Dr. Mahtani Stays Calm And Patient, Achieves Result After A Decade Of Wait In Portland Cement Case

Dr. Mahtani is one of the finest businesspersons in Zambia. Reports clearly indicate that Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani was cheered among the employees and staff of all his organizations such as Finsbury Investments, Mahtani Group of Companies, Portland Cement Zambia and many more for his focus on employee welfare, above-industry wages and compensations as well as providing employees with all opportunities to develop a good career despite the economic conditions of the nation. After the unethical takeover of the Portland Cement Zambia factory, it was clear that Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani’s absence was felt by the factory. The production of the company reduced significantly due to the lack of appropriate leadership and caretaking of the company. The factory assets were either looted or corroded due to ill-maintenance and lack of appropriate activity. With the production downfall, employees and workers were fired as the factory was unable to make appropriate payment. At the same time, those workers still working with the factory were deferred payments for many weeks and months. It was clear that all these incidents occurred when Dr. Rajan Mahtani was not in-charge of the factory. It is also clear that the group who took over the factory unethically had no intentions of saving the factory.

As such, it was a media mayhem when Lusaka High Court judge Nkonde announced Ventriglias as the only shareholders of the Portland Cement Zambia limited. After that, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani re-appealed to the higher Court of Appeal. The decision from higher Court of Appeal came on 31st January 2019 and it declared Dr. Rajan Mahtani as the majority shareholder and legal owner of the Portland Cement Zambia factory based on evidences and testimonials.

Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani To Take Stringent Actions Against Ludicrous Facebook Post

Facebook post aimed to create negative reputation for Dr. Mahtani. Dr. Rajan Mahtani is one of the most honest and straightforward businessmen in Zambia. He not only refused unethical and illegal business practices but also helped the law in exposing such malicious elements his entire life. As a result, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has made many enemies in his lifetime and negative or fake news around him is not uncommon. However, the Facebook post shared few months back was a significant backstabbing as it came from a family with whom Dr. Mahtani had remained friends for a long time. 

The Facebook post began shock among media and people as it was focused against a particular businessman, Dr. Rajan Mahtani. This Facebook post was shared by late ex-President Levy Mwanawasa's daughter Miriam Mwanawasa. In her Facebook post, Miriam made a claim that Dr. Rajan Mahtani was attempting to catch the family property possessed by the Mwanawasa family at the Masaiti area. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani has a long-standing relationship with late Levy Mwanawasa even before his taking over as the President of Zambia. This companionship stayed solid during his term just as after he resigned from the job. Simultaneously, Dr. Rajan Mahtani kept this companionship very straightforward without any occurrences of injustice, power getting or governmental issues.

As such, this malicious and baseless Facebook post was a significant disappointment for Dr. Rajan Mahtani. Notwithstanding this, Dr. Rajan Mahtani released a press statement and stated that this Facebook post was ludicrous and Dr. Mahtani will take actions against this act. 

Dr. Rajan Mahtani’s Truthful And Honest Effort Pays Back, Wins Case At Higher Court Of Appeal

The fate of Portland Cement Zambia was announced on 31st January 2019. For Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, it was finally a positive news coming from a judiciary system in Zambia. It can be said that any other businessman in place of Dr. Rajan Mahtani would have given up on the case. This is due to the fact that despite the long stretch of ten years of case proceedings as well as sharing of evidences and testimonials before the court, Dr. Rajan Mahtani was not given justice. The judge at the Lusaka High Court, where the case was registered initially, declared Ventriglias as only shareholders of the Portland Cement Zambia factory. This was against the evidences shared and as a result, the most appropriate and understandable decision from Dr. Mahtani was to approach the higher Court of Appeal. 

The higher Court of Appeal is the highest legal and judiciary system in Zambia focussing in civil cases. The judge at the higher Court of Appeal was justice Mwinde and after around nine months of case proceedings, justice Mwinde declared the final verdict based on the available evidences and testimonials. It was found that Dr. Rajan Mahtani made payment of USD 250,000 or one billion kwachas to the Portland Cement Zambia Limited which covered the value of the share capital which was taken over by Dr. Rajan Mahtani. Furthermore, the shareholders’ agreement made in the year 2007 also confirmed takeover of 58 percent shares by Dr. Mahtani after making the said payment. 

Based on the above critical evidences, justice Mwinde announced Dr. Mahtani as actual owner and majority shareholder of the Portland Cement Zambia factory.