This is an application for directions in the execution of the provisional order.The salient facts of the matter are that the applicant entered into a lease agreement with the respondents wherein he leased Shop Number 10 Njube Trading in 2003 and another shop in 2005 known as Jika Jika Bar, ...
This is an application for directions in the execution of the provisional order.
The salient facts of the matter are that the applicant entered into a lease agreement with the respondents wherein he leased Shop Number 10 Njube Trading in 2003 and another shop in 2005 known as Jika Jika Bar, Restaurant and Grocery.
At the beginning of 2008, a rent dispute arose which resulted in this application.
I granted the provisional order on 5 January 2009 and the Deputy Sheriff effected service on both respondents. On 6 January 2009, the respondents filed a notice of opposition and served it on the applicants' legal practitioners on 7 January 2009. On the same day, the 7th day of January 2009, the respondents filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court appealing the interim relief.
On the advice of their legal practitioner that the appeal to the Supreme Court suspended the provisional order, the respondents disregarded the provisional order.
Upon receipt of this information, the applicants' legal practitioners contacted the respondents legal practitioners on the 12th day of January 2009 in an attempt to resolve the misconception regarding the effect of their “appeal”.
It is conceded by counsel for the respondents that he undertook to counsel for the applicant that the Deputy Sheriff would be advised to proceed with the removal of the respondents on the property thereby giving the applicant vacant possession. Counsel for the applicant had brought to his attention that he was due to leave the country on the 13th day of January 2009. Counsel for the respondents wrote a letter to counsel for the applicant's legal firm, the contents of which are as follows:-
“13 January 2009
Messrs Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners
Legal Practitioners
Bulawayo
Dear Sirs
RE: GREENFIELD NYONI VS MRS. L. P EMISSIRY AND ANOTHER HC02/09, SC02/09 AND HC32/09
We are of the view that you used the wrong procedure in obtaining a hearing date for HC02/09. Your application was for directions yet your intention and draft order was to anticipate the matter. Be that as it may, the matter did not take off on the said date.
We are also of the view that if you are aggrieved with the Notice of Appeal filed by ourselves, you will have to file a separate application challenging it. It is our respectful view that the said Notice of Appeal cannot be dealt with within HC02/09.
We filed our Notice of Opposition in HC02/09. If the matter is to continue, we believe you should file you answering affidavit. However, in our view, until the appeal is dispensed with, it is not possible for HC02/09 to be heard.
If you believe our client is in contempt of court, we believe you know the procedure.
Yours faithfully
(signed)
CHEDA AND PARTNERS”
Counsel for the applicant has urged the court to give a directive in view of counsel for the respondents conduct as he has assisted his client to be in contempt of court. The said contempt is based on the following facts which are not in dispute:-
1. The appeal is a nullity.
2. The order he appealed against is not appealable without the leave of the court.
3. Did not approach him for a set down date as per the court order.
4. To date he has not taken steps to prosecute the appeal.
5. He has not paid the security costs.
6. His clients remain in defiance of a court order.
7. He has remained defiant up to date.
In response to this, counsel for the respondents initially became defiant until, at a later stage of the proceedings, when he admitted that he did not act properly as he misled his client and consequently expressed sorrow for what he did.
The fact that the respondents are in contempt of court admits of no doubt. The law is clear in this point; a person who is in contempt remains so until he purges that contempt. Such a person cannot be heard until the contempt is purged.
Counsel for the applicant has urged the court to find counsel for the respondents guilty of misconduct.
In my view, the misconduct complained of was wilful.
In Lewis v Great Western Railway Company BRAMWELL LJ (1877) 3 QBD 195…, defined it as follows:-
“'Willful misconduct' means misconduct to which the will is a party, something opposed to accident or negligence; the misconduct, not the conduct, must be willful. It has been said, and that, I think, correctly, that, perhaps, one condition of 'wilful misconduct', must be that the person guilty of it should know that mischief will result from it.”
The golden rule for misconduct for all legal practitioners is clearly set out in Legal Ethics, E.A.L. LEWIS…, where the learned author states:-
“A practitioner must avoid all conduct which, if known, could damage his reputation as an honourable citizen.”
A legal practitioner has a duty to act honestly and fairly at all times. In addition to this, he must always be truthful and candid in all his dealings.
Counsel for the respondents was not honest with his colleague when he misled him into believing that he would implement the agreement; that he would advise the Deputy Sheriff to execute the provisional order. In fact, all the complainants listed by counsel for the applicant (supra) are correct.
All I can say, without more, is that this type of conduct is deplorable and reprehensible.
Legal practitioners are warned to desist from this type of conduct lest their professional careers stand the risk of being brought to a complete halt. Lawyers, as officers of the court, have an unfailing duty to obey court orders and should not be seen to be assisting litigants in the said disobedience.
I find that counsel for the respondents actively and persistently assisted his clients to do so.
Counsel for the applicant has urged the court to award costs against counsel for the respondents de bonis propiis in view of his misconduct.
I find favour in this submission.
Infact, counsel for the respondents, at a very late stage of the proceedings, conceded that he had ill-advised his clients to disobey the court order.
I am of the opinion that this is an appropriate case for costs of this nature in order to show the court's indignation for such wilful misconduct by a legal practitioner.
The following order is made:-
(1) The provisional order issued by this court on the 15th day of January 2009 should be executed within 48 hours of this order; and
(2) Mr. Mangena should pay costs of today's hearing de bonis propriis.