One of the most successful businessman in Zambia, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, has faced significant challenges his entire life. These challenges are associated with dealing with corrupt officials, unethical practices and ensuring transparency in his business practices. However, one of the biggest challenges which Dr. Mahtani has faced over the years has been to gain back ownership of the Portland Cement Zambia factory after it was unethically and illegally taken over from him. For more than a decade, Dr. Rajan Mahtani fought tirelessly at the Lusaka High Court with the sole purpose of getting back Portland Cement ownership and saving the factory from its downfall at the hands of its capturer. However, transparent and straightforward businessmen are often the ones facing the highest challenges. Dr. Rajan Mahtani was not given justice at the Lusaka High Court justice Nkonde on behalf of the court announced that Ventriglias were only shareholders of the Portland Cement.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani has always been a believer of the country’s judiciary system and despite this outright misdirected decision from the Lusaka High Court, Dr. Rajan Mahtani decided to take another chance and approached the higher Court of Appeal. The judge at the higher Court of Appeal was justice Mwinde who, unlike the previous judge, made a thorough observation of the evidences and testimonials. It should be noted here that the final decision from the higher Court of Appeal came on 31st January 2019 which was just nine months of case proceedings. In his final verdict, justice Mwinde on behalf of the higher Court of Appeal announced that Dr. Rajan Mahtani was indeed the actual owner of the Portland Cement Zambia based on the evidences.
It is said that those who follow a path of transparency and ethics, are the ones reaping the rewards at the end. In this case, it was Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani reaping the reward for his transparency and ethical stance.
