The fight for ownership of Zambezi Portland Cement has taken another step as Antonio Ventriglia battles to regain legal ownership of the company. Mr Ventriglia was deported along with his son, Daniela Ventriglia, last autumn and is now alleging the illegal seizure of his company by a competitor be overturned.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Antonio Ventriglia have issued a writ of summons and statement of claim to the Attorney General of Zambia demanding that the government recognise the allegedly illegal deportation of him and his son, as well as repeated raids by police which led to the seizure of the company by a competitor.

The statement of claim states that on 24 December 2012, the Zambian police illegally raided the offices of Zambezi Portland Cement in Ndola to forcibly remove the company’s managing directors.

Mr Ventriglia is seeking a declaration of the unlawful conduct by the Attorney General and the awarding of damages.