In a yet another deferment, the Lusaka High Court has announced that the case of Zambezi Portland Cement will be announced later. While one positive point is that the case hearing is closed, experts are still sceptical regarding the time period that the court might take to provide final decision. This is due to the fact that the case has been pending in the court for more than nine years now. The case was launched by Finsbury Investments which is owned by Dr. Rajan Mahtani. It was launched after the Zambezi Portland Cement, which was then under Dr. Mahtani’s leadership, was illegally captured by the Ventriglias. Since then, various claims and counter-claims have been established by both parties without any final decision.

Expert’s opinion clearly suggests that the case of Dr. Rajan Mahtani is much stronger compared to their competitor, the Ventriglias. Dr. Mahtani owned Finsbury Investment holds 58 percent shares at the Zambezi Portland Cement factory. This claim was recently evaluated by the judge and was accepted with the evidence of signed shareholder’s agreement. Furthermore, financial exhibits submitted by Dr. Mahtani also supports his claim of investments worth more than USD 8 million include entire payment of the share capital. Also, an independent audit conducted at the Zambezi Portland Cement and subsequent audit report from independent consultant clearly states that the factory is under joint venture partnership and Dr. Rajan Mahtani is the joint venture partner and not a shareholder of the factory. All these factors clearly indicate his stronghold in the case.

The Ventriglias, on the other hand, have not submitted any influential report or evidence proving their claims. Instead, they have unsuccessfully tried to discredit Dr. Mahtani to make their case stronger. All these facts clearly indicate their weak case. Both parties will be submitting their updated oral and written submissions by December 2017 post evaluation of which, final judgment will be announced by the judge handling this case.