Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national in connection with the alleged smuggling of 720 tonnes of lithium ore out of Zimbabwe.

Ning Yaokun, also known as “Tony” and co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, surrendered himself to authorities on 10 September 2026. He is expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates’ Court today, 11 September 2026, for initial remand.

ZACC says Yaokun faces three charges: 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], and unlawful dealing.

According to ZACC investigations, 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.

The syndicate is alleged to have used fraudulent documentation to facilitate exports through Forbes Border Post in Mutare. Investigators established that 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore were allegedly smuggled out of the country, causing financial prejudice to the State. The full extent of the prejudice is yet to be quantified.

During the probe, ZACC recovered 420 tonnes of lithium ore, 300 tonnes from the Ruwa stockpile, 60 tonnes from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Lochinvar, Harare, and another 60 tonnes intercepted at Forbes Border Post.

The Commission also seized equipment allegedly used in the operations, including a jaw-crusher plant, a front-end loader, TLB machines, a heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows.

Other accused persons in the matter are Minmin Song, a Chinese national, Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire. They have already appeared in court and are on remand. A further suspect identified only as Malvern remains at large.

The arrest comes amid government efforts to tighten controls over the mining and export of strategic minerals, with lithium declared a key resource for Zimbabwe’s economic growth.