DLP Malawi Limited v Tamando Lama Chokotho

Procedural record

1. 27 January 2026Malawi

   27 January 2026Malawi

   Ruling of the High Court of Malawi, Commercial Division, Blantyre Registry in Commercial Cause Number 131 of 2025 dated 27 January 2026

   High Court of Malawi, Commercial Division, Blantyre Registry

   Case no.

   Commercial Cause Number 131 of 2025

   Citation

   [2026] MWCommC 3

   Decision summary

   The High Court of Malawi dismissed the defendant's application to stay the proceedings pending arbitration and awarded costs to DLP Malawi Limited. The court held that clause 9.7 of the escrow agreement excluded the escrow agent from the arbitration clause, so the defendant could not rely on it to obtain a stay.

   Participants

   DLP Malawi Limited

   Representative

   Mpaka (For: DLP Malawi Limited)

   Tamando Lama Chokotho

   Representative

   Chokotho (For: Tamando Lama Chokotho)

   High Court of Malawi, Commercial Division, Blantyre Registry

   Judge

   M.T. Msungama

   Other

   Institutional administrator

   Makonyo

   Authorities cited

   15

   • Arbitration Act, Act 42 of 1965
     statute
   • Emirates Trading Agency LLC v Prime Mineral Exports Private Limited ([2014] EWHC 2014 (Comm))
     case law
   • NWA v NVF ([2021] EWHC 2666)
     case law
   • Max Engineering v PQ Builders Pty Ltd ([2023] SGHC 71)
     case law
   • Capital Investments Limited v Dr. C.K Makadia (Civil Cause No. 495 of 2003)
     case law
   • Midima Holdings Limited v ETG Inputs Limited (Commercial Cause No 156 of 2022)
     case law
   • Projex Group Limited v Central African Railways Limited (MSCA Civil Appeal no. 10 of 2021)
     case law
   • Admarc Limited v Alliance Capital Limited (Commercial Cause No. 233 of 2021)
     case law
   • Radford v Hair and Others (1971 Ch. D 1089)
     case law
   • Hodson v Railway Passenger Assurance Company ((1904) 2 KB 833)
     case law
   • Metropolitan Tunnel and Public Works Limited v London Electric Railway Company (1925 Ch D 371)
     case law
   • Harbour Assurance Co. (UK) Ltd v Kansa General Insurance Co. Ltd ((1993) QB 70)
     case law
   • MV Panormos Bay v Olam ((2004) 5 NWLR (Part 865) I)
     case law
   • United Bank for Africa PLC v Trident Consulting Limited ((2013) 4 CLRN 119)
     case law
   • Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd v Yuval Insurance Co. Ltd ([1978] 1 Lloyd's Rep 357)
     case law