Dinner date cost me

I live in an apartment within a prime commercial property near the Indian Ocean, owned by a real estate company. My lease is not due for another 12 months. A controversy erupted when a man, who is a shareholder in the company that owns the property, asked me out for a dinner date, which I outrightly refused. When he discovered I lived in the building, he sent me an eviction notice that he had issued himself. I explained to the property manager that the eviction was unjustified. The manager still argued that the property is a personal investment, which entitles the shareholder to evict me unless I accept the proposal. In hopes of resolving the matter, I attempted to call the man to accept his invitation. To my dismay, he refused me and even mocked me, saying I could not enjoy his property and humiliate him. Does this man have a legal right to evict me? Please guide me.
JB Dar es Salaam

We regret to hear about the difficulties you are encountering. It is unfortunate that a dinner date led to this situation. The legal doctrine of corporate personality distinguishes a company’s assets from those of its shareholders. The real estate company remains a separate legal entity, meaning its assets belong to the company and not to him personally. The Companies Act, Cap. 212 stipulates that once incorporated, a company becomes an independent legal person. Shareholders, (even if the case was majority ownership), cannot treat the company’s property as their personal assets. This man’s claim overlooks this fundamental doctrine.

Tanzanian courts have upheld that a shareholder cannot circumvent the corporate structure to claim direct ownership of company property unless fraud or misuse is established. Therefore, in Tanzania, companies remain legally distinct from their owners. In this context, the man has no legal right to evict you despite ‘apparently’ owning the property; remember he owns shares in the company that owns property and doesn’t directly own the property. Concerning your rights as a tenant, the Land Act Cap. 113 (R.E. 2019) allows for the termination of a lease due to a breach of covenant in the lease contract or for failure to pay rent. If this were the case, the real estate company would need to notify you of their intention to terminate the lease at least 30 days in advance. It is advisable to seek legal counsel for further guidance.