By Fanuel Chinowaita
HARARE — The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Orequest (Pvt) Ltd Finance Director MinMin Song over an alleged syndicate that smuggled more than 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore out of Zimbabwe through Forbes Border Post.
Song becomes the latest suspect in a widening investigation into the alleged fraudulent export of raw lithium, joining Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire, who were arrested on August 27, 2026 and are already on remand.
According to ZACC, Song allegedly acted in connivance with Ning Yaokun, who remains at large, and a Chinese national only identified as Andy, who is also wanted by investigators.
The commission alleges that the syndicate established a fully equipped illegal mineral processing and dispatch warehouse at a plot in Ruwa in 2025, where lithium ore was stockpiled before operations began in May this year.
Chivandire and another suspect, identified only as Malvern, who remains at large, allegedly handled ground operations, processed fraudulent documentation and arranged haulage through local transport brokers.
The alleged operation escalated in July when the syndicate made an initial booking with Maersk Harare for 40 shipping containers.
ZACC alleges that Song subsequently engaged All Way Global (Pvt) Ltd, a transport brokering company, to source heavy-haulage trucks for the shipment.
To facilitate the alleged customs evasion, Chivandire and Malvern reportedly contracted Mutare-based clearing agent Brian Sakarombe to handle customs exit formalities.
Investigators allege that Malvern supplied Sakarombe with fraudulent export documents purporting to have been issued by Bikita Minerals.
The documents allegedly enabled the syndicate to move 23 trucks, each carrying approximately 30 tonnes of lithium ore, through Forbes Border Post.
The shipment amounted to about 690 tonnes of lithium ore.
The alleged smuggling operation continued after Yaokun booked six additional haulage trucks to collect containers and load lithium ore at the Ruwa premises.
Two of the trucks reportedly crossed through Forbes Border Post on July 19 before offloading their cargo at the Port of Beira in Mozambique on July 22.
But the operation began to unravel after investigators intercepted three other trucks loaded with lithium ore on July 18 and 21.
The trucks had allegedly loaded their cargo at the Ruwa site and were travelling towards Mutare when they were intercepted after presenting fraudulent Bikita Minerals export documentation.
The three trucks were carrying about 60 tonnes of lithium ore.
Further investigations uncovered another 300 tonnes of lithium ore at the Ruwa plot, while a further 60 tonnes was discovered inside containers abandoned at Lochinvar in Harare.
ZACC said the quantity of ore seized or recovered in the investigations totalled 420 tonnes, while the overall value of both the smuggled and recovered mineral is yet to be established by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Song is expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates Court today, September 5, 2026, for initial remand.
The case comes against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s policy to stop the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrates in an effort to force greater local beneficiation and value addition.
The latest arrests expose the challenges authorities face in enforcing the ban as organised networks allegedly seek to move raw minerals through fraudulent documentation and cross-border logistics.
ZACC has not indicated how many suspects will ultimately face prosecution as investigations continue, with several alleged members of the syndicate still at large.