
CIVIL CAUSE NUMBER 2276 OF 2007
BETWEEN:
COLLINS NANSETA ………………………………………APPLICANT
- AND -
CARLOS TCHINGA ……...…………………………...…RESPONDNET
Absent, of the Counsel for the applicant
Absent, of the Counsel for the respondent
Mrs V. Nkhoma – Official Interpreter
Twea, J
This is an inter – parte summons for the discharge of an injunction granted to the respondent on 17 October 2007.
The summons was set down for hearing on 13 December, 2007. The documents on record indicated that the notice of adjournment was stamped
with the respondent’s legal house stamp but there was no affidavit of service. This Court heard the applicant and reserved
the ruling.
The gist of the applicant contention was that his duty was to sue the Ministry of Local Government which is responsible for the chieftaincy.
He did not consider it his duty to consult the respondent.
While the applicant would be right in the ordinary course of things, he was procedurally wrong to bring a parallel suit on the issue
without disclosing the on going wrangle. In the same vein the Attorney General’s decision to enter into a consent judgement
with one of the contesting parties without hearing the other was irregular. The legal effect was that it decided the chieftaincy
wrangle in favour of one party without hearing the other. It is no defence to say that the applicant only exercised his right to
sue. He was under a duty to disclose all material facts affecting the chieftaincy.
On the facts before me, it would not be justiciable, nor equitable, to allow the applicant the fruits of his manoeuvres. Injunctions
are equitable remedies. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
I therefore deny the application to discharge the application. I have noted that the respondent did not appear, but this does not
necessarily translate in favour of the applicant. I am still obliged to consider the merits of the case, which I have.
The application is dismissed. Costs be in the cause.
Pronounced in Chambers this 24th day of January 2008, at Blantyre.