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Serikali ya Tanzania imeshinda Kesi hii iliyofunguliwa na Familia ya Valambhia nchini Marekani.
Mahakama imeona kuwa Wameshindwa kuthbitisha kuwa shughuli zinazohusisha Mkataba wa Kampuni ya Valambhia na Serikali ya Tanzania zilifanyika Marekani (suject matter jurisdiction).
Tanzania itabaki kuwa juu....Juu Kileleni (Konki Liquid)
--
Mnamo tarehe 12 Februari, 2018 familia ya marehemu Vipula Valambhia ilifungua kesi ya Madai Na. 1:18-CV-370 (TSC) dhidi ya Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika Mahakama ya District Court of Columbia nchini Marekani. Walalamikiwa wengine katika kesi hiyo walikuwa ni Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BOT) na Wizara ya Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa.
Walalamikaji katika Shauri hili ni Bi. Vipula D. Valambhia, Priscilla D. Valambhia, Bhavna D. Valambhia, Punita D. Valambhia na Krishnakant D. Valambhia ambao ni Mjane na Watoto wanne wa Marehemu VDEVRAM PURSHOTAM VALAMBHIA. aliyefariki mwaka 2005 nchini Marekani. Walalamikaji wote ni raia wa Marekani na wakati wakifungua kesi hii, walikuwa wanaishi Houston, Texas Marekani.
Katika kesi hii, walalamikaji waliwakilishwa na Wakili kutoka Meredith B. Parenti wa Parenti Law PLLC, kutoka Taxes, Marekani. Kwenye mdai yao, Walalamikaji waliiomba Mahakama ya Marekani kupitia Sheria ya Marekani iitwayo Uniform Foreign- Country Money Judgments Recognition Act,DC Codes, . §§ 15-361- 15-371 iweze kutambua na kutoa amri ya kukazia malipo ya fedha Kiasi cha Dola za Marekani 55,099,171.66 zilizoamuriwa na Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania mwaka, 2003.
Walalamikaji walidai kuwa, kiasi hicho cha fedha kilipaswa kilipwe tokea tarehe 4, Juni 2001, pamoja na riba ya 7% kila mwaka. Hivyo, wakati wa kufungua shauri hilo, yaani tarehe 19 Februari, 2018, deni halisi lilikuwa ni Dola za Marekani 64,500,750.87.
Madai katika shauri hili yalitokana na Mkataba wa ununuzi wa vifaa vya kijeshi kati ya Kampuni ya Transport Equipment Ltd (TEL) ya Marehemu Valambhia na Serikali ya Tanzania. Mkataba huo uliokuwa unahusu ununuzi wa vifaa vya jeshi uliingiwa miaka ya 1980 na Kampuni ya TEL ilikuwa ikidai kwamba haijakamilishiwa malipo yote ya fedha zitokanazo na Mkataba huo. Hivyo, Kampuni hiyo iliamua kufungua Kesi Na. 210 ya mwaka 1989 iliyotolewa uamuzi na Mahakama za Tanzania.
Serikali ya Tanzania ilishawasilisha utetezi wake kupinga shauri hilo tarehe 13 Julai, 2018. Katika utetezi huo, Serikali ya Tanzania ilipinga madai hayo ya familia ya Valambhia kwa kuwa yalifunguliwa kinyume cha Sheria na taratibu za Sheria ya Marekani inayotambua na kuruhusu kukazia hukumu za kimahakama zitokanazo na Mahakama za nchi nyingine (Recognisation and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments) nchini Marekani. Serikali ya Tanzania ilieleza kuwa, ina kinga ya kisheria kama Nchi kufunguliwa Madai ya kukazia hukumu za kimahakama nchini Marekani (sovereign immunity), kinga hiyo ambayo inatambulika chini ya Sheria ya Marekani iitwayo “Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.SC. §§ 1602”. (“FSIA” or “Act”).
Mnamo tarehe 31 Machi, 2019, Mahakama ya District Court of Columbia, nchini Marekani chaini ya Mhe. Jaji Tanya S. Chutkan ilitoa uamuzi wake na kuona kuamua kuwa, madai yaliyowasilishwa na familia ya Valambhia hayakukuhusisha shughuli za kibiashara zilizofanyika nchini Marekani kama ambavyo Sheria ya Marekani ya “Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act,” inavyotaka.
Walalamikaji walikiri kupitia maelezo yaliyowaslishwa Mahakamani hapo kuwa, Shauri hilo linahusisha suala lililofanyika nje ya Marekani baina ya Kampuni ambayo sio ya Kimarekani na Serikali ya Tanzania.
Katika mazingira hayo, Mahakama iliafikiana na hoja za upande wa Serikali ya Tanzania kuwa, madai ya Familia ya Marehemu Valambia hayana msingi kisheria na kuwa Walalamikaji hawakustaili kufunguliwa kesi ya namna hiyo nchini Marekani. Hivyo, Kesi hiyo ilifutwa Mahakamani hapo kwa ushindi upande wa Tanzania.
IMETOLEWA NA:
OFISI YA WAKILI MKUU WA SERIKALI
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ENGLISH
A CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:18-CV-370 (TSC) FILED BY VALAMBHIA FAMILY IN THE US AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA IS DISMISSED
In a Memorandum of Opinion delivered on 31st March, 2019 and subsequent order of the same day, Justice TANYA S. CHUTKAN of the United States District Judge presiding in the Civil Action No. 18-cv-370 (TSC) between VIPULA D. VALAMBHIA, and others and the UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA and others, granted the Motion in favour of the Government of Tanzania hence, dismissed an application made by the descendants of the late controversial businessman one DEVRAM PURSHOTAM VALAMBHIA.
This case which involved also the widow of the late Valambhia and her four children living in Houston, Taxes in the United States of America, was brought before District of Columbia, United States District Court demanding payment of claims $55,099,171.66, plus interest as 7% arose from non-payment of money based upon the Judment of the High Court of Tanzania delivered in 2003.
The Plaintiffs in the case on behalf of Valambhia who died in 2005 were Vipula D. Valambhia, Priscilla D. Valambhia, Bhavna Valambhia, Punita D. Valambhia and Krishnakant D. Valambhia. The case was filed on 18th February, 2018 against the government of United Republic of Tanzania, Bank of Tanzania and Ministry of Defense and National Services.
Briefly facts of the case is that in 1985, the Tanzanian Ministry of Defence, on behalf of Tanzania, ordered troop carriers, tanks, and other military equipment as part of a contract with Transport Equipment Ltd (“TEL”), an Irish corporation. The Plaintiffs’ decedent, Devram Valambhia (“Valambhia”), was the Director General of TEL. Valambhia’s family has lived in the United States since 1981.
The Government of Tanzania paid the amounts due under the military equipment contract through the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) from 1986 to 1989. After some dispute, TEL and Valambhia entered into an Irrevocable Agreement on January 4, 1989, stating that Valambhia should receive 45% of the total amount due under the contract. On June 10, 1989, Tanzania signed a new contract acknowledging the Irrevocable Agreement between TEL and Valambhia and pledging to pay Valambhia in U.S. dollars the amount due to him under the initial contract.
Tanzania began to make payments to Valambhia from its Federal Reserve Bank of New York account in the United States. Tanzania then tried to challenge the validity of these agreements through a long, highly publicized series of court cases that lasted over fourteen years.
In 1991, the High Court of Tanzania entered a High Court Decree which stated that Valambhia and his family were entitled to 45% of the amount unpaid on the contract between Tanzania and TEL. In 2001, after roughly a decade of further litigation, the High Court of Tanzania entered a Garnishee Order that required the Bank of Tanzania to pay Valambhia the amount owed under the High Court Decree. The Bank challenged the validity of the Garnishee Order, but the High Court found it to be proper. The Bank then appealed this ruling in the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. In 2003, the Court of Appeal held that the Garnishee Order was “final and conclusive” and denied the Bank any right to appeal.
Nonetheless, the Bank continued to refuse to comply with the Garnishee Order, and the High Court issued against the Bank of Tanzania an order to show cause why it should not be held in contempt. Valambhia died in Tanzania in 2005 hence the Valambhia family, Devram Valambhia’s sole heirs, filed this suit under the D.C. Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, D.C. Code §§ 15-361 to 15-371, to recognize and enforce the foreign money judgment rendered in Tanzania.
The Government of Tanzania filed a Memorandum of law in support of motion to dismiss the case under the USA law i.e. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1602 et seq. (“FSIA”) which “entitles foreign states to immunity from the jurisdiction of courts in the United States, subject to certain enumerated exceptions. The Court observed that the commercial activity subject to the matter was not falling with the provisions of the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act. It was observed that act performed in connection with the matter was in Tanzania and that was not falling as commercial activity gave rise to the foreign judgment.
The Court GRANTED the Government Motion and dismissed the suit on ground of lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Kufahamu kiini cha Kesi hii, BONYEZA Hapa
www.jamiiforums.com
Mahakama imeona kuwa Wameshindwa kuthbitisha kuwa shughuli zinazohusisha Mkataba wa Kampuni ya Valambhia na Serikali ya Tanzania zilifanyika Marekani (suject matter jurisdiction).
Tanzania itabaki kuwa juu....Juu Kileleni (Konki Liquid)
--
Mnamo tarehe 12 Februari, 2018 familia ya marehemu Vipula Valambhia ilifungua kesi ya Madai Na. 1:18-CV-370 (TSC) dhidi ya Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika Mahakama ya District Court of Columbia nchini Marekani. Walalamikiwa wengine katika kesi hiyo walikuwa ni Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BOT) na Wizara ya Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa.
Walalamikaji katika Shauri hili ni Bi. Vipula D. Valambhia, Priscilla D. Valambhia, Bhavna D. Valambhia, Punita D. Valambhia na Krishnakant D. Valambhia ambao ni Mjane na Watoto wanne wa Marehemu VDEVRAM PURSHOTAM VALAMBHIA. aliyefariki mwaka 2005 nchini Marekani. Walalamikaji wote ni raia wa Marekani na wakati wakifungua kesi hii, walikuwa wanaishi Houston, Texas Marekani.
Katika kesi hii, walalamikaji waliwakilishwa na Wakili kutoka Meredith B. Parenti wa Parenti Law PLLC, kutoka Taxes, Marekani. Kwenye mdai yao, Walalamikaji waliiomba Mahakama ya Marekani kupitia Sheria ya Marekani iitwayo Uniform Foreign- Country Money Judgments Recognition Act,DC Codes, . §§ 15-361- 15-371 iweze kutambua na kutoa amri ya kukazia malipo ya fedha Kiasi cha Dola za Marekani 55,099,171.66 zilizoamuriwa na Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania mwaka, 2003.
Walalamikaji walidai kuwa, kiasi hicho cha fedha kilipaswa kilipwe tokea tarehe 4, Juni 2001, pamoja na riba ya 7% kila mwaka. Hivyo, wakati wa kufungua shauri hilo, yaani tarehe 19 Februari, 2018, deni halisi lilikuwa ni Dola za Marekani 64,500,750.87.
Madai katika shauri hili yalitokana na Mkataba wa ununuzi wa vifaa vya kijeshi kati ya Kampuni ya Transport Equipment Ltd (TEL) ya Marehemu Valambhia na Serikali ya Tanzania. Mkataba huo uliokuwa unahusu ununuzi wa vifaa vya jeshi uliingiwa miaka ya 1980 na Kampuni ya TEL ilikuwa ikidai kwamba haijakamilishiwa malipo yote ya fedha zitokanazo na Mkataba huo. Hivyo, Kampuni hiyo iliamua kufungua Kesi Na. 210 ya mwaka 1989 iliyotolewa uamuzi na Mahakama za Tanzania.
Serikali ya Tanzania ilishawasilisha utetezi wake kupinga shauri hilo tarehe 13 Julai, 2018. Katika utetezi huo, Serikali ya Tanzania ilipinga madai hayo ya familia ya Valambhia kwa kuwa yalifunguliwa kinyume cha Sheria na taratibu za Sheria ya Marekani inayotambua na kuruhusu kukazia hukumu za kimahakama zitokanazo na Mahakama za nchi nyingine (Recognisation and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments) nchini Marekani. Serikali ya Tanzania ilieleza kuwa, ina kinga ya kisheria kama Nchi kufunguliwa Madai ya kukazia hukumu za kimahakama nchini Marekani (sovereign immunity), kinga hiyo ambayo inatambulika chini ya Sheria ya Marekani iitwayo “Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.SC. §§ 1602”. (“FSIA” or “Act”).
Mnamo tarehe 31 Machi, 2019, Mahakama ya District Court of Columbia, nchini Marekani chaini ya Mhe. Jaji Tanya S. Chutkan ilitoa uamuzi wake na kuona kuamua kuwa, madai yaliyowasilishwa na familia ya Valambhia hayakukuhusisha shughuli za kibiashara zilizofanyika nchini Marekani kama ambavyo Sheria ya Marekani ya “Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act,” inavyotaka.
Walalamikaji walikiri kupitia maelezo yaliyowaslishwa Mahakamani hapo kuwa, Shauri hilo linahusisha suala lililofanyika nje ya Marekani baina ya Kampuni ambayo sio ya Kimarekani na Serikali ya Tanzania.
Katika mazingira hayo, Mahakama iliafikiana na hoja za upande wa Serikali ya Tanzania kuwa, madai ya Familia ya Marehemu Valambia hayana msingi kisheria na kuwa Walalamikaji hawakustaili kufunguliwa kesi ya namna hiyo nchini Marekani. Hivyo, Kesi hiyo ilifutwa Mahakamani hapo kwa ushindi upande wa Tanzania.
IMETOLEWA NA:
OFISI YA WAKILI MKUU WA SERIKALI
=====
ENGLISH
A CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:18-CV-370 (TSC) FILED BY VALAMBHIA FAMILY IN THE US AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA IS DISMISSED
In a Memorandum of Opinion delivered on 31st March, 2019 and subsequent order of the same day, Justice TANYA S. CHUTKAN of the United States District Judge presiding in the Civil Action No. 18-cv-370 (TSC) between VIPULA D. VALAMBHIA, and others and the UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA and others, granted the Motion in favour of the Government of Tanzania hence, dismissed an application made by the descendants of the late controversial businessman one DEVRAM PURSHOTAM VALAMBHIA.
This case which involved also the widow of the late Valambhia and her four children living in Houston, Taxes in the United States of America, was brought before District of Columbia, United States District Court demanding payment of claims $55,099,171.66, plus interest as 7% arose from non-payment of money based upon the Judment of the High Court of Tanzania delivered in 2003.
The Plaintiffs in the case on behalf of Valambhia who died in 2005 were Vipula D. Valambhia, Priscilla D. Valambhia, Bhavna Valambhia, Punita D. Valambhia and Krishnakant D. Valambhia. The case was filed on 18th February, 2018 against the government of United Republic of Tanzania, Bank of Tanzania and Ministry of Defense and National Services.
Briefly facts of the case is that in 1985, the Tanzanian Ministry of Defence, on behalf of Tanzania, ordered troop carriers, tanks, and other military equipment as part of a contract with Transport Equipment Ltd (“TEL”), an Irish corporation. The Plaintiffs’ decedent, Devram Valambhia (“Valambhia”), was the Director General of TEL. Valambhia’s family has lived in the United States since 1981.
The Government of Tanzania paid the amounts due under the military equipment contract through the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) from 1986 to 1989. After some dispute, TEL and Valambhia entered into an Irrevocable Agreement on January 4, 1989, stating that Valambhia should receive 45% of the total amount due under the contract. On June 10, 1989, Tanzania signed a new contract acknowledging the Irrevocable Agreement between TEL and Valambhia and pledging to pay Valambhia in U.S. dollars the amount due to him under the initial contract.
Tanzania began to make payments to Valambhia from its Federal Reserve Bank of New York account in the United States. Tanzania then tried to challenge the validity of these agreements through a long, highly publicized series of court cases that lasted over fourteen years.
In 1991, the High Court of Tanzania entered a High Court Decree which stated that Valambhia and his family were entitled to 45% of the amount unpaid on the contract between Tanzania and TEL. In 2001, after roughly a decade of further litigation, the High Court of Tanzania entered a Garnishee Order that required the Bank of Tanzania to pay Valambhia the amount owed under the High Court Decree. The Bank challenged the validity of the Garnishee Order, but the High Court found it to be proper. The Bank then appealed this ruling in the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. In 2003, the Court of Appeal held that the Garnishee Order was “final and conclusive” and denied the Bank any right to appeal.
Nonetheless, the Bank continued to refuse to comply with the Garnishee Order, and the High Court issued against the Bank of Tanzania an order to show cause why it should not be held in contempt. Valambhia died in Tanzania in 2005 hence the Valambhia family, Devram Valambhia’s sole heirs, filed this suit under the D.C. Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, D.C. Code §§ 15-361 to 15-371, to recognize and enforce the foreign money judgment rendered in Tanzania.
The Government of Tanzania filed a Memorandum of law in support of motion to dismiss the case under the USA law i.e. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1602 et seq. (“FSIA”) which “entitles foreign states to immunity from the jurisdiction of courts in the United States, subject to certain enumerated exceptions. The Court observed that the commercial activity subject to the matter was not falling with the provisions of the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act. It was observed that act performed in connection with the matter was in Tanzania and that was not falling as commercial activity gave rise to the foreign judgment.
The Court GRANTED the Government Motion and dismissed the suit on ground of lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Kufahamu kiini cha Kesi hii, BONYEZA Hapa
Marekani: Familia ya marehemu Valambhia yaifungulia kesi Serikali ya Tanzania. Dreamliner hatarini
Familia ya hayati Devram Valambhia ineifungulia kesi serikali ya Tanzania kwenye mahakama ya District Court ya Columbia Marekani. Kesi hii ni ya serikali kushindwa kuilipa kampuni hiyo madai yake baada ya kuuza vifaa vya kijeshi. Mwanzo lilikuwa deni la $ 55098171.- lakini kutokana na riba na...
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