The final decision from the higher Court of Appeal came on 31st January 2019 and according to this decision, Dr. Rajan Mahtani was announced as the majority shareholder and legal owner of the Portland Cement Zambia factory. At the same time, justice Siavwapa from the higher Court of Appeal announced that the amount payable by the Finsbury Investments against the majority shares of Zambezi Portland Cement was K580,000 and not K580 million.
Family members of the Ventriglias family, Antonio and Manuela Ventriglia have not appealed against this decision from the higher Court of Appeal. This appeal was made at the Supreme Court of Zambia, the country’s highest legal system. In this appeal, they have contented that the judge at the higher Court of Appeal changed the judgement by ordering that the Zambezi Portland Cement Limited register should reflect Ital Terrazzo Limited holding 42 percent shares. The Ventriglias also contended that the amount ruled by Judge Siavwapa to be paid to the Ventriglias against the majority shares by Finsbury Investments was incorrect. According to the them, the right payment was K580 million.
Soon after the appeal was made to the Supreme Court by the Ventriglias, it was rejected on several grounds. First, law suggests that appeal must be made within 14 days of final judgement from the previous court. In this case, the judgement was given more than a year ago. Furthermore, the bench of Supreme Court judges declared that they did not have any jurisdiction in taking the case as the circumstances surrounding the appeal by the Ventriglias were dubious and even if the appeal is taken, it will amount to nothing as the decision from Supreme Court will be same as the previous court, higher Court of Appeal. Based on this decision, Dr. Rajan Mahtani remains the actual owner and majority shareholder of the Portland Cement Zambia factory.