Dr. Rajan Mahtani, the chairman of Finance Bank Zambia recalls his K1 billion from Simataa Simataa, the Mutendere Football Club owner, for breach of contract. He has sued this man for the contract violation.

As per the contract, Simataa was not supposed to issue any statements against the Finance Bank Zambia, its owners or its employees. He was a former employee of Finance Bank Zambia. When he left the job in 2007, seven years back, he undertook in writing to refrain himself from this kind of activity and in exchange for this, he agreed to receive and was paid K1 billion.

However, as per a letter of demand seen by the Watchdog, Simataa had ignored the contract because he voluntarily offered himself as a witness in the Lusaka High Court against the Finance Bank of Zambia. He has, in fact, been issuing media statements, which have gone against the interests of the Finance Bank. Dr. Mahtani and Finance Bank have thus decided that since Simataa broke his side of the contract, it’s in order that he repays the K1 billion along with the interest.

Simataa has been given a 7-day ultimatum to repay the K1 billion with interest for breaching the contract. If he doesn’t repay the money plus the interest, the lawyer of Dr. Mahtani and Finance Bank would commence a legal proceeding against him for recovering the same.

However, Simataa seems to be very daring. He has dared Dr. Mahtani to go ahead and take legal steps against him. He spoke to the Daily Nation recently and said that he is not afraid by Dr. Rajan Mahtani’s threats and that he very well knows that has not signed any agreement as said by the chairman of Finance Bank Zambia. He said, “Let me remind Rajan in case he has forgotten that it was payment in settlement of a case I raised against Finance Bank for constructive dismissal, and that payment was in lieu of me withdrawing the case in court and never seeking to resurrect it.”

Dr. Rajan Mahtani on April 9, 2014 accepted Simataa’s challenge and said that since the matter is subjudice now, he won’t comment any more regarding this. ‘Matters that are subjudice should be respected until Courts have determined the cases,’ he said. He only said that he would not succumb to threats, extortion, blackmail or publications and that he has a legal and moral obligation to fight ills.