Rehema Saidi vs Mustafa Manento (Civil Appeal No. 51 of 1990) [1991] TZHC 2063 (5 September 1991)

T.'IE IBTITED r.r:PtIJLIC OF T.luiZJ~!IA Ilf TTIE wcr'.l cou:.T OI:' TJJ:JZLUJIA ltT DLJ.~ i:;S S.: .. L.!i.l1N CIVIL AFPEAL 1:0. 51 OF 1990 IUrrrll1A s.UDI G •• n • ~ • • lu.7'ELL1.ITT ~ vorsuo ' HUSTAFA I-UuTEl:TO ~ •• ,. • nE3POlr.OillTT

JUDGHEiJT.£ PJ+IYTI a J • Thia. is n.n n.ppool 1Jy Ilclloa11 Sdt1 nc;ai11at tho juC. 0 nc11t of tho Court of. tho Ilosi<.1011t 11.','""i □ tra.to n.t :.3.sut"t.1 uhioh holc.1 that there uc.s no brc·ooh of r.l"\f proru.so to r.1..--J.TY 1JUt rl:'.thor r.. f'xustrtion of the pro:tios_ t in-'Gontion to 1:10-i.'Tj,~ ... 1<.l tllo.t division of,mo.trir:i.onin.l. Msots is consiclorcc.1.. only after it hes 1X!Jll'l. · provoc.l thn;b ·lJ.orc W<1s n. nnxricr;c ru.1(1. J&J_:'.;t--thc' prppcrtios u!ich nr · soucJ.d tq) •. bo cliVic.}oc.l ucrc ccquiroc.l joilr'i;ly. Tho cvic.1..cnco n<lducoL!. in. t!J.c iiCSi:.1.cnt,, J:hist:rr:.tc 1 s Cou:rt tras that tho Dppollci.nt n&1c;';k.1, &".idi r,1ct -b.o :-os:,01·1<.1..cnt in Dnx cs S.,lc....-..;.1 in 190o ancl oohn1Ji tod with hirt: r/G Ilru.c.1, n.nd Luhnllc;r, 1 :,dh. pl,cos 1)Ci11c in Dex cs S...1.la...1r,1. Durinc tho.t· ooha'bitt',tion -'.;ho roaponc1.c11t r.1r.,t,1..o promiocs of r:inrrin...:;·c to :}.Cl" which sho holiovocl a.ncl tho rospo11C.cnt pcl.u to her pn.rc11ts shs.DoO/= for )otJ:,ot.hcJ,. In --rc<10h of-· tho.t promise tho rosponc.1.cnt took r .. nothOl' won['Jl Md c.1.iL"'.. 11ot fulfil his proi:liso to r.w.-ry ?.10 appclla,nt. Dl.:u;inc t.'.1oir pcrioc.l of coh0,:.i·~~--.:tio11 they v.rrcnccd to o1)tain o. plo-'G · of lcncl which -l;J:.c: )ouc:;1.lt jointly. 'TI.1011 r..s r, rcsul t of JalJ.oir joint ci'for-'.,;s_, +.:.ioy 'built -'ci.1c Lu-.trL:101ucl. house which ·tho c.ppcllant wc.s oocupyinc;. " On ·t:10 o·:.·1cr hal1cl tho rosi1011lont o.ccoptccl only tllc oolm:)i to.ti on fn.ct :JUt so.id tho/,.; oohr..1Ji J.;o.tion st-'.;oL1. onzy in 1902 nncl no.,G 1900 Mt.1. that it we.a never his intention -o rna.rry the pcti ti oner nor cli<l. ho ever proi·.u.so hor so. The rospoll<'.1..ont oven cloniou thn.t tho plot wn.s jointly c.cqttlrccl 1J· bin n.ncl tho , .... nppollmt or thn.t tho poti tioncr contributcc.1 in my r.1onoC!J."Y faro towo;rc.1s tho construction. of tho house. Tho rosponclont wont 011 to sto..to ·i:iJ.1nt tho appollnnt ovon t1nclo 110 supervision in tho oonstruction of the houso. !Io snic.l that whn.t ·· happanoc.1. wns ·ha.· he the rospo11,1.c11t lt Dar os Sr..l~"l.1 for Horocoro ru:i. h_o had no onploymont in the ci tjr. IIo lo.tor on wrote .,li1.10 ~i:pallnnt tho lotter ' .. ,

2 of sopc';L'n,1,-j.011 a.itcr nuturu.ly' t:'..-:_;rocinc toccthcr tha.t -'i;:_10 c'..iJJ.)Ollnllt shoulc.1 loti.vo the houso ;jLtllt o.t Lullc..ncn... The rcs1:onc1cnt (;[',VO tl::.o r.ppollant c. suhste11•biol S::1c.ro of t!.10 propor•bios n.cquirccl c.:.u:ri11c; oolln,:;i"to;io1-i. Tho rosponc.1.ont oonolud.od thD.t- tl.c c1pcllr .. nt w:a,s not cmti·lc{'.. fo c,,."JY ll\ac,ecs o.s sho hsoli hn.c.l frustrctcd Ji;::.c ao:rriri..::;c n.nc'.. thL'.:'.; t:.:o oui -'i; shoulc.l 1)o t'J.sr.u.ssotl ;Joocusc tho l'.l.ppollr.nt hc.cl no locus st..".l1c.1i r..s • "Sho J.1nc.l ;)oen c moro 0011ouJino of tho rcspom:c:.1t In hOl" ji.u.,..:..,ncnt the lenec.1 S01uor Itosil:ont Ifo,.:.;is•:i:d;o holc.1. thct Jmo l)Oti ti 011. J . .tri..c.l to fail l)cca.1.i.So otd:.i.::; to oircur.1stc.l1cos 1-loyoml ·hlloir control tho r.l.Ol"l'iv.c;o hri.,c.l ;)con frus Ji;rc, toc.l :.,y tho illneos of the c.1)2)01lant. Tho loo:rno,l So1'lior ilesi~~o11t R"'.:;.isfa•.,,fo founcl thnt t~,ero u~ 110 ;Jroh o:f t'.lzy' pi-otliso to r.ui.tTYi :Ti th rocc.l to tho house issue, si.10 helc.1. tlw:'.i since -'lihO oauso of aoJi;ion ur.-.s c. brcr.ch of n. pronisc to r.1o.:rry t~.1.c qt,tostion of p11portios 1,oinc o.oquirotl toc.,-othor clil1 not so tloapi to the cvi1.1.cnco tlmt tho pn.rtics ooho.1.>i toc.l tocoJlil,cr. She co11cl1.,l,cd -'i;hn.t division of r.1ntrimo:.tial. assets WM oonsiclcrctl only ::-..ftor it hn.c.1 ;;con p;i.~ovcd that there lT<'.,S c. r.ui.r.rinco n.ml tho properties soudit to ~;o divi<.1cc.l Haro aoquirccl jointly, n.11tl tha.t whore t:.1cro is n r,1crc llrOi:ti.E'o to r.10.rry J&10 issue of joint prpportillS"antlllet· Atto• The a,ppcllc.at is J:.~~~d.)y J.;hc a.Jovc jud(;1.1c11t ::'..llt.'.. ht'.S filetl this a.ppeol. Tiro ():'cunds of O.J)peol o.ppce;r in the raouor::--11C.1.ur.l of a.ppcal• 'lhcso aro that -'-;he t:rinl Ma,.:;istro.to x-cc.l in hold.inc t11a-'i; ·iiii.orc un.s no 1Jrcooh of tlJ\l" pr6tti.sc to i.la.Try anc.l tho.,· S:.10 errcu. in holdinc t:.1c.t t:10 issue of properties jointly c,oqμiroc.l cl.urine colla.)i ta.ti on in r.,nticipr.;ion of a. marria.cc c.locs not o.risc where no mo.rria...:;c no/i;crio.li:::;cd botuoon tho parties. \,; Mr, Hn.rc.nuo, lenrncu. counsel :tor the o.ppollo.nt su:)tli!lrccl that tho holtl-:- inc that JJ1orc u.:i.s no 1Jren.ch of prom.so to r:i...rixry uas cJ:Tonoous. Ilo rof or:t'ol1 to tho lct-'.;cr of 23/9/G9 writton JJr tho respont' .. cnt c1ltl1. snid that it wo.s o. unilo:tcral decisio11 not to r;ct tlle naxriD.{;o offici;:i.tcc.l · <1J.1tl r...s suoh o. broo.oh of the l1X'Oi.-iisc to r.10:rry. r:::o al1.);-.rl.ttecl tho.t for the:!; ::rec.oh tho rosponc.lont wns lio.1Jlo tor tl::!r.k'\GOSt IIo su'.x:d/i;tcc.l further wiJlih roc::zt1 to clivision of property t!mt ev011 ~ the parties were not t1or.t'iod c.1..i vision of property Wlclor section 114 of tho k1:w' of Horrin..'.:;'o /1ot was ncoossc.I"J.. llo am.cl tha.t . . sootion 160 of the Law of !In.:t':d.0r:;o .!let authorised sucili. cli vision. IIo bliccod tho.t uimt 1-ras ir.-q)ortant is thtl.t the property was ooquircc.1. 1zy- tho joint efforts of. tho p..1.rtios. 1n this en.so, ho snit1, there WM cvic.1cnoo th.."\t tho o.ppcllc.nt oontri)Uted. r.1orc towa:r<.ls tho construction of. tho house than tho respon<lont ~ ifao a;ppollnnt 11os. -b:ho person wl10 procurou J'-io plot tmd r:wrnns. Mr. Ho.ro.11do roforroc.l the com~t to the cases of Ilord.nn Jar.ml v Sll.vostcr gw,sonrj,:',, Civil 1:..ppenl no. 1.,S of 1900 (Ilich Court, unro!,ortod) onu I:Iohcriiod ,r\bdAllah v. Fqlir,1D.. ListUi;~rc, Civil Appeal n. 12 of 1907 (:;:iJ1 Court; wu-01,or.,,ccl ····••13

I ,,, 3 In roi-)Js·, tho rcs:oni_cnt scicl tl:.at it is ;ccr.,usc ·iiJ.,.c cppollnnt wo1,1.J.(.\ not lccvc. Dr-:i: cs So,lacn for her ;.10r.1e villo,..:;c nr;:sinst ·t::!.c respomlcnt •s c.c1.vioo tho.t he urotc \er t!10 lotter refo:rrccl to. :'.Io omwll:·.lcc.i_ -:.ia-li JG!.10 lower court•s decision 1rc1.s cor1cct., :Ti Jlih I'CCc'..l'tl to 1hc qu.eotim.1 of ;)r:cr,ch of p:ro;;u.sc to ;:':JJ:i:rJ, tl1c evic.1.onoo olon.1;J.y s2101rs thc:t there ur.s c pror.ti.sc to oarry. 'l121c ::i:cs; 1 m:.cnt docs not d.isputo ·tds ov:i.:l.enoo* Fu:rt~:cr cvi(1..cncc sl:cws th2/1i tho 1·0s:,on(ont, 1Jy his letter to -·.rn o.ppcllnnt c.htCll 23/6/1989 (c:.:h.,.(1) which -:10 rcsponclcnt cc.llod "cortifior/lio of sopa.rn;tion 1 ~ or in :asw:'.'..1111i ''Tfati 'J'D., tl'c11cw.10n mic,_ uluch "ha.ti" u:-:o issuol,_ in the prcsm.100 of ui tncsm::o u::o si:;11oc 1 . 011 it as 1-rcll 1)osicles t).10 rcs:)011,:.cnt cl0inr; oo, c1ic.1 turila.torr.11,7 ;;ut fo 0.11 cmi n.l'\y c.:::poo·tnr:- tions of c rat- . .rric.,:;·c 1)etwecn hi~.1sclf nnc1.. tl:.e appcllr.xd;. I nc,Toc with Mr n.-i:.:n.11,i.o 1 lon.rncc.l ooli.."1scl for the appcllnnt 1 thn.t this was r. :rcc..ch of a promsc of r:in.rriacc- The r..i,)pella11t c1.it1. 110J.; a.,:;-rcc to the scvorinc of rclcd;ionship ui th- tho rcsrio111.01·j;, :ri th clue respect ·;;o the lenr:nrn.".. Senior taai'.1-ent Ho,..:;istrn:~o, there is 110-'2i11c in the oviC::.cncc ·i;o show thn;(; Ji;hc i:-:ro:ri[\cc was frustrn.tcc.1. owinc to oircu,asta.nccs 1)cJrmi<.i.. tho x1rtics 00:ntrol r.s str.:cc.1 i11 her jllC¼.,r:mont Thero wore 110 cirouustn.nccs 1.10:onr.l their contxol o.ccr>n'.inc to the cviclenoc. The pn.rtios 1rero still tl2crc c.nL1. t.'ic:rc wc.s nothinc to sto:) then froa c;e-'i;i,"inc ua;rricc1 if ·i;.l:.o rcsi,onc.1.ont hr.<.l 1Ti1ecl to :lo so. The f.'.:.ct t:.1,-,,t the appcllo.nt hn.d hoc incapajJ.o of conccri v.i.nc; cnimot to tcrr.:CL1. cir-ou"··1stnnccs bcyonc.1 their cc;ntrol. 11 The appcllr .. r/i; ur.s still c2.,pn,:)lc ·'f ~.oi:;.1c Ll[.w'.'l'icc.l to tho :responc1.ont. It ·nay have ~)0011 ccmvenicnt for t:10 :::cnpon::.cat not to cot narricc.1. ·to ~10 c..ppcllnnt after: he recliscc.l t.:10..t r.;2J.c cci.tl(, not 1)ero' him a chilc.i... Dut Jlilln.t is not Johe sr..·.10 ·i.J.1inc M sQiLC: t:.1r/i; JJ.1e ~·.1a.rrit1(;c UM frustxc;bocl :)y oirouas-tanccs ;)etoml t\oir control.. 1;c:l) is ti.1.crc row ovit1onoo to show ·thc.t the n.ppello.nt riccerii,cc.1 to rccci vc s no of tho n.'3scts obtninccl Hhn.t c.lr!lat:DCS is the cppcllc'.'.J.1.·t 012ti tlcc.7. to f cir ·[.to "!.xr-cnch of proraiso tc- mo.rry? Section 69 (1) (1J) of -~he Law of Ib:r-ric:ec a'i.c·t prov:i.1.cs that no c.lonnecs shcll :)c Ol·ra.rclccl in c::ccss of loss n.ctu...:.lly suf".f croc'.. M o. rceul t of ro:pcncli i1..1rc incur:rcc.1 M a. C:.i:ccct rosi-11 t of t:.w prouisc. In this ca.so t there is 110 ovi(lcncc of o.n.:,r loss c..ctuclly suff m:cu. ;:-,s c.. rcsul t of ro:.pcndi mo incurred r.s a llircot result of ·the proaisc. I ·,;ill t'.).erei0rc crn.nt norainnl clw,1o.cos of shs. 1000 /= to the [l,l)l)o1lan:t 0 Uitll l'O(;['..I'C.l to the issue of Lliv.i.sion of property· jointly n.cquirod c.lurin.s tho coha.:)itation, a,::;cin uith respect, I r'.,,:'CC ui-'&1 lir H...1.rro1do thn.t thcro is o. roquircr.1011t to c1i vid.c such property w.1Cl..cr section 114 of the Law of Ifrl.rri2ec .fl.ct even if tho :,n.rticsworo not uo..r-ricc.1. I olso 1'.JGTOO that sccJliio11 16o of tho Ln.w o:f ibnicce lwt Mt:1orisos such c.liv.i.sion,. Section 16o (2) provides a.s followsli' \

I ·.•.,_ .. u;r1m1 c.. r.1ru.1 me .. .:,.; ·uo;:12.11 h2,vo .ivoc'.. tccc·~~1or in circμ.nst2..11.cos u:.:ich e;-i vc rise -o n. prosL:;·:1ption prpviclccl iol' in su;Jscction (1) n.n"l such prosunption is ·ro:uttol1.. in X(l .court of co:-apo- , . .... . . , . .,. ,. , ,l . ·licnu Jur1sc.L1c .,ion, ·uo wor.12.n &l2...L ;jo rnDi:at~1cl.11co for ho:rsol:f o..:i.1:: for every o:.~illl c:E tho union on sc.:tisfJ.inc- tho oou.rt t::at &10 c:.ncl tho ;:161 dcl in fc,ct li vo foc;c;;;]J.or 2.s hu.s;C'J.1cl c,.11c:. 1-fifc for two yer.r:s or. uoro, n.ncl tho cour[; shn.ll hn:vc jurisc.liction to ;x-:lco cn1..0J: or or:7.crs for fac itOf.1['.J.1 or the unn, to c;r2.i1t_ such ot:.).QI: rclio1s, inc1uc.1inc , Ol'..G·ot\y" of c}lilc'..:rca, c,.s it i.lO.,S jurim.:.iotim1 L1.i.ll1..or this Act. ·bo :-.1i:'2::o or c;rc.lr'i; ll)on or su:.sequcirt; :to ·c:.10 ;-,1n:o.nc of an o::'..or for c7.issolu:!iion of n2.;crinc;o ar 2,;.1 o•c7..or for scpn.rn:tion, n..'J t:ic court r.w.;:r -;1.inlc fi:b, c.m:. the provisions of this Act wioh rec,ulc:d;c [;.lc'.. ,ipply to procecc.7.inc_;s ior 2 .. nc.:. or~:.crs of ?.e o..pplio2,:;lc~ xe{;uJ.~:~c o..;.Kl app]y to pro,o..9..ec.li11a3 for ru.1 o::.:;:1.e:rs of naintc .. t?-p .. ncc o,;.1c.l oth9J: rclicfo Lw.1('..er -tllis section ( L1..::1llerlinil1[;' is Slll))liccl) ti. I CXJ fortii'iocl in DY v:i.eu t".w/i; c.li vision of property join-Uy acquired r.iey ;)c c.1ivic.lcc7. m1..:.lcr section 11.1 ol the Law of ·bb.c Jin.rria,.:.:,·c Act )Y tho oc,.so of Il.cr:inq_Ja;.1n]. v ,Silvester Jero1".10 CJJ.isonr;n; Civil Appecl no. Lip of 1900 (n.c tu1.roportcc.l)' in which H..1.pic.;10 J (ns he then lTG.S) scicl o.t PD.GO O o:f his ju.cla,10j,1Ji; t:.Jus g .. ~ ::f do p.ot: nooopt.:J'I:c. !o£jjiz propooi +ion w,t ·tho. tJPplication o:? seotioh ll4 of ·i;ho Act is rostrioti vcJ,y prodion.tocl upon c.lissolution of r.1c:rrio.;.:;o or c;rnnt of scpro-r:/a;ion c.lcoroo. L1 r.iy viow tho..t l)roposi tion i □ 2..lso app;)j.on1Jlo Ji;o a oi fo.n.tion like Jno ono in tho present oc..so, ;Jy virtue of ocction 160 (2) o:f Jie ii.Ct." Mo.pico.no J,. WM llcr>.linc 1riJJ1 2, en.so in wl1ich a ,.1.:u1 onc.7. a wor.m.n 11.."..(.1 livcc.1 toce·.1.cr n.s hus::anc.1. 2.nc.l iTifc wi·lillout coini.; Ji;hrouc].1 n. f'Ori] of i1al'r:i,ccc. Hill, itOJ:ofore, conoic.lor navr the question of c"'.ivisio1 of property alloccc.,- -to :uwe )con ncqu:i1ec.l jo_i::.1Ji;ly du:rinc such oolrn,:)i·~n.Jliibn of the pn.rtics in this Thero wn,s r:.r.1plo ov:i.(1..cncc tluot tho house il1 .,, . 11!.US on.so wn,s 1Juil t through tho joint off orts of ~.;he i,o.rties. The uppollnllt, ncoorcli.11[; to 1ho ..... /5

5 · cv:i..dcneo; o!;'tp..:l-(.c1. 1:ho plot o.nc"~ su.pcrvisec1 cha conotn1.o-tion o1 the houso,. Tho oo-'i;u..".J. pcyr.10n-l; for tho plot n.-..s clone )Y tho rospo11t':.011t 9 :Jut tho a.ppollmrt· is sci1 oven l)y tho ros1)011c:011t 's wi tncss -o ::;c -'iiJ.20 person who suporvisct1 the 00118:truction of t.b.o b.ousc -:1,ml propnxoc: mac.lo for the r.1£..Son Thero is, •;;horcforo, no <.:.ou"!t on ·!;210 ovi(on-90 ·l:ihc,t -;;110 house i·Tr:.s ooquirocl throu 0h ·hlw joint off orts of -'"1.lc 1x-..rtios• Tho c,ppcl12.nt sci cl in her ovi<.loncc -'c:u/c ulri.lc coho.:)i tine wi t:.1 tho ros::·onc1-cnt tho:.,- l:cp·b their nonq,y tocoth9r ro1t:. -'t;id one roou of -'.;210 hou.so lTM hlil t solo_J.y :froa tho a.ppcUnnt•s :func1D·ub.i0:1_shc cot froi.1 her :rol[',tivos a.ftcr she U11c:.ol"lior•c r .. n oporo.tio11-. 011 tho o·bllor h.::-;1.d., the rosponc1.ont c.lc11ics tb.c,t tho D,ppcllc .. i.1-'G con-'cri:)uteC:. fi.11...".Xlci&l,y -owm-c1s the 0011s-'.;ruotion of the house or suporvisoc.l its oonatruotion. This docs not o.,ppoo.x to )o tuna oviC.cnco in view of tho oviclcncc o;Z ·;;]10 ii1nson who 'i·TCJ!l 0011,structinr; tho hou.sc. ':1his mQJ:1011 w.Vcrr0tl that the nvrollc;ilt wo..s suporv.i.si11c-; tho oonotruotion. Soc-'liic::i 114 of the LC'lr o:2 i:foxrinc;6 l.ot c;"i. vcs th Cour·f pmrcr to orc.lor c.1 vioi :m of ;;ic..trir.1011icl c.oscts c.ml sU:)joct to ccr-'i;cin oonc1..i tions tho court s!:.cl.l incline tow[:,rc:S cqucli ty of LliVision,. Tho oonc.li•ions or consic.lor[',-tic;_lS to which cqt..1.1.li-'i;,7 of di vision is m.111jcc-'.;ou. D.J:C tho CT.tent of the con:hl:Jutions no.clc :)y cc.ch ix·:rtJ in noncy 7 p:ropcxty or 1-rork towm-c.1s t1c c.oqLtl..rinc of -'i;ho ·c.sscts c.,n:1. th:roc other comli tio11S which c.ro not rolov~~.nt hero·,. The c.ppollc.n-'.; contri ;:-utcc.l tmrc:x-<.1..s tho c.cqusi tion of the hoti_sc finc..i.1cic..lly nncl in uoi-k a.ccorclinc; to- the .oviLlonoo. The houso was cons·"l'nc·cll r.t shs. tr5,ooo/ c.ccorLlinc to -ho 0Vic.le1100.. The n.ppcll2.l'lt lookcc.l :L"or tJ.10 plot on which to :Juilc.l tho hour:o.t Told.nc- n.11 those footers in corisi::!.cr['/i;ion I woulc.1 inoli..'1.c towro:c.1s cqualitJr of c.1ivision,. I woulcl t.1:icroforo q_,1"'co uith tho p:raJror of tho n.ppellt thc/i; ·{;ho property ho vci,lue(l c:m'. ·th[',-'G sl10 pay hclf tho vcluo of tho house to 'tho respondent oriel keep tho )1ouno. T'J.10 c.ppocl is :for t11c O.,)OVC rco..smis r.J.lmrocl V.S shown in tho juc.lrj.1011.t, Tl1e n.ppcllt i'Till lmvo her costs i11 ·tllis court aru.1 t40 court ;Jclow. Court: JLKv ... ;-.1011t c1cli vorccl 0 Hr iio:tc,nc.lo for n.ppcllc.nt ///' ,. ..C, ::-~~~~;, .. • / ----- J V' --, ______ -· ""•---,'-- ,!'·C...." ~ Ao DliIIATI. . "'' JUJ)GE 5/9/91 nos~)Ol1'.lo11-'c present in i)cxson.. ,,.,,..;/---- ----.,...,a / ~ ./ -·:.-- .. .<" .... . !;--? ---:- . ? . . '\ ' 1-.,. Di:..".Ii'I'I \ J"UDGE 5/9/~1 • 1,