National Traditional Appeal Court - 1979

6 judgments
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Results. 6 judgments found.

6 judgments
November 1979
Where lobola is required by customary law, cohabitation without lobola does not create a valid marriage.
  • Customary law — lobola (bridewealth) as prerequisite to marriage — cohabitation without lobola not a valid marriage — betrothal compensation.
1 November 1979
October 1979
Cohabitation without Chinkhoswe does not create enforceable marital rights; detinue claim dismissed as domestic matter.
  • Detinue; customary marriage (Chinkhoswe) — cohabitation without customary rites — no enforceable marital rights; domestic disputes adjudicable by ankhoswe; alleged assault and police inaction relevant to credibility and relief.
22 October 1979
August 1979
Under Mzimba customary law, cruelty and constructive desertion by an intended inheritor justify divorce and entitlement to dowry and custody.
  • Customary marriage — widow (chokolo) rights; inheritance/ levirate; cruelty and constructive desertion as grounds for divorce; entitlement to dowry and child custody where chosen inheritor refuses.
15 August 1979
Repeated elopement of a married woman creates separate compensatory liability for each occasion; appeal allowed.
  • Customary law — elopement of married woman — repeated elopement attracts separate compensatory liability; distinction for unmarried woman; judgment in absentia under Traditional Courts Procedure Rules r.38.
9 August 1979
June 1979
No customary marriage without chinkhoswe; maintenance order clarified to K12 monthly for six years.
  • Customary law — validity of marriage — chinkhoswe as essential to customary marriage; concubinage versus marriage; maintenance orders — uncertainty and substitution; compensation claims in absence of customary marriage.
15 June 1979
May 1979
A customary marriage requires chinkhoswe; absent it, cohabitation carries no enforceable marital rights and compensation was wrongly awarded.
  • Customary marriage — chinkhoswe (ankhoswe) essential for legal recognition — cohabitation alone insufficient; no compensation for desertion absent valid customary marriage; refund of payments made under erroneous orders; welfare-based maintenance may be available for children of unrecognised unions.
29 May 1979