Urukiko rw'Ikirenga

FREIGHT AFRICA BVBA v. BONUS ENTERPRISES Ltd

[Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RCOMA0031/13/CS (Mutashya, P.J., Munyangeri na Gakwaya, J.) 31 Nyakanga 2015]

Amategeko agenga ububasha bw’Inkiko – Ububasha bushingiye ku ifasi bw’inkiko zavuzwe mu masezerano – Inkiko zumvikanyweho mu masezerano ni zo zifite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibibazo bivutse mu kubahiriza ayo masezerano – Itegeko Nᵒ45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, ingingo ya 64 na 113 – Itegeko ryo ku wa 19/1/1920 ryerekeye intumwa mu bucuruzi n’abikorezi, ingingo ya 10 n’iya 11 –Itegeko Nᵒ42/1988 ryo ku wa 27/10/1988 rishyiraho interuro y’ibanze n’igitabo cya mbere “Abantu n’Umuryango”, by’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano, ingingo ya 14(2).

Indishyi – Indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka – Uwarezwe agomba kuzihabwa ariko zikagenwa mu bushishozi bw’urukiko – Itegeko ryo kuwa 10/07/1888 rigenga amasezerano cyangwa imirimo nshinganwa, ingingo ya 258.

Incamake y’ikibazo: BONUS ENTERPRISES Ltd yareze FREIGHT AFRICA BVBA mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi iyisaba kuyishyura ibicuruzwa byayo byangiritse hashingiwe ku masezerano y’ubwikorezi bagiranye, amafaranga y’ubwikorezi yishyuwe n’indishyi zitandukanye. AFRICA FREIGHT SERVICES Ltd nayo yagobokeshejwe ku ngufu muri uru rubanza. Urukiko rwategetse FREIGHT AFRICA BVBA hamwe na AFRICA FREIGHT SERVICES Ltd gufatanya kwishyura BONUS ENTERPRISES Ltd amafaranga angana na 29.330.752Frw.

FREIGHT AFRICA BVBA yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga ivuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ikirego rwaregewe hashingiwe ku masezerano yabaye hagati yabo agaragaza ko impande zombi zari zumvikanye ko inkiko za Envers mu Bubiligi ari zo zifite ububasha bwo kuziburanisha. AFRICA FREIGHT SERVICES Ltd nayo yarajuriye ivuga ko inkiko zo mu Rwanda nta bubasha zifite bwo kuburanisha icyo kirego hashingiwe ku ihame rivuga ko amategeko mbonezamubano yunganira amasezerano abantu bagiranye ariko akaba atayasimbura.

Bonus Enterprise Ltd isubiza ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwari rufite ububasha kubera ko ukwangirika cyangwa impanuka byabereye mu Rwanda. Bongeyeho ko kuba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi arirwo ruri aho amasezerano yashyiriwe mu bikorwa ndetse akaba ari naho yagombaga kurangirizwa bigaragaza ko nta tegeko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwishe. Yatanze ubujurire bwuririye ku bundi isaba urukiko gutegeka FREIGHT AFRICA BVBA kuyishyura indishyi mbonezamusaruro, iz’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka.

Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Inkiko zumvikanyweho mu masezerano ni zo zifite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibibazo bivutse mu kubahiriza ayo masezerano. Bityo, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ntirwari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha uru rubanza mu gihe abagiranye amasezerano y’ubwikorezi bumvikanye ko mu gihe haba havutse ikibazo cyangwa impaka izo arizo zose, ibyo bizaba biri mu bubasha bw’Inkiko za Antwerp (Anvers), bityo urubanza rwaciwe rukaba rugomba kuvanwaho.

2. Indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy‘avoka zigomba guhabwa uwarezwe ariko zikagenwa n’ubushishozi bw’Urukiko kuko izo isaba ari ikirenga.

Ubujurire bufite ishingiro.

Urubanza ruvanyweho.

Amagarama y’urubanza aherereye ku wareze.

Amategeko yashingiweho:

Itegeko N^o45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano ingingo ya 64 na 113,

Itegeko ryo ku wa 19/1/1920 ryerekeye intumwa mu bucuruzi n’abikorezi, ingingo ya 10 n’iya 11.

Itegeko N^o42/1988 ryo ku wa 27/10/1988 rishyiraho interuro y’ibanze n’igitabo cya mbere “Abantu n’Umuryango”, by’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano, ingingo ya 14(2).

Itegeko ryo kuwa 10/07/1888 rigenga amasezerano cyangwa imirimo nshinganwa, ingingo ya 258.

Nta manza zifashishijwe.

Urubanza

I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA

[1]            Urubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, Bonus Enterprise Ltd irega Freight Africa BVBA isaba kwishyurwa ibyangiritse mu gutwara ibicuruzwa, amafaranga y’ubwikorezi (transport) yishyuwe hamwe n’indishyi zitandukanye. Africa Freight Services Ltd yari yagobokeshejwe ku ngufu muri urwo rubanza.

[2]               Urukiko rwafashe icyemezo ku wa 21/01/2013, rutegeka Freight Africa Bvba na Africa Freight Services Ltd gufatanya kwishyura Bonus Enterprise Ltd 29.330.752Frw, hamwe na 9.750 Frw y’amagarama y’urubanza.

[3]               Freight Africa Bvba yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, ivuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ikirego rwaregewe hashingiwe ku masezerano bagiranye na Bonus Enterprise Ltd.

[4]               Africa Freight Services Ltd nayo yarajuriye, ivuga ko Inkiko z’u Rwanda nta bubasha zifite bwo kuburanisha icyo kirego hashingiwe ku ihame rivuga ko amategeko mbonezamubano yunganira amasezerano abantu bagiranye ariko ntayasimbura, ko yazanywe mu rubanza rutayireba kandi Urukiko rwari rwamaze kubifataho icyemezo kuwa 21/9/2012 ndetse Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwitiranije Umuyobozi wa Africa Freight Services Ltd na sosiyete abereye Umuyobozi.

[5]               Bonus Enterprise Ltd yatanze ubujurire bwuririye ku bundi, isaba uru Rukiko gutegeka Freight Africa Bvba na Africa Freight Services Ltd kuyishyura indishyi mbonezamusaruro, iz’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya avoka.

[6]               Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame kuwa 9/6/2015, Freight Africa Bvba ihagarariwe na Me Nzamwita Toy, Africa Freight Services Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Idahemuka Tharcise naho Bonus Enterprise Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Ingabire Joséline na Me Bugingo Jean-Bosco.

II. ISESENGURA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA

a. Kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha uru rubanza.

[7]               Me Nzamwita Toy avuga ko nta bubasha Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwari rufite bwo kuburanisha ikirego rwaregewe hashingiwe ku masezerano yabaye hagati ya Freight Africa Bvba na Bonus Enterprise Ltd kuko bari bumvikanye ko Inkiko za Anvers mu Bubiligi arizo zifite ubwo bubasha. Avuga ko ibyo bishimangirwa n’ibyemejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza RCOMA0038/09/CS rwaciwe kuwa 19/02/2010, aho rwavuze ko “imanza zerekeye ama sosiyete y’ubucuruzi n’indi miryango ifite ubuzima gatozi itari iya Leta ziburanishirizwa mu rukiko rwo mu ifasi irimo icyicaro cyabyo gikuru cyangwa aho ikiburanwa kiri, keretse iyo byateganijwe ukundi mu masezerano hagati y’impande ziburana”.

[8]               Me Idahemuka Tharcisse avuga ko Bonus Enterprises Ltd na Freight Africa Bvba bumvikanye urukiko rushobora kubaburanisha haramutse habaye impaka ndetse hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 64 y’Itegeko N^o45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, bigaragara ko bishyiriyeho itegeko rigomba kubahirizwa na buri wese.

[9]               Me Idahemuka Tharcisse akomeza avuga ko ingingo ya 121, igika cya 1 y’Itegeko Ngenga N^o51/2008 ryo ku wa 9/9/2008 rigena imiterere, imikorere n’ububasha by’Inkiko iteganya ko “Uretse mu gihe hari andi mategeko abiteganya ukundi, urukiko rw’aho uregwa atuye ni rwo rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza” ndetse ingingo ya 125 y’iryo Tegeko iteganya ko “Iyo hari ahantu hatoranyijwe ko harangirizwa amasezerano, urukiko rw’aho hantu nirwo ruregerwa urubanza ruyerekeye”, bityo akaba asanga kuba harasezeranywe ko igikorwa cyo kurega bizabera ku cyicaro cya Freight Africa Bvba, itegeko rigomba kubahirizwa.

[10]           Me Idahemuka Tharcisse asoza avuga ko hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 89 y’Itegeko N^o21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/6/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi no ku manza nyinshyi zaciwe n’Inkiko aho zafashe icyemezo cy’uko Inkiko z’u Rwanda zidafite ububasha bwo kuvuguruza amasezerano ababuranyi bagiranye bihitiramo inkiko, ari Urukiko rw’Iremezo rwa Anvers (Tribunal de Première Instance d’Anvers) rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha uru rubanza.

[11]           Me Ingabire Joséline na Me Bugingo Jean-Bosco bavuga ko Bonus Enterprise Ltd isanga Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwari rufite ububasha kubera ko ukwangirika cyangwa impanuka byabereye mu Rwanda. Bakomeza basaba Urukiko gusuzuma niba ingingo y’amasezerano irebana n’Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo kubaburanisha “clause de juridiction”, basinye bombi isimbura amategeko y’u Rwanda. Basoza bavuga ko kuba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi arirwo ruri aho amasezerano yashyiriwe mu bikorwa ndetse akaba ari naho yagombaga kurangirizwa, bakaba basanga hashingiwe ku ingingo ya 124 y’Itegeko Ngenga N^o51/2008 ryo ku wa 9/9/2008 ryavuzwe haruguru, rwaraciye urubanza nta Tegeko na rimwe rwishe.

UKO RUKIKO RUBIBONA

[12]           Ingingo ya 64 y’Itegeko N^o45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano iteganya ko “Amasezerano akozwe ku buryo bukurikije amategeko aba itegeko ku bayagiranye. Ashobora guseswa ari uko babyumvikanyeho cyangwa ku mpamvu zemewe n’amategeko. Agomba kubahirizwa nta buriganya”.

[13]           Ingingo ya 113, igika cya 1 y’Itegeko N^o45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 ryavuzwe haruguru iteganya ko “Amasezerano agira inkurikizi ku bayagiranye gusa, ntabangamira undi wese kandi amugirira akamaro gusa mu biteganyijwe bijyanye no gusezerana ibifitiye undi akamaro”.

[14]           Ingingo ya 10 y’Itegeko ryo ku wa 19/1/1920 ryerekeye intumwa mu bucuruzi n’abikorezi iteganya ko “Amasezerano y’ubwikorezi agaragazwa n’ibimenyetso byose biteganywa n’amategeko mbese nko ku byerekeye ibicuruzwa hakoreshwa impapuro z’ipakira”.

[15]           Ingingo ya 11, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko ryo ku wa 19/1/1920 ryavuzwe haruguru iteganya ko “Urwandiko rw’ipakira rukorwa mu nyandiko ebyiri, imwe muri zo igenewe uwohereje ibicuruzwa kandi iriho umukono w’umwikorezi naho indi, ihabwa umwikorezi, iriho umukono w’uwohereje ibicuruzwa”.

[16]           Ingingo ya 14, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko N^o42/1888 ryo ku wa 27/10/1888 rishyiraho interuro y’ibanze n’igitabo cya mbere “Abantu n’Umuryango”, by’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano nyarwanda iteganya ko “Uretse iyo abagiranye amasezerano babishatse ukundi, ibyo bemereranijwe, ku byerekeye uko bimeze, inkurikizi zabyo, no ku byerekeye guhamya ko byabaye koko, bigengwa n’itegeko ry’aho ibyo bumvikanyeho byabereye”.

[17]           Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga amasezerano y’ubwikorezi (bill of lading ou le connaissement)[1] N^o RWA3993 yo kuwa 5/12/2009 aburanwa muri uru rubanza, ari hagati ya Freight Africa NV, wohereje ibicuruzwa n’umwikorezi Elleci Service&Leuenberger+C&Cartiera Galliera, ndetse hakagaragaramo na Bonus Entrepise Ltd nk‘uwo ibicuruzwa bigomba gushyikirizwa (consignataire ou consignee, destinataire et donneur d’ordre).

[18]           Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga ayo masezerano ateganya ko abayagiranye bumvikanye ko ubwo bwikorezi buzishingirwa na nyir’ibicuruzwa, ko agengwa n’amategeko yo mu Bubiligi, kandi ko mu gihe havutse ikibazo cyangwa impaka izo arizo zose, ibyo bizaba biri mu bubasha bw’Inkiko za Antwerp (Anvers).

[19]           Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga n’ubwo inyandiko y’ipakira (le connaissement ou la la lettre de chargement) iza gushyira mu bikorwa amasezerano y’ubwikorezi, ishobora gutuma byumvikana ko ayo masezerano ari gusa hagati y’uwohereje ibicuruzwa n’umwikorezi ariko mu by’ukuri, mu gihe uwohereje ibicuruzwa agiranye amasezerano n’umwikorezi, aba abikora mu nyungu (au profit) z’uwo ibicuruzwa byohererejwe (destinataire) kuko ariwe bifitiye akamaro[2].

[20]           Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga kandi mu gihe bigaragara mu nyandiko y’ipakira ko uwo ibicuruzwa byohererejwe (destinataire) ariwe wasabye ko ayo amasezerano y‘ubwikorezi akorwa (donneur d’ordre), byumvikana nta shiti ko ari mu bagiranye aya masezerano, ndetse ko uwohereje ibicuruzwa yabikoze mu izina ry’uwo byohererejwe. Byongeye kandi, kuba izina ry’uwo ibicuruzwa byohererejwe rigaragara ku nyandiko, bigaragaza ko yiyemeje inshingano yo kubahiriza amasezerano y’ubwikorezi[3].

[21]           Ku birebana n’ingingo y’amasezerano igaragaza Inkiko zifite ububasha bwo kuburanisha abagiranye amasezerano igihe havutse ikibazo cyangwa impaka izo arizo zose mu kuyubahiriza, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga, hashingiwe ku byasobanuwe haruguru, kuba bigaragara ko Bonus Entrepises Ltd (destinataire et donneur d’ordre) iri mu bagiranye amasezerano y’ubwikorezi kuko ifite inshingano zo kuyubahiriza ndetse umwikorezi n‘uwohereje ibicuruzwa (Freight Africa NV: expéditeur) nabo bafite inshingano zo kuyubahiriza, iyo ngingo y’amasezerano iha Inkiko ububasha bwo kuburanisha (clause attributive de compétence) abayagiranye, bityo, akaba atayaca iruhande kuko nawe imureba kandi igomba kubahirizwa.

[22]           Hashingiwe ku ngingo z‘amategeko zavuzwe haruguru no ku bisobanuro byatanzwe, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga Inkiko z’u Rwanda nta bubasha zifite bwo kuburanisha uru rubanza, bityo nk’uko bigaragara mu nyandiko y’ipakira igize amasezerano y‘ubwikorezi, Inkiko za Antwerp (Anvers) zonyine zikaba arizo zifite ububasha bwo kuruburanisha.

[23]           Kubera izo mpamvu, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rurasanga ubujurire bwa Freight Africa BVBA (ubu NV) n’ubwa Africa Freight Services Ltd bufite ishingiro, bityo Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rukaba rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha uru urubanza. Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rukaba rusanga urwo rubanza rwaciwe rugomba kuvanwaho.

b. Kumenya niba Africa Freight Services Ltd ikwiye guhabwa indishyi isaba.

[24]           Me Idahemuka Tharcisse avuga ko Africa Freight Services Ltd isaba Urukiko gutegeka Bonus Enterprises Ltd kuyishyura 3.500.000Frw y’ikurikirana urubanza n’igihembo cya avoka.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA

[25]           Ingingo ya 258 y’Igitabo cya III cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano iteganya ko “Igikorwa cyose cy’umuntu cyangirije undi gitegeka nyirugukora ikosa rigikomokaho kuriha ibyangiritse”.

[26]           Ku bijyanye n’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n‘igihembo cy’avoka Africa Freight Services Ltd isaba, usibye ko Bonus Enterprises Ltd ntacyo iyavugaho, Urukiko rw‘Ikirenga rurasanga igomba kuyahabwa, ariko kubera ko 3.500.000Frw isaba ari ikirenga, mu bushishozi bwarwo rukaba ruyigeneye 800.000Frw.

III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO

[27]           Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Freight Africa BVBA (ubu NV) na Africa Freight Services Ltd bufite ishingiro.

[28]           Rwemeje ko urubanza RCOM0038/12/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ruvanyweho.

[29]           Rutegetse Bonus Enterprises Ltd kwishyura Africa Freight Services Ltd 800.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya avoka.

[30]           Rutegetse Bonus Enterprises Ltd kwishyura amagarama y’urubanza angana na 100.000Frw.