Noted Businessman Moves To Higher Court After Unpredictable Judgment By Lusaka HC

The case of Portland Cement Zambia more than a decade old and can be easily considered as one of the longest running high-profile corporate cases in Zambia. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, a noted businessman and philanthropist has claimed to be the legal and rightful owner of the factory. He registered a compliant at the Lusaka High Court almost ten years back when it was illegally taken from him. During the trial period, Dr. Mahtani and his lawyers submitted numerous documents and evidences that prove his legal ownership over the factory. The judge overseeing the case also made a positive announcement by closing the case hearing. This meant the final judgment will be shared based on the evidences and testimonials submitted by the parties. This was a major achievement for the case and the people associated with it.

This announcement of closure of case hearing was extremely delightful for Dr. Mahtani and his lawyers as it was evident that the evidences and documents shared by Dr. Mahtani were more than enough to prove his legal claim over the factory. However, the final judgment on the Portland Cement was made by the Lusaka HC judge and it shocked everyone. The final judgment was given against his claims and the cement factory’s rights were given to those entities that were not able to submit even single critical evidence to support their claim. This decision has been regarded as a huge disappointment and downfall for the legal system of Zambia. It is also clear that all of the evidences submitted were ignored and experts are also contemplating that the judgement was influenced by some external forces. Dr. Rajan Mahtani is not considering this judgment as the final fate of his patience and the factory for which he has been fighting for decades. As of now, Dr. Mahtani has taken the right steps by making an appeal to the higher court of appeal against this misdirected judgment.