National Microfinance Bank, PLC vs Commissioner General, TRA (Civil Application No. 246/20 of 2017) [2017] TZCA 1247 (29 September 2017)

INTHECOUR.·TOFAPPEALO.FTANZANIA r\ r' AT DAR ES SALAAM .,, ~ l> CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 246/20 OF 2017 NATIONAL MICROFINANCE BANK, PLC ................................ , ..... APPLICANT VERSUS COMMISIONER GENERAL, TRA ............................................... RESPONDENT {Application for extension of time to file an application for stay of execution from the judgment of the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal at Dar es Salaam.) {Hon. H. Mataka, Vice Chairman, Prof. J. Doriye, Mr. J. K. Bundala, Members) dated the 17 th day of July, 2014 in Income Tax Appeal No. 19 of 2013 RULING 28 th September & 2 nd October, 2017 LUANDA, J.A.: Before me is an application for extension of time to file an application for stay of execution from the decision of the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal. It has been made under Rule 10 of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2009 (the Rules). When the application came on for hearing, the Court, suo motu, raised a preliminary point to the parties as to whether the affidavit in reply of one Yusuf Juma Mwenda was taken in compliance with section 8 of the 1

Notaries Public and Commissioner for Oaths Act, Cap. 12 R.E. 2002 (the Act) in that the affidavit does not contain the date on which it was taken. Mr. Ndarai Kidaya, learned counsel who represented the respondent readily conceded to the omission and added that as the affidavit of the respondent is of no use, the application may be granted. Mr. Seni Malimi, learned advocate who appeared for the applicant first joined hands to the observation made by the Court. Second, he said as the application stands unopposed, he prayed that the application for extension of time to file an application for stay be granted with no order as to costs. Section 8 of the Act which is couched in mandatory term demands on the part of the Notary Public and Commissioner for oaths to state in the Jurat at what place and on what date the affidavit was taken. Failure to do so, renders the affidavit incurably defective. Section 8 of the Act reads as follows:- ''8. Every Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths 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 2

oath or affidavit is taken or made.ii [Emphasis supplied]. In The Director of Public Prosecution vs Dodoli Kapufi and Another, Criminal Appeal No. 11 of 2008 (unreported) this Court said as follows:- "Total absence of the Jurat or omission to show the date and place where the oath was administered or affirmation taken or the name of the authority and/or the signature of the deponent against the Jurat renders the affidavit incurably defective'~ (Emphasis mine). (See also D. P. Shapriya & Co Ltd vs Bish International BV (2002) E.A. 47). Since in this case we have shown the affidavit in reply does not contain the date- -on wfiTch It was taken- Or made, the same is incurably defective. The purported affidavit is of no use. So, the affidavit of the applicant, under these circumstances, is taken to have not been challenged at all. 3

As to why the applicant was late to file the application for stay of execution within time, the affidavit of one Lilian Komwihangiro, a Principal Officer of the applicant tells it all as follows:- 5. That on the 17h Jul½ 2014, the Tax Revenue Appeal Tribunal delivered its Judgment on appeal and allowed the appeal in favour of the Respondent herein. Copies of the Proceedings, Judgment and Decree of the Tribunal are annexed herewith and marked NMB --2 {a}, {b) and {c} respective!½ to form part of this Affidavit 6. That being aggrieved with the decision of the Tribunal on the 5 17 August;, 2014 the Applicant lodged a Notice of Appeal intending to appeal to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. Attached hereto and marked NMB-3 is a copy of the said Notice of Appeal. 7. That;, consequently to paragraph 6 hereinabove, on the Id October, 2014, the Applicant filed her Memorandum and Record of Appeal same being Civil Appeal No. 86 of 2014. A copy of Memorandum of Appeal is attached hereto and marked NMB-4. Leave of the Court is craved that it forms part hereof. 8. That on the 1 ;th Februar½ 2016 when the Civil Appeal No. 86 of 2014 was called for hearing at the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, the 4

same was struck out for discovery of defects in the Decree availed to the Applicant by the Tribunal. Attached herewith and marked NMB ... 5 is a copy of the Order of the Coutt to form part of the Affidavit. 9. That following the order of the Court of Appeal in Civil Appeal No. 86 of 2014/ the Notice of Appeal dated gh August 2014 was also struck out. 10. That the Applicant through Tax Application No. 7 of 2016/ applied for extension of time to lodge a notice of Appeal out of time and· the same was granted on the 1,fh March 2016. The Applicant filed its Notice of Appeal on the 2Z1d March 2016. Attached hereto and marked Annexture NMB-6 {a}, {b} and {c} are copies of the Proceedings/ Drawn Order and the Notice of Appeal, to form part of the Affidavit. 11. That lo/lowing the lodging of the Notice of Appeal on 2Z1d March/ 2016/ the Applicant applied for certified copies of the Decree signed by all members of the Tribunal. A copy of the said latter is annexed herewith and marked Annexture NMB-7, to form part of the Affidavit. 5

12. That sequel to paragraph 11 hereinabove/ on the 2.Jr:f February, 2017 ✓ the Applicant was notified of the availability of the Decree applied for, and on the same date the Applicant was availed with the same. Attached herewith and marked Annexture NMB-8 {a) and {b} are copies of the notification and the said Decree respectivelYt to for part of this Affidavit.
13. That to enable the Applicant file its Memorandum and Record of Appeal the Applicant on the 1 st March/ 2017 applied for the endorsed copied of all documents which were put in evidence and tendered as Exhibits A-1 to A-4 and the certificate of delay which todate have not been availed to it. Annexed herewith and marked Annexture NMB-9 is a copy of the said letter, to form part of the Affidavit.
14. That the Applicant has not filed its intended appeal against the decision of the Tribunal dated the 1;th JulYt 2014 in that the Applicant is still awaits to be availed the documents stated in paragraph 12 hereinabove to enable her to file the appeal in the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. The intended appeal raises, interalia, pertinent important points of law as contained in the draft 6

memorandum of appeal annexed hereto and marked as Annexeture NMB-10. 15. That while the Applicant is still making follow-ups of these necessary documents at the Tribunal, the Respondent has initiated an execution of the Decree of the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal in Tax Appeal No. 19 of 2013. Through its Demand Notice dated 11 th Ma½ 2017, the Respondent has threatened stern measures against the Applicant if the said notice if not heeded. A copy of the said Demand Notice is annexed hereto and marked Annexture NMB-11. Leave is craved it form part hereof. 16. That the delay in filing of the application for stay of execution of the decree of the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal has been caused by the reasons beyond the Applicant's control in that: (a) A proper decree of the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal was not supplied to the Applicant until 2Yd Februaf"½ 2017. The earlier decree supplied was defective and led to the striking out of Civil Appeal No. 86 of 2014. I have gone through the affidavit in support of the application. I am satisfied that the reasons contained therein are good cause for the grant of 7

i ' the application for extension of time to file an application for stay of execution. I accordingly allow the application. The applicant to file 'the application for stay of execution within 30 days from the date of delivery of this ruling. For obvious reason, each party to bear its own costs. It is so ordered. DATED at DAR ES SALAAM this 29 th day of September, 2017. B. M. LUANDA JUSTICE OF APPEAL I certify that this is a true copy of the original. :;JfiP: P.W. BAMPIKYA SENIOR DEPUTY REGISTRAR COURT OF APPEAL 8 --------------•---.~------ - ----- -- -- --· -- - - - ---------------- - -- -- --------- ------ -

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