Court Of Appeal’s Results On The Portland Cement Case Is Final And Cannot Be Unturned

Being the top legal and judiciary courts in Zambia, the decision from the Court of Appeal is final. This decision follows the controversial verdict at the Lusaka High Court on the Portland Cement Zambia that had announced Ventriglias as the only shareholders of the Portland Cement factory. This verdict was against the claims made by Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, one of the most successful businessmen in Zambia. Dr. Mahtani had claimed that Zambezi Portland Cement factory belonged to him and he was the actual owner. To support his claim, several documents and evidences were shared to the Lusaka High Court judge but were ignored. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani was then rightly prompted to approach the higher Court of Appeal. 

The final verdict from the higher Court of Appeal came on 31st January 2019, around nine months after the case was registered. This quick judgement clearly indicate that the case was not that complicated and the evidences were enough to establish a final verdict. Surprisingly, the evidences submitted to the lower high court were the same submitted here. These included the document of transfer of one billion kwachas to the account of Zambezi Portland Cement limited, covering the ensure share capital value of the factory. The main evidence also included original shareholders agreement which was made official in the year 2007 and confirmed that Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani made all payments associated with the case and is not liable for any further costs associated with the case.