U. W. T. Chanji vs Kikundi cha Akina Mama Chanji (DC Civil Appeal No.r 41 of 1994) [1998] TZHC 2525 (3 July 1998)

. . \ IN THE HIGH COURT . OF '.!:'ANZ.ANIA AT SUMBAWANGA . ( DC}- CJyIL APPEAL NUflBER 41 OF 1994 (From the· decision -o·f-the-· District Court of Swnbawanga l)istrict at Su.1-nbawanga Civil Case Number 26 of 1994) U. W. T• CHAN JI • • , •••••••••••••••••••••• • 1\PPE lLJHT VERSUS KIKUNI)I CH.A Ju-:INI-i M.ATulA CHJ.NJI •••••••••• RESPONDENT JUDGElVlENT IjWIPOPO I J t The appellant u.'7eT. Chanji (Umaja wa Wanawake Tanania Chanji Branch) hes brought up this appeal as represented by the learned Mr. I,Icteru (Advocate) who also defenclecl her,.- in the • • I Sumbawanga District Court, at the trial stage. The Respondent Kikundi cha Al.cine lillfrlt:l Chanji was represented in this appeal by the learned Tuir Naali (idvocate) but was unrepresented in the District Court in which she was the plaintiff Al tho.ugh the plaintiff was on-~ Kikundi cha Miradi ya. Jurina Mama Chanji there was no evidence produced by the said T(ikundi cha Jucina lVIarna Chanji to show who she is as e legal .... entity_ capable of suing and being sued~ In the pl::::int ,1st para.,. _ the plaintiffs were alleged to be some women of Chanji organized ·i.nt.o an economic group carrying on business ventures in comnon in Chanji with a list of names of mom be rs as shown in annexture The same - list marked "ll~' vms not :;reduced os exhibit and no evidence was led by the plaintiff and his :us 2 witnesses on how those purported members formed their group: . j

.. 2 end who wGre its loaders. If at all ss :por annexture ;.:rn:::T~:oa. 1\ in tho plsint, the list contained the E1or:1b2rs of ttt(ikundi cl'1a 1-J.iradi cha llkinn Mama Chanji" wl10 were S',).i:i.1.g in court 2.S 8 group of 60 m01,1bers then filed as this suit should he::1vo beel suit by tho plaintiffs in a representative· Cap2.ci tr UndGr O 1 R 12(1) & (2) of C.P.C. which provides that:- °'12-(1) W'n0re there are E:oro pla.:.ntiffs thsn one, any one or more of them may be. author+zed by any other of them to appear, plead, or act for such othDr in any proc8eclings; and in like manner, , where there are more de fend.ants than one, any one or more of them may bo, authorized by any other of thori1 to appsar, plead or act for such other in any proceeding. · (2) Tho authority shall be in writing signed by the party giving it and shall be filed in .'court-." Since :'the; list of the purpotted 60 members of Kikundi cha Miradi cha ':Akifia Mama Chanji was :not pr0duced. as. exhibit i:n court ariGtr·:. i 118-. authoritici tJ was not lJroved for the~ a,hair-person of that group:- PWl T];i.ere ic Namfukv{$ · tes,t;ifiecl nothing of her other 59 members of the grou11 ::.1;)t even about its ·Se ere tary Li13e'line Mbaule who did not o.ve r testify · . . . Moreover, since ,Jther .59 membJrs did not authorse the purported chni'r-pc:ts·J.':1 of the group PWl Theresia Nanfi:iJnve tci re pre senti ve them1 h1 cJurt and i:t?- this su.i t in wri-ting ss for that matter, the lo:ver court should- on first instance should}have .. . deliberated on vvho wa·s the l)lainiiiff 'NF:?.~ sh~ the 60 11e1:1bers listed in annextu:rG i.\ , .. of the plaint constituting Ki1:imdi cha

3 . Miradi cha Akins Marn.o. Chanji or.1-.r:::,3 sncJ merely one :i:J'ic,rosia Namfukwe who signed for plaintiffs ( Chairperson) in tho plaint and verified by .. ;.. L'Ibau.le plaintiff ( Chairperson) ·trc;c;ing as: Kiktmdi cha Miradi chu Akina MamEi Chan ji? There is further statutory re q:u,irement for o 1 Jl2,in tiff who sues in a re pre sei1tative capacity m"lder O VI R~ 4 -chat:- 0 Where the plaintiff sues in a representative character- the plaint shall show not only that he has actl.;ul ex:istinc interest in the subject matter, but that he has tetken steps (if sny) necessar_y to er: 1 .?;ble him o institute a suit concerning it." I th . t . .., . ..L. ... - ,- i_"") n 1.s par icu1.2.r Ci.::se l v was ne ccs:c,r;r? una.er u o ;,L,. 4 of C.P.C. quoted about for the J?laintiff who si,::-;-:1.sd and fi12c:. -(l12 plaint in court to show thid shE had. the vi:. 1 i tten cor1sen-'c of -t;l1e other 59 members authorising her as the C:'J.airperson to .institute the suit on thGir Y:::half. In the absence of such e, representative autho::.'ity which shs-1 be statutorily be in writing· as quoted above .i:::1 0., I IL 12( 1) & ( 2) of C.P. c. the trial court on first instance:: sl::.m.,,_ld have decided. under Ool R., · 11 who the plaintiff was to conc:.uct the suit 3s dee:proper 0 li'c:;ilure by the lower court to detect and deter:nine the proper plaintiff to to sue ope:ns up the g:::,,-ce for this court on first 8.p)eo. 1 do this function. From the ·· ple :Jc'j_nzs and the testimonies in the trL:.l court it is wrong to recard that this was a representc.tivo suit by all the 60 listed. members of Kikundi cha Nl'irad.i cht Alcina Viama Chanji because none out of those 60 members signed the :plaint as they ought to htr'le done under o. 4 R.l (1) & ( 2) an.d o. ·5 R. · of the OP': 14l.except the Chairperson Theresia Narnfukwe. r!IorG over, who, is shown as se ere t2.ry of Kiku..."1.di I cha I 1 :Tiradi cha Akina, Tfama Chanji in .Annexture .:..A.. in the plaint one A. 1iibaule (Angelika t 1 baule)

4 that ve!f:'ified the plo.int asLcharrperon. Doo s it ri1G c.11lthis group, had two chairpersons? \7hy did.n 1 t Ae Lib&.,:.lo sign ns ·t.tn s:J ere tary of the group? Anc.l ..-ihy did.,vi 9 t she testify in court? N '\ • 00 s "t.1.11 S plaint.ls verific3tion is defective for it didn 1 t com 1 Jly with o; 6 R. 15(1) of 0,PdCo for the :pc1°so:0. verifyinc ot.o·.1.lc1 have been Theresia •Namfukwe v:10 wss the chair1)e.:·son of the croup or if the secretary of the e:;roup v12.nted to verify it thGn sho. should have signed as the secr,t2,::.y of the group ond not as -'chc 1 • O.c1E!l rpe rson. The same Angelilrn I.Ibo.u.le did not testify in court at oll ! Above all, the list of the 60 members of Kik1..mdi cho ?:L:··::::c1.i cha Akina \ l!Iama Cho.n-ji is .dstoc:1 2/9/93 whereGs the relev::mt ]JCH'.iod of the start of the e_xistcnce of t.his group for the ?U-r)osc s of this suit should have be en be tw2en 1968 ss per para 3 o:C' the }Jlaint 9 1978 as per para 4 OI the plaint and 1985 as per 'pL1ra 6 of the :plaint., Th,1.TL:v:; this period when Kikundi chs Eirodi cha Akina : .. Is:·;12, Chsnji vvas i_Jv .. rported to have been orgsnizcd for the P ur,Jose of J. carrying out the two business. ventures in dis:;;u te of por,1be selling and shop 2nd of building the ten. ho,_:i .. scs in dispute no .list of the m0; 0 e1bors of the so called grolll) of Kikund.i cha I.Iircdi cha .Akinc; iilo,rna Chanji has been given sn,y-v,,hcre in the pleachngs or 0vidmcc; of PWl The re sia NRmfulnve ~ Therefore, in tcr:-r1.s of o. 1 R •. 11 the proper :person to be regarded as the. :pl:-:intiff who should. llave conducted this suit and the one who is dec~:ieC:. by this court to have •::>nc;:_wteC:. this suit is The re sia N3mf1..1lcwc trading as Kiku.ndi cha ]/Iir2d.i cha Akina Mama Chanji or once versa i.e. Kikundi che. ]/Irradi Che i'Jdnc Mama t/a Theresia Namf,Jl::wo., This determin0.tion on the p2rt of who

• was the plaintifflis vory improtant for :purposes of 2xe r,1tion of the judgement of this court and the lowGr courto

5 The iJroble:n of ,i den ti ty ::if the defenda,nt F. ,-i:. ir. Tavvi la Chanji is not that 2,c:J.te as the trir1.l magistrate trir::d to impute in his judgement. I:::1 ::nr,::, 2 (y,c· ';he )lsint the defe:ncl:;nts are clearly Lt thuir testi:m.::my -iii.e;:t produced Exh. D2 Mpimbwe and. C!f:.::Lcv2va Kalong;::; froD being J_ee,deTs of the economic wing the hands c>:c· t::.1e newly e le cte c1 ls ade rs IEsrtirL: Esawa s Ele dina Nami zyambe ~ .1.1.L:::1e Pambamoto-, Christina Kuwinr;wc: and Priska Nandi. have shoV\lll who is the cur:cc1·t: ,'3Ccretary of U. '/. T. DWl Prisca Nandi as wel~. 2,s who is the c1':.rrent chairperson of U. W. T. Chanji Branch The pre vi o:.w cl1ai rpe rs ons of U.W.T. Tawi :· .. :::. Chanji too h·::,,r::-) identified tho:;.isclves being Martino I\llsawa who wc1s c~:cair: 1 erson from 1975 UJ.Jto l~J8S 2nd DW2 Angela Tl1siani who was U.W.t:. chairi;erson of Ghanji branch frrn.i1 196• upto 1975. Similarly 9 D'd3 Eva I:teny2, tcs"ci.fied to_ be t.':1e current·.Regional U,H.'1'. For the pur:;)o:::ics of this suit the of the CPC lJ. is deeirKHi bv this court to be /_ - the plaintiff. plaintiff KL,,,,r/Li cha I!Iir;Jdi cl13 Akins l':bms C;h::.,:1.ji t/ a Theresia l'famfukwe- put L(CJ a poor 1,':' rf' orn1,J:c1ce not onlJ :.n .:.:.is plea dings as shown abovo, l:n.r'c also in hc:::n testimony as :r-·s1. She started her testimony or2. 02.th by stating that ,;r 3rn. th: cllz..;J.rperson of a in 1968 one Fc,lix Kaniki orc;1:rnized the wc:-,12;n of Chanji in business group whereby we started a locc.l brew club. Th::: 0 • t Fe lix gave us his house ii-i which that business •rvas be:i1<·, r:.m-. In 1971 we built our own housc; al-:tcl returned tho i'orme r .house to JTG lix In 1976 we built another l1ouse., ,v

;.-.~ ~ ·~~.Ha<- 6 In the plsin t tl::..:: -1:· ~ :··: ~ 1·1 ti :Ci' \1,3 s sllovm to be ' 1 Kilc,md.:i.. cho Miradi ...______ -=:---aw . cl1.a .i-U.:ins_ I:I-srna Ot1::r!.. ;in\ Shc un d. e::c J .. .:. no is :ty s c 0 r,::; to e r:ipha si ze that the 1.mclE3rL.i1c)cl '!S:J:::'ds were n..ot expressed in the ·c8stimony of PWl. .t, r::r::; 1 xo ::;:'.: Wc-;.n.O'!.l of Cha:nji as to sti.fie d. i.s oui t·3 different

• ~ . - from a grJUl'
• .... -.,·- r.-. -.,., .... 1 -.,,-·:·in ·,-, J- -::' '7 r.., r .:::.~~~;;-_;;,:.::'.L::::...Pro J<;;: c O.L _.10.:18.d of Ohcinji ·:s shovvn in the p.lsint<i T~~c cl::fcmdants have been very cl:.:.::or i:n their defence in tho il 0 '7.S.Du }K'ira 5 tfr .. -,,t:i.t vo.s tho Ec:):i.J.,JLD.C Committee of u.w.T. - Gha:nji :s::-.c,nd1 choired by t1e PWl ThGrosia Namfu.kwe which their 0 1 ·1·s+ed TT ,,r·m 01 1«11J·1· 7 s "'C"''J···11·c I., u-· u. ·: o .L. - v..!. (., L; u.-'- .Li. · as ·1JC·1,.. j ndi vidul 1 l ;,·p..,··,t,sc s ,. e sti "',.' ,nio s - j ..!> , • ..L...i::~~ - ✓ '-'/ ' __ ,,.,__, __ _ L wing's acti .i. ties for: ,:;f DW6 L".TtiD.3 Mzawa. There is doc1.unon.t2ry JV.i.dE:nco tn thDt offect in cxb. 0 D2 and Exh. D3. 1..n crc<3:::l G:Z:?,i'-'.inati:)n of P"il by the lrJan1,e;cl Hr. Materu Ldvooato in tho j_Q\FJ I' court, tho -oJ_F,i:r:.tiff - ad.r~~i ttocl that,to quote her- "In 19]:i tL::-rc: w2.s forr:1e cl 2 Cornmi ttso of ·:1ro jo cts: 1 ' • wr .... )se c,.:cnr)erson was moo It is true ·:;he pro::;y2rtics '.'rhich ·.vsre in tho club vv.c;re cwn·:1'..:d over to me., -," ,-- !"'.,.., -1 a ---,a,··br -n f- n ,:, ✓ ·rr. -- , ,h_.. ,7> c .. ,SO ,.,i::;1:l CJ .L O u • V • .La T vies with ,'_~ ,""';'{."'.:; ·1 i Yl!-- rr,o-:nc::i . 0 .'c.i"'1\ :::1 .... ~ -- d Plair- .,.-..,-7.---;. '-,,,.:, t1 ._no'.!..- .. .:.'"' l .1., ~ ~ $l-_, ~ t.!cuu Tu ·18 c.,:r. -~~,.s.. , ..... , ,: .. .LL 11.e se pers,:.-ins c::;.'o still in ,c 1 .. y grv,xp., Th ..,,.;.. "--,, .,,.., ,.... Q V ,.r..J..:... ,/ tJ....., .,.1 iJ ·r~::,r,-,;-:-,·i Yl( ,·l 'li}ric-r us Ur) t!) 1qgq whr•n 011c ,,12,r ..., ..,.,J..,.. ___ , , __ v. ..... ,__ .1,- • -' .,, ., , ..... - . .... J..··~ 1t] re coCLcd \VC\ s '1 7 -. -· T':T -.- I • / S:::J..:..Q oy our U.,vvoTo group., l. "G 18 true -':;hco !. ~ 7 □ c+i·~~ of Tu q ~ l..~~~ 1 J 1 <;:,ce = 19.89 and -J.."-' V ,Jl.... - · 0-1/1 G ..i..e JV.!...- i: .,, -1.. - ,- n 1 J ool:/ r.rL:s olGcted to lJG ti'.10 cl1airpe1""\EOI\ ,:1£' -the }JJ~ C) ;jG e;-t ~ o t~ story that Of C"Urs:·., +'1" ·.• l ,· i ,,t:= ff' J -- '-- S, di.-t.: .•.J-•-'-'4---- ,).l ~ - Theresia N2.:1fuk'.ve !. no one was elected to bo c2·.:.:irnm1 of the ecoi:1Y:,1ic proj0cts c:c": u.,1,1.·T. Ch3nji was a blatant• lie f-")l" the minute. s of th,::it cle cti )Il shmv in rixh D3 <;:,n·d D·" .J-1,- -- --:- ccd·,r, "';1 d v ..a. e •,,A.1. :::::.. u-'-1~-i .; u.!. ... v e..-1--

1·-•r' . C'•o· ,,-,, ,...,-F' 4 -o·:--1,,r, - ,·,"---·,nn 1--r:--,re J.C.... c',..L vLj_., v.:. u:J..1.Li.i. :·Jl.u.,.,. '/vv ousted and a new c.;:ro1xp v;ith theirovvri. lead.E:r 1,-vas elcctucl to replace them O .. ' But, pl2intiff never i::;.:::inded over., c vi ;:_:_o 11 co Th2 r~.; :3i o IT Ln:1f1ik:vve PWl Otherwisef in her en-tire (_ do0s:::-1 1 t tcs,:;if:, '.slio elected her /7 Q •J r:. ~ ,· l

7 n1e an tl-cc t; as thairperson. until.today 1998 Does it I she was t}10 chairperson :c1on 1968 l S.tlO , men PW2 Felix s/o -p;!JJ .T ,..0 r, ·--, >i q +''-' .J.. 1f '-' ~ ...... ...... , ....... L-<I. electccl - o;;r anybody woman These . ' vvi tne sse s he.-ve {le r.,-cely lot her :roup d.ovvn" IT12 -estified that the wor.1en 1 s CI''"'<c, ·,vhich did J:J:)mbe business -H 1is premises from 1966 to 196 7 wc:s le cl by i;n,::;e la ?flshani and not oy There.Sia she was the cheirasJn of U.lT. Chnji branch! SG PW2 was doing business wi-c'.1 U o 3. -I' Chan ji 31,c,nch ! that he we.s ence, lll . m aha 6 on"/- - 0 ·--.r· I • - f \j\j/ -- -'· .j-. ;Nho testified 8-:: :-::;, Dis-cri ct testified thnt she w2.s the District U, l.'I'. C}-.u_-j_:c::,er:::,on in 1972 who helped farming projoctsu the leader of '.1st :;c.Jup of woE1en who on-her pnrt :i'.s said it on "'8S u. 'P. T. -,,·,o,') -·-,--, r•-:--' -"'1" ,:-,Q-'! + 1 1e tu'. s+r)~~y, of n •,,'.I !T\ r. c< 11.,,1· n/ 7 been Y'V..... ,Y ... .,.,,1...J u, .. ,-.Ju--'-'-;--t; (1.Jl - u.......... .-,U,o,V.e.l.\ (,,.,,i..::, .1.. 0 established Ncti,:n."?.i .-rLsc ort 2/11/J_9620 In Smnbr:v--;2,nga it came in 1965e Sos it is u. W. T. which cxis';·,;rl ZrorJ. 1966 vvhich d.id the poi:bc business in PW2' s prcui_se f_1 :-·.n::t le.tor on huil t thGir own. ho,:sc il'l 1967 and another one in l·:/"!G r- 1978 ,:md alsc. c stablishcd tllG shop ·business

• later ,::;n., refused to 0 0 0 • /8

8 handle over the aggrandi zG LlC; n t i.D. r:,onge ring sc 1:f".i sh2.1e ss. of th0 District The lcci3i .·:·;_ ::,::.· t1e lY .. 'V(:r cmrt vv3s so glaringly against plaintiff ThG decision Jf the lower c-:>u.1< is c;ro.vely err·ono1..:i.s in all cspocts of it, I quash , i -t. Bo t_;,--1 !.-, i ... ).!.:.• ...... and shon was the econo:nic projects ·:::. . .:' ";J\J.T. Chnnji Dr,mch. The two·houses oc,- -y we re lawfully built 1 2.nd the :pro:J.::nty· :Jf U. ·J. T ~ Chm1 ji Branche .: L 011 1\ll the ,Jr,:y,,eTtics -:2 bar shovvn in ,::xhibi t D2 ,ncl Dl are the "• .Lv / C properties 0f ·-,;·o·.1': C.l:..c•.11ji Branch., 'rho B.::m .. 1{ L':JCjlmt is the th0 so :Jroperty of' th0 brc.r1cl1<.,\ All rJertios should be /_ - .. t/,::,, Kikuncli cn,J Miradi cha b0en stole~, lost, broken, or missing b·:l ttJ.f~ ·::{J_11·tii.: their val'...J.G sl:-JY'.~~.-:"- ·,>: · r-,::,:::'..ldej_ ,,t.:.~ t~:;) S[il:!.'.2 U. ;,.-. I' CL:u:;,ji branch. L in Th n -,,...,,.,.,,...v,,:,,,-, ;·,-, ;·:•c:,-'-r-,r~, ·;i-v ..... c:,-c, ·"'-u--r .1..i,n P'.) 1 "'', lr,•s1+ ""ra,red thi' S . . ... ..., .._ V .J. (; -1-_.l_tJ....:.---' ;. ... · .. .L. ) ••••• C, l,.,... ~ .:..11'vi.. •.J · . .-Ji J._ . .L -'- l,.,._, .:. 0 ... .,•:.; .L--•-•-- V >.J ,,1 I.. the c- ourt the.t in cr:,se;; C'.:-:ncJ.l:::.nt vrin:-3 C:'.l 01der shoulcl ')~ 1J2,'ic by this ., __ O·ourt for tho : 1 c ;;·., .-n .. J.21ts t:J ru f·_nd :.l]_ tt1e :Jr:J c:c q:J.s .· . and the pi:riod. of 4 ?cc'';lso The s2.rne rB: 1 .J,~~2to be )r::iv·Jc. ·oy evidence b,_:1_s_i.:10 ss if the resp,Jnc,sr~·c :lie~ any profi t,:::::).l.0 1 xt all durin.3 t]1is period t1ancl 0-:...ro r·L. from 1989 when she rofusod to l t~-Jse projects cc1l houses to ' t), Cl- ., 0 ,' ...

there of. ... .l. I,-. •..1.· • ..:. ..... got tho ;jurJ.ge:r::.ent District possi o.L.: .l.-Jss ):: -lamage s JFJGE "'-, f,7/qei _; .°5/ _, l) Re spondnt g '.[•t:: n: si:.:: IJ:3r:1fukwc -· ·:J:::..j_i--,:i2rso1::. 0:'..' :r:.i:-....1.:-:.(:.i cha f,kina ' CIC • · Sa 11· 1n i\•rY,, 1 ··, D 1 llu..!. : . .11..: #. Qourt: e:xpleincd JtillGE 3/7/98 H'TIT/T1/ ;T1''1'V 11· "1"' .t..:.1..1.J.LW 1"1 .i.1l h ~ o

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