The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) has recorded 18 cases of suspected mineral smuggling and irregular mineral movement between January and 20 August 2026, as strengthened Mineral Resource Accounting controls tighten scrutiny of mineral movements from mine to border, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The cases involved 2,654.88 tonnes of mineral material and metal scrap, with lithium, chrome and silica dominating the case register, according to MMCZ’s maiden Mineral Resource Accounting and Surveillance Market Update.
The figure includes a 1,500-tonne chrome concentrate stockpile in Darwendale that was placed under embargo while investigations continue. The remaining recorded cases account for 1,154.88 tonnes.
MMCZ General Manager Dr Nomusa Jane Moyo said the offences detected included movement without valid documentation, misuse or falsification of export papers, cargo misdeclaration and attempted movement of unbeneficiated mineral ore.
Critical minerals have become a particular focus of MMCZ’s surveillance efforts, in line with the Government’s broader push for beneficiation and tighter controls on the export of unbeneficiated minerals.
Most of the cases were recorded at border points, reflecting a significant strengthening of MMCZ’s enforcement capacity through the deployment of Mineral Resource Accounting inspectors.
Previously, the Corporation had no permanent Mineral Resource Accounting Inspectorate presence at border posts. Inspectors are now verifying mineral movements, physically inspecting cargo and collecting samples where technical confirmation is required.
One of the major interceptions occurred at Forbes Border Post on July 27, when MMCZ inspectors intercepted a truck carrying 33 tonnes of lithium spodumene ore.
According to MMCZ, the consignment was being transported using photocopied export papers purporting to cover lithium concentrate. The matter was referred to the Criminal Investigation Department’s Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (CIDMFFU), while the agent was taken into custody pending a court appearance.
A few days later, on August 3, MMCZ inspectors at Forbes intercepted another consignment comprising three tonnes of lithium ore and 28 tonnes of spodumene concentrate.
The matter was handed over to CIDMFFU, with MMCZ saying the company subsequently pleaded guilty to smuggling and was fined.
The latest border case recorded during the period under review occurred at Beitbridge on August 20, where a truck carrying 36.88 tonnes of suspected copper and aluminium scrap was intercepted while destined for South Africa.
MMCZ said the vehicle had no supporting documentation for the cargo and had reportedly been presented as an empty truck. The driver was arrested under the Copper Control Act, while samples were collected for laboratory analysis.
Dr Moyo said the Corporation was maintaining a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal mineral exports, with strengthened Mineral Resource Accounting intended to improve oversight of minerals produced and exported from Zimbabwe.
Detection of suspected illegal mineral movements is increasingly intelligence-led and involves cooperation between MMCZ and agencies including CIDMFFU, Zimbabwe Republic Police Intelligence, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Outcomes recorded during the period include arrests, court appearances, fines, forfeiture of mineral ore to the State, impoundment of consignments, the return of undocumented minerals to their source and ongoing investigations.
MMCZ said the cases had also demonstrated the importance of physical inspections, noting that documentation alone was insufficient to detect cargo substitution, incorrect export documents and cases where mineral ore was presented as processed concentrate.
The Corporation said it will continue tightening Mineral Resource Accounting through border inspections, mine-level monitoring, intelligence-led surveillance, sampling, mineral verification and joint enforcement operations.
“The objective is to ensure that Zimbabwe can account for its mineral resources from source to market and that mineral exports comply with national laws and Government policy on value addition and beneficiation,” Dr Moyo said.
