Zimbabwe anti-graft body arrests Chinese director in 720-tonne lithium smuggling case

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested a Chinese director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd over an alleged scheme to smuggle more than 720 tonnes of unprocessed lithium ore out of the country on forged export documents.

Ning Yaokun, also known as Tony, surrendered to the authorities on 10 September and was expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates' Court on charges that include contravening the Customs and Excise Act, attempted smuggling and unlawful dealing, 263Chat reported. He joins Orequest finance director MinMin Song and two other suspects, Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire, who are already on remand. A fifth suspect remains at large.

How the scheme allegedly worked

According to ZACC, Orequest set up an illegal processing and dispatch yard on a plot in Ruwa, near Harare, in 2025, and the operation became fully active in May 2026. Lithium ore was stockpiled there and prepared for export using documents purporting to come from Bikita Minerals, the Sinomine-owned producer.

In July, 23 trucks carrying about 690 tonnes of ore allegedly crossed Forbes Border Post near Mutare on the fraudulent paperwork. Two more trucks reached the Port of Beira in Mozambique on 22 July. Three further trucks carrying 60 tonnes were intercepted after presenting forged Bikita documents.

Investigators then found 300 tonnes stockpiled at the Ruwa site and 60 tonnes in containers abandoned at a truck stop in Harare, and intercepted another 60 tonnes at Forbes, bringing total recoveries to 420 tonnes. ZACC also seized a jaw crusher, loaders and other equipment. The mines ministry has yet to put a value on the smuggled and recovered ore, iHarare reported.

Context

The case goes to the heart of the reasons Harare gave for its February suspension of lithium concentrate exports, which the government attributed to leakages and malpractice. Exports of raw lithium ore have been banned since 2022, and concentrate may now leave only under quotas ahead of an outright ban in January 2027.

The alleged use of a legitimate producer's name is a particular concern for the industry. Bikita Minerals is itself operating under an export quota, and forged documents in its name undermine the paper trail on which the quota regime depends.

What next

ZACC said its investigation was continuing and that it was still seeking other suspects. The case is likely to be cited by officials as evidence that tighter export controls are justified, and may prompt closer inspection of lithium consignments leaving through Zimbabwe's eastern border posts.

Sources

• 263Chat: ZACC Arrests Chinese National in Major Lithium Smuggling Probe, 11 Sept 2026
• iHarare: Orequest Finance Director Arrested Over 720-Tonne Lithium Smuggling Scandal, 05 Sept 2026

Photo: Aerial view of Mutare, the Zimbabwean city near Forbes Border Post on the Mozambique frontier. Seabifar, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.