Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani is a noted businessman in Zambia. He is known for his significant business practices as well as philanthropic works. Some of his charitable works across Zambia include providing donations for creating amenities within correction facility in Zambia, charitable donations for environmental agencies as well as charitable contributions towards educational development in Zambia. He is also known for his business acumen with several top companies such as Finsbury Investments, Mahtani Group of Companies and Finance Bank Zambia. Working in an economically, socially and politically compromised nation such as Zambia has significant disadvantages. One of the major disadvantages is dealing with corruption and unethical practices on a daily basis. While Dr. Rajan Mahtani has a record of maintaining absolute transparency and honesty in his business practices, he is also dealing with corrupt businessmen, politicians and rivals trying to damage his reputation or his businesses. One of the prime cases of unethical practice and the extent to which it has corrupted the political and legal system of Zambia is the case of Portland Cement Zambia. Despite establishing original shareholders agreement which confirmed Dr. Mahtani as the legal owner of Portland Cement Zambia, the factory was unethically taken over from him after the Ventriglias illegally captured it. While Dr. Rajan Mahtani took the right path of approaching Lusaka High Court with all evidences and testimonials, it was political meddling, power politics and corporate crime that won at the last. The decision from the Lusaka High Court judge to announce the Ventriglias as the only shareholders of the Portland Cement Zambia is alleged to be influenced by external forces.
Nevertheless, the latest decision from the Supreme Court Zambia to reject the vague appeal from the Ventriglias is a step in the right direction, and it can only be hoped that the lower-level state and district courts follow the same transparency and take ethical stand to provide justice for the honest.
