43
720 tonnes of unbeneficiated ore allegedly smuggled as forged paperwork exposed a widening assault on Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth
Zimbabwe’s lithium trade has been hit by another corruption scandal after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national linked to an alleged smuggling syndicate accused of moving hundreds of tonnes of ore out of the country through fraudulent documentation.
Ning Yaokun, also known as Tony, a co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, surrendered to authorities on 10 September 2026. He was expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on 11 September 2026 for initial remand.
The arrest lays bare the alleged industrial scale of the operation. According to ZACC, investigators uncovered a mineral-processing and dispatch site in Ruwa, recovered hundreds of tonnes of lithium ore and seized heavy machinery allegedly used to stockpile and process the mineral for export.
The case presents a disturbing picture of Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth being moved through an organised network, allegedly concealed behind forged documents and routed through a major border post. If proven, the operation would represent more than ordinary smuggling. It would be a calculated assault on the State’s revenue, regulatory controls and ownership of its natural resources.
A major alleged loss to the State
ZACC said its investigations established that 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore had allegedly been smuggled out of Zimbabwe. The commission said the full financial prejudice to the State had not yet been quantified.
That uncertainty makes the case even more serious, not less. The 720-tonne figure already indicates a substantial operation, while the ultimate loss could include unpaid duties, taxes, export charges and the value of mineral resources removed from the country outside lawful channels.
The alleged smuggling also raises a broader question: how can such quantities of lithium be extracted, stockpiled, processed, loaded and transported across the country without effective detection?
For years, Zimbabwe has presented lithium as a strategic resource capable of generating investment, export earnings and economic transformation. But the promise of that resource means little if organised networks can allegedly divert it through forged paperwork while the public is left to absorb the losses.
Ruwa site allegedly operated as illicit export hub
According to ZACC, Orequest allegedly operated an illicit mineral-processing and dispatch site at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa. The site was allegedly used to stockpile and process lithium ore before export.
“Investigations established that Orequest (Pvt) Ltd allegedly operated an illicit mineral-processing and dispatch site at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, where lithium ore was stockpiled and processed for export,” ZACC said.
The description suggests a structured operation rather than an isolated attempt to evade customs controls. A site, stockpiles, processing machinery, transport arrangements and export paperwork are all alleged to have formed part of the chain.
ZACC further alleged that the syndicate relied on fraudulent documentation to move lithium through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
“The syndicate allegedly used fraudulent documentation to facilitate the export of lithium ore through Forbes Border Post in Mutare,” the commission said.
If the allegations are established in court, the forged paperwork would point to deliberate planning designed to make illicit exports appear legitimate. It would also raise questions about whether officials, brokers, transporters or other intermediaries helped the operation pass through the system.
Machinery seized as investigation widens
Authorities seized equipment allegedly used in the processing and stockpiling of the ore. The items included a jaw-crusher plant, a front-end loader, TLB machines, a heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows.
The seizure is significant because it indicates the alleged operation had the physical capacity to handle and prepare large volumes of ore. This was not merely a case of a few bags being hidden in a truck. The machinery points to an organised industrial setup operating within a residential or commercial area in Ruwa, according to the commission’s account.
ZACC also recovered 420 tonnes of lithium ore during the investigation. The recovery comprised 300 tonnes from the Ruwa stockpile, 60 tonnes from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Lochinvar, Harare, and a further 60 tonnes intercepted at Forbes Border Post.
The recovery leaves a stark contrast between the quantity allegedly recovered and the 720 tonnes said to have already left Zimbabwe. Even before the final accounting, the figures suggest the investigation has uncovered a supply chain operating across multiple locations and transport points.
Multiple accused, one suspect still at large
Yaokun faces charges of contravening section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02], attempted smuggling as defined in section 189 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], read with section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act, and unlawful dealing.
Other accused persons in the matter include Chinese national Minmin Song, Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire. They have already appeared in court and are on remand. Another suspect, identified only as Malvern, remains at large.
The number of accused persons and the alleged movement of ore through Ruwa, Harare and Forbes Border Post indicate that investigators are dealing with a network rather than a single suspect acting alone. The next stage of the case should establish who owned the ore, who financed the operation, who processed it, who created or supplied the allegedly fraudulent documents and who authorised its movement across the border.
Zimbabwe cannot afford another mineral leak
Lithium has become one of Zimbabwe’s most valuable mineral commodities. Its importance has made it a magnet for investors, traders and, allegedly, criminal networks seeking to exploit weak enforcement and fragmented oversight.
The country cannot claim to be building a modern mineral economy while tonnes of ore allegedly disappear through a smuggling chain. Nor can the government rely on arrests after the damage has been done. Effective control requires traceable production records, verified export documentation, functioning border controls and accountability at every stage of the supply chain.
The alleged Orequest operation should therefore be treated as a test of the entire regulatory system. The central issue is not only whether the accused persons are convicted. It is whether the authorities can explain how 720 tonnes of lithium ore were allegedly smuggled, how forged documents passed through the system and whether anyone inside or adjacent to the enforcement chain enabled the exports.
The public deserves those answers. Zimbabwe’s lithium cannot become private loot disguised as commerce.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VayakkT60eBljXo25N2V
For comments, Feedback and Opinions do get in touch with our editor on WhatsApp: +44 7949 297606 or Email: editor@thezimbabwetimes.co.zw.
