Forbes, through its contributor, Mfonobong Nsehe, reports that Zambian multi-millionaire entrepreneur Rajan Mahtani has lost ownership of Zambezi Portland Cement, a leading cement manufacturer in the southern African country, as the High Court of Zambia awarded full ownership of the company to the Ventriglia family of Italy on Monday.

The resolution follows a 10-year court battle between the Ventriglia family and Rajan Mahtani, a Zambian businessman of Indian origin. Mahtani had always claimed that he owned a 58% controlling stake in the business as payment for organizing financing for the Ventriglia family years ago, but the Ventriglia family insisted that he had no claim to the stake, asserting full ownership of the company.

The Ventriglia family is one of the wealthiest and most powerful business families in Zambia today. In 1957, the patriarch of the family, Antonio Ventriglia along with his wife and children arrived Zambia from Italy. They established a Terazzo company, Ital Terazzo, which eventually became very successful. In an effort to diversify their investments in Zambia, the family decided to venture into cement manufacturing, establishing the Zambezi Portland Cement Company.

The family approached Rajan Mahtani, a popular financier and business mogul who was a family friend to the Ventriglias, and asked him to help arrange financing for the new cement company. Mahtani, who was the Chairman and controlling shareholder of Finance Bank, Zambia, used his influence to syndicate a $100 million loan from the European Development Fund and the Kenya’s PTA Bank. In return, the Ventriglia family orally agreed to sell a 49% stake in the cement company to Rajan Mahtani’s investment vehicle, Finsbury Investments, for a discounted price of $60 million – an amount Mahtani never paid. The Ventriglia family soon needed additional financing in order to increase the cement plant’s capacity and Mahtani was on hand to help arrange an additional loan, in return for an additional 9% stake in the company for a discounted price.

Even though Mahtani never paid for the shares he orally agreed to buy, he allegedly fraudulently procured his company secretaries to alter the register of Members and filed with Zambia’s Registrar of Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) a fake photocopy of share transfer certificates indicating that he was a member and shareholder in Zambezi Portland Cement. The Ventriglia family has insisted that they never transferred the shares to Mahtani’s company. On Monday, the court ruled that Mahtani had indeed falsified share transfer certificates in the company, and as such did not own any shares in Zambezi Portland Cement.

“Mahtani has been unable to produce the original signed copies of the share transfer certificates because they simply do not exist and he never paid for the shares. As such, complete ownership of the company firmly rests with the Antonio Ventriglia family,” a spokesperson of Zambezi Portland Cement confirmed to this reporter via email.

Rajan Mahtani, 70, is one of Zambia’s most successful, yet controversial businessmen. He was previously the controlling shareholder and chairman of Zambia’s Finance Bank before it was acquired by Bob Diamond’s Atlas Mara in 2015. In Zambian businessman Chisanga Puta-Chekwe’s acclaimed book, Cobra In The Boat: Michael Sata’s Zambia, he claims that Mahtani brokered a controversial deal whereby the Zambian Government sold off the state-owned Konkola Copper Mines Plc, one of Africa’s largest integrated copper producers (and a company easily worth hundreds of millions of dollars), to Vedanta resources controlled by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, for only $25 million, a tiny fraction of its real value.

Rajan Mahtani did not respond to an email requesting for comment at the time of publishing this story.

Source:Forbes

Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says there are more civilized ways for sustainable management wildlife than culling. Mr. Sinkamba said culling of wildlife is not an option but a primitive conservation strategy.

Reacting to the disclosure that the Zambian authorities plan to proceed with the aborted 2016 programme intended to cull up to 2,000 hippos in the Luangwa Valley, allegedly for overpopulation, the Green Party leader said Zambia needs to learn from other countries such as Kenya and Tanzania what to do to wildlife when confronted with overpopulation and drought conditions.

“Culling of wildlife is not an option. It is a primitive wildlife conservation strategy. There are more sustainable measures out there. Relocation of entrapped animals is one such modern conservation tool. The trouble with our colleagues in the PF Government is that leadership with environmental consciousness is lacking though, unfortunately, they wear green colours.

“What is more appalling is that the Luangwa Valley is not overpopulated as they claim. The hippo population in that conservation area has dwindled by about 14-20% in the last 20 years motivated largely by several factors mainly poor conservation policies, strategies and allocation of financial and human resources.

“In any case, Luangwa Valley is not the only Game Park in Zambia. We have about 20 National Game Parks and over 30 game reserves. In fact, most, if not all the parks require restocking. A serious environmentally-conscious government would have opted for relocation than culling. We must take a leaf from the Republics of Kenya and Tanzania that relocate their animals when conditions dictate,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

Mr. Sinkamba said Kenya and Tanzania, do, year-in-year out, relocate wildlife from drought stricken areas to other conservation areas across the country.

“Mind you, hippos are not exclusively for Luangwa. They can live anywhere in the country. So, they can easily be relocated to other parts of the country. If Government says it has no resources do so, we can move in and help marshal the resources. We have done it before for the Copperbelt Environment Project and Zambia Environmental Restoration Project. We cannot fail to do so to save the hippos,” Mr. Sinkamba added.

“This government needs to read the ball game. Mining has run its race. It is proving to be unsustainable and no longer as beneficial to the nation as it used to be. The next most viable sectors are high-value agriculture and eco-tourism. So, how do you promote eco-tourism when you cull the very animals that tourists are expected to come and watch? The culling policy is motivated by pure greed,” he added.

“What is disheartening is that day-in-day out we hear of one scandal or the other. It is high time that President Lungu brought these scandals to an end. He constitutionally bound to do. We therefore urge him to swiftly move in and stop the prospective curling of the hippos,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

New Labour party president Fresher Siwale who has been in incarceration for about 30-days after failing to meet his bail conditions in the matter in which he is charged with defamation of the President has been granted a fresh K25, 000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum from reputable working institutions.

This was after his lawyer Keith Mweemba, applied for mild bail conditions informing the court that his client has remained incarcerated after failing to meet the previous bail conditions.

Previously, the court granted Mr Siwale a K10,000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties from government institutions at managerial level or directorship.

But when the matter came up before Magistrate Alice Walusiku for commencement of trial, his lawyer indicated that it has been difficult for their client to meet bail conditions because the matter has political connotations and no civil servant has been willing to sign bail on his behalf.

Mr. Mweemba asked the court to grant the accused fresh bail conditions as he was a political figure, a leader of a political party and was willing to attend court when required.

Magistrate Walusiku granted Siwale a fresh but reminded him that he would remain incarcerated until he met the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, during trial in the matter, Muvi television journalist Mabvuto Phiri told the court that he produced the 1hour 30 minutes assignment program where Mr Siwale is alleged to have referred to President Lungu as an identity thief, further stating that he is not the actual Edgar Chagwa Lungu but Jonathan Mutawale.

The state presented before the court a DVD of the said program which was viewed in court.

But Mr Siwale’s lawyer Gilbert Phiri objected to the presentation of the DVD as evidence arguing that its contents could have been altered to suit the state.

Magistrate Walusiku has since adjourned the matter to 6th and 20th June,2018 for mention and 5th July for continued trial.

The Esther Lungu Foundation Trust has embarked on a goat project which seeks to empower community based health workers in an effort to enhance activities aimed at promoting safe motherhood in communities.

Trust patron, Esther Lungu said the foundation will support Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs), family planning committees and Neighborhood community health workers with seed capital.

Mrs. Lungu said in an interview on Friday that community groups will be expected to purchase and breed goats and that her foundation will provide market for the goats in Saudi Arabia as this will help the community groups enhance their activities.

She said the project which started with the seed capital to community based health workers in Lundazi will be rolled out to others districts in the country.

Mrs. Lungu also stated that maternal and child health are among the pillars of the Esther Lungu foundation trust which also promotes women empowerment, persons with disabilities access to clean and safe water and sanitation which are critical issues affecting communities.

Meanwhile, the First Lady who concluded her five day campaign for safe motherhood in Lundazi district with a call for more community driven activities and linkages in order to attain the desired universal access to sexual reproductive health services without leaving anyone behind.

The First Lady said in an interview that community health workers and traditional leaders have proved to be pro-active and effective partners in promoting safe motherhood and access to sexual reproductive health facilities among villages which she said has been leading to a reduction in maternal deaths.

She however, expressed concern that young girls in Lundazi district have been victims of obstetric fistula, a medical condition caused by prolonged obstructed labor.

Mrs. Lungu notes that it is sad that young mothers suffer continuous foul discharge and leaking of stool, which she said is a result of early indulgence into sexual activities when the body is not fully developed for child bearing.

The first lady thanked both national and international partners who she said have contributed to the country’s success in the health sector.

She stated that partners such as UNFPA, CIRDZ, UNICEF, WHO, USAID, DFID and many others have been helping the Zambian Government provide sound health services to the people.

Vice President Inonge Wina says the introduction of Disaster warning systems in the country will enhance the country’s capacity to respond, avert and mitigate impending disasters arising from climatic conditions in order to foster public safety.

Mrs Wina said an early warning system will play a cardinal role in minimizing calamities that the country experiences resulting from flooding when river banks bursts due to increased rainfall activities.

ZANIS reports that the Vice President said this when she commissioned the country’s first ever flood warning siren at Mbeta Island in Sioma District in Western Province.

Mrs Wina commended the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), and Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the initiative.

She stated that Mbeta Island like many other places in the country are prone to disasters and that the disaster early warning system will help avert, respond to and manage calamities.

“This system we are commissioning today, will enhance early warning information that will help my office through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, the Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC), the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and not forgetting the Satellite Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), to plan for impending disasters, disseminate alert warning messages to people at risk, and also to take quick action in responding to disasters,” she said.

The Vice President urged the people of Mbeta Island to utilise the information generated effectively and efficiently in order to avoid any loss of life, damage to property and the environment at large.

Mrs Wina urged the community to look after the equipment well so that it can serve its intended purpose.

She said government remains committed to taking development to all parts of the country including Mbeta Island in line with the Patriotic Front Party manifesto which emphasises taking development countrywide and Western Province will not be left behind.

The Vice President also handed over some banana boats donated by DMMU to Mbeta community to ease transportation challenges when crossing the Zambezi river.

Also launched simultaneously was a similar flood warning system at Kasaya, in Mwandi by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe.

The two devices were acquired at a combined cost of 300, 000 swiss francs by the Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority ZICTA in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Speaking earlier, DMMU National Coordinator, Yande Mwape said government has decided to involve communities in disaster mitigation by empowering them to participate in the early warning process.

Ms Mwape said this will allow communities to quickly mobilise themselves and leave for safe havens without having to wait for Government to intervene and facilitate their evacuation.

And ZICTA Director General, Patrick Mutimushi said Information Communication Technology can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the social development process in society.

Mr Mutimushi said his organisation will continue to use ICT to benefit the country through such innovations as the disaster warning system device.

Muchinga Province is set to benefit from an 18 million Euro German Development Bank funded project for Wildlife and natural resource conservation.

This came to light when a team from the Malawi-Zambia Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) project paid a courtesy call on Muchinga province Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba in Chinsali today.

Project Coordinator Sydney Tembo revealed that Muchinga province will benefit a 3rd from the 18 million euro project.

Mr. Tembo charged that the intention for the TFCA project is to support collaborations between Zambia and Malawi on the sidelines of managing cultural and wildlife resources shared by the two countries.

He added that the project focuses on the transnational conservation of bio diversity and functional ecosystems as well as the sustainable exploitation of natural resources for biodiversity conservation to secure socio-economic development and ecological livelihoods of the local population.

Mr. Phiri further mentioned that one other important purpose of the project is to uplift the livelihoods of the communities living in and around the TFCA.

Meanwhile, Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba has assured the team of government’s support adding that government regards issues dealing with wildlife and natural resources with great significance.

Dr. Kalumba said the initiative will go a long way in conserving natural resources in game reserve areas such as North Luangwa and Musalangu.

Dr. Kalumba has since thanked the Malawi-Zambia TFCA team for considering Muchinga province in the German Development Bank funded project.

The Permanent Secretary charged that the project will bring hope to the people of Muchinga in the conservation of wildlife and natural resources.

He further said the Field Coordinator for Chama block Olurunke Oke will be supported in every way in order for her to carry out the project activities effectively.

Manyinga Town Council has spiced the launched Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign with awards for the cleanest premises in order to encourage community members to participate in the exercise.

Town Council Secretary, Charles Chawa told ZANIS in an interview that the local authority plans to come up with a competition where the cleanest residential premises will be awarded according to the level of cleanness.

Mr. Chama said the cleanest house is expected to walk away with a cash prize of K5, 000 while, the second prize will attract a K3, 000 and K1,000 for the third cleanest house.

Meanwhile, Mr.Chawa said the local authority has planned a number of projects in the district towards the implementation of keep Zambia clean and healthy campaign.

He said the council has started the procuring process of a light truck at a cost of K249, 000, a number of cleaning materials and tools meant for the programme.

Mr. Chawa said once all logistics are in place, the local authority is expected to take a leading role in ensuring that the programme is successfully implemented.

He said some the activities to be under taken include refuse collection, grass cutting, pothole patching of township roads as well as public, workplace and residential cleanup activities.

And Manyinga Stakeholders Association Chairman Patrick Kamboyi implored Manyinga residents to support and participate in the programme as it will also help in preventing the spread of diseases such as Cholera and Malaria.

Mr. Kamboyi said a clean and healthy environment attracts development and prolongs human life.

State owned Telecommunications Company, Zamtel has moved swiftly to reassure its customers after reports resurfaced regarding the presence of some scratch cards suspected to have landed on the market through unofficial channels.
The company has announced that it has started a process of replacing or swapping the affected scratch cards which have since been blocked.

Zamtel Corporate Communications Manager Kennedy Mambwe explained that customers who may have purchased blocked scratch cards will be given a replacement of the same value in a like-for-like swap.

Mr Mambwe has since encouraged affected Zamtel customers to visit any Zamtel outlet or report the issue to the Zamtel Contact Centre where a swap will be done upon verification.

He was speaking in Lusaka on Wednesday during a media conference at Zamtel Headquarters after reports emerged of the presence of illegal Zamtel scratch cards on the market.

“We have blocked a range of scratch cards in the range of denominations of K2, K5 and K10 which we suspect may have hit the market through unofficial channels which came to our attention and is a matter of concern to us. We needed to isolate the serial numbers of the affected scratch cards in question and ensure that we block them to drill down to the source of the cards,” Mr Mambwe stated.

He added, “If we allow cards that are deemed to be illegal on the market, it dilutes the value chain and we needed to act and act quickly via SMS, radio and newspaper notices.”

“Some customers have bought and it’s a huge inconvenience for them. We have put in measures that the scratch cards can be swapped so that we don’t inconvenience them further. The investigations have continued and the isolation of the cards is part of evidence gathering.”

Mr Mambwe has also confirmed that Zamtel is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter.
He said, “We are working with law enforcement agencies and as soon as we conclude the investigations, we will notify the public through the press.”

He added, “There are some figures going round that the talk time is worth a certain amount. We are yet to quantify the volumes because this is a subject of investigations and we would not want to preempt the investigations.”
Mr. Mambwe further refuted some online media reports that the scratch cards suspected to have gotten onto the market illegally were manufactured at a backyard facility.

He stressed that the said scratch cards are authentic Zamtel produced cards that landed on the market through unofficial channels.

“This is authentic talk time from Zamtel and it is produced at a huge cost. We have taken these stringent measures to get to the bottom of the matter. Anyone found to have been involved, be it internal or external, they will have to deal with the law and not with Zamtel because it borders on criminality. This is a matter of public interest because Zamtel is a public institution,” Mr. Mambwe said.