The long case of Zambezi Portland Cement is finally concluded. This conclusion comes from the higher Court of Appeal on 31st January 2019, and the court took around nine months for reaching at this final stage. On the other hand, the Lusaka High Court where the case was initially launched took more than a decade to announce its decision and that too, a controversial one. After an unsuccessful attempt at the Lusaka High Court, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani got true justice at the higher Court of Appeal. Along with the verdict, justice Mwinde on behalf of the Court of Appeal also gave the various reasons which helped the court in giving their transparent and ethical judgement.
Several evidences were submitted by Dr. Rajan Mahtani but it was only the higher Court of Appeal which took these evidences seriously. One of these evidences included transfer of one billion kwachas or USD 250,000 from Dr. Rajan Mahtani owned Finsbury Investments to Zambezi Portland Cement limited which covered the entire value of the share capital which Dr. Rajan Mahtani took over of the Portland Cement Zambia. Furthermore, evidences also indicated that in 2007, the original shareholders’ agreement was established which clearly established the fact that Dr. Mahtani paid the entire amount which covered the 58 percent shareholding at the factory. Based on these facts, it is clear that Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani is the actual owner and majority shareholder of the Portland Cement Zambia factory.
Furthermore, the evidences also cleared that the process of electronic affixing of signatures for business transactions was a common procedure in Zambezi Portland Cement. It was also found that Claudio Ventriglia, an integral member of the opponent family engaged in similar practice. As such, all allegations of forgery have been discarded as the final decision from the higher Court of Appeal has confirmed Dr. Mahtani’s ownership.