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This matter was placed before me in chambers as a review of the proceedings of the small claims court. The background facts to this matter may briefly be stated as follows: The plaintiff issued process out of the Small Claims Court claiming the sum of $12 800 00-00 for services rendered at the defendant’s special instance in supplying and fitting car shades at the defendant’s premises. The claim was resisted. After the hearing, which was held on 28 September 2004, the presiding officer entered judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $11 800 000-00 together with costs. Dissatisfied with... More

After hearing parties in thiscase, I granted the order declaring the process leading to the sale of a certain piece of land owned by the second respondent unlawful. A request for the written reasons was made for the purpose of an appeal. The applicants are duly registered entities in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe. The first respondent is a local authority established in terms of the Urban Councils Act. The second respondent is a duly incorporated company operating in Harare. More

This is an urgent chamber application for an interim interdict. Due to the lockdown measures currently in place to check the spread of the covid-19 world pandemic and in terms of which the courts have virtually shut down, except for bail and remand matters, this application is being decided on the papers and thus,without the benefit of oral argument. More

Respondents were in the employ of the applicant/appellant on fixed term contracts since October 2010. The last such contracts were effective from 1 March to 30 June 2012 and were not renewed. Respondents lodged a claim for unfair dismissal alleging that they had a legitimate expectation to be reengaged. That matter ended up before arbitration where the award was in favour of respondents ordering reinstatement and damages in lieu of reinstatement. More

The appellant is appealing against the arbitral award by Hon Arbitrator N A Mutongoreni dated 27 December 2012. The arbitrator ruled in favour of the respondents by stating that the respondents had been unfairly dismissed. More

The appellant and another champion of women and children’s causes and rights approached the High Court seeking in the public interest, an order the main thrust of which was to declare the criminal law which governs the age of consent to sexual activities unconstitutional. The second applicant a quo did not apply for condonation for the late filing of this appeal, which the appellant successfully did. Whilst the second applicant a quo is not before us, where relevant and unavoidable, reference shall be made to the averments that she made. Further and for convenience, where reference is made to the... More

The two applicants are young Zimbabwean feminists and human rights activists with special interest and concern for children, gender, women’s and socio economic rights. They filed the present application as a public interest application to protect the rights of children. In their founding affidavits they averred among other things that the current age of sexual consent in Zimbabwe is 16. This age is defined from the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9.23] (the CODE) which in Section 61 defines a ‘young person’ as a boy or girl under the age of 16 years. However, they further averred that... More

The plaintiff is a daughter to defendant’s ex-husband, Charles Makani. At the time of instituting this suit the two were still married. The plaintiff’s father acquired an immovable property, namely no. 9 Dorset Road East, Avondale Harare for the plaintiff in the year 2001. The property was registered in the plaintiff’s name. The plaintiff was a minor then. More

This is a trial in which the plaintiff seeks specific performance of a contract of sale of a piece of immovable property. Essentially, she asks this court for an order compelling the first defendant to accept the balance of the purchase price, and to cede to her his title and rights in respect of Plot No. 44 Sabonabona Subdivision C, Kadoma (hereinafter called “Plot 44”). The genesis of this dispute is set out in the pleadings filed of record. Let me summarize the essential details. The plaintiff avers that, on 12 October 2018, she entered into an agreement of sale... More

All the 19 plaintiffs who are members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union for the Eastern Region (ZCTU) are claiming from the 3 defendants jointly and severally the following: a) Payment in the total sum of ZWL $38 million broken as follows: (i) $500 000 for unlawful arrest for each (ii) $500 000 for unlawful detention for each (iii) $1 000 000 for malicious prosecution against the defendants b) Interest thereon at the prescribed rate from the date of issue of summons to date of full and final payment. c) Costs of suit on a legal practitioner-client scale. On... More

On 3rd September 2010 this Court ordered Respondent to reinstate Applicant or pay him damages in lieu of reinstatement. Respondent chose to pay damages. The parties were unable to agree on quantum of the damages. Applicant then filed this application for assessment of damages. Respondent filed opposing papers. The attorneys agreed that the matter be determined on the basis of the documents filed of record. More

The applicant was employed as a meter reader stationed at Wyne Street, Harare. He was charged and convicted of corruption as well as disorderly or objectionable behaviour. He was dismissed from employment and noted an appeal to the Appeals Committee. The appeal was dismissed and he appealed to this court. On 18 March 2016 this court dismissed the applicant’s appeal. On 23 March 2016 the present application was filed. An application of this nature is governed by section 92 F of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] as well as Rule 36 of S I 59/2006. More

This is an appeal against the decision of the respondent’s Appeals Committee to confirm conviction and the penalty of dismissal of Appellant. Appellant was employed as a meter reader stationed at Wyne Street, Harare. He was charged and convicted of corruption in terms of section 7 (1) (K) (ii) of the NEC for the Energy Industry code As well as disorderly or objectionable behaviour in terms of section 7 (1) (e) (viii) of the same code. He was dismissed from employment as a result. Aggrieved, appellant noted an appeal to the Appeals Committee. More

A preliminary point of law is one that if properly taken in an application or action, is capable of disposing of a matter without the need for the court to delve into the merits of the matter. More

After perusing documents filed of record and hearing counsel, the unanimous decision of the Constitutional Court (“the Court”) was that the matter be dismissed with costs. The Court indicated that reasons for the decision would be given in due course. More