There have been numerous rumours in Zambia and Africa where it is being claimed that the ex-Finance Bank Chairman, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has stolen the ownership of the Zambezi Portland Cement Factory from the Ventriglia family by way of forging signatures on the share transfer document.
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The media and the corrupt government officials have played a big part in this game as they have promoted this news and have acknowledged the sorry state of the Ventriglia family. However, it is time to set aside the ‘conspiracy’ and learn about the truth.
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Today, the Zambezi Portland Cement Factory is the second largest cement producer of Africa and the same wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution of Finsbury Investments. The initial funding of the ZPC was made by Finsbury Investments and with the permission of Dr. Mahtani. On February 26 2007, five members of the Ventriglia family had signed a shareholding certificate which clearly stated that Finsbury Investments owned 58% of the shares and the remaining was left with the Ventriglia family.
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Being the majority shareholders, Finsbury Investments had implemented numerous development plans and ensured that the factory became fruitful as well as a source of employment for many citizens. However, the greed of the Ventriglia family overshadowed the broader objective of the factory and they took over the ZPC on April 7 2015 through the help of bandit goons.
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Even as a layman, it wouldn’t be difficult to understand that who deserves the ZPC more. On one hand, there is Ventriglia family who has never done anything for the development of Ndola and is famous for its notorious conspiracies and ill-treatment of employees and on the other hand, there is Dr. Rajan Mahtani, who has dedicated his career for the development of Africa through Finance Bank Zambia and Portland Cement Zambia. The Ndola housing project, salary increment for existing employees, strengthening the domestic output of ZPC are some of his key contributions.
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Nevertheless, we find that the Ventriglia family is clearly having a upper hand in this matter because they are successfully influenced the media and politicians with the aid of money power. Now the question which remains to be answered by you is: Who should get the ZPC? The Ventriglia family or Dr. Rajan Mahtani?