The applicant (K and G Mining Syndicate) and the first respondent (Ronald Mugangavari) had a long-running dispute over the same mining claim, which the applicant called Midway 21 and the first respondent called Cliffton 15. On 17 January 2018, the Provincial Mining Director - Midlands issued a prohibition order suspending operations on the disputed mining claim until the dispute was resolved by the courts. On 20 April 2021, the applicant filed HC 365/21 seeking a declaration of title over the mining claim and eviction of the first respondent. On 12 January 2022, the second respondent (Provincial Mining Director Gweru) issued a letter lifting the prohibition order and permitting the first respondent to resume mining operations. On 19 January 2022, the applicant launched this urgent application seeking to declare the letter null and void, set it aside, and interdict the first respondent from mining operations pending determination of HC 365/21.
The application was struck off the roll of urgent matters with no order as to costs.
An interim or provisional order in an urgent application must seek to protect a litigant pending the return date of that same application, not pending the determination of a separate matter before the courts. A provisional order that seeks relief pending the conclusion of a separate case is in substance a final order and is incompetent and a nullity at law. A nullity cannot be amended. It is not for the court to 'panel beat' an incompetent draft order; rather, the proper course is to strike out the application. Where an application is struck out on grounds raised by the court mero motu rather than by the parties, no costs order should ordinarily be made in favour of the respondents.
The court observed that the respondents had raised several points in limine (lack of urgency, citation of wrong party, and material non-disclosure) but found it unnecessary to determine these given the fundamental incompetence of the relief sought. The court noted its practice of hearing both points in limine and merits together to avoid piecemeal treatment, while retaining the discretion to dispose of the matter solely on the points in limine. The court also referenced the general principle that costs follow the cause but noted that this principle must yield to the achievement of fairness and justice between the parties in the exercise of the court's discretion.
This case is significant in Zimbabwean civil procedure law for clarifying the distinction between interim and final relief in urgent applications. It establishes that a provisional order must seek to protect a litigant pending the return date of the same application, not pending the determination of a separate matter. The case reinforces the principle that courts will not countenance attempts to obtain final relief disguised as interim relief, and that such incompetent relief constitutes a nullity that cannot be cured by amendment. The judgment also provides guidance on the exercise of judicial discretion on costs when the court raises the decisive issue mero motu rather than the parties.