... , .......... . a.c. 8we'I. JCI DffUIY q~1~, i~!1t~! . . . .. " ....................... . M.s .. Chau.a ~u,,s~m,couttt Jueam ••••••••••••••••••• 1'. I.~. ChiJ'wa· ~UtRB~E COUIT Juooe