A Chinese national accused of masterminding an alleged scheme to smuggle 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore out of Zimbabwe has been remanded in custody pending a bail hearing, as authorities step up efforts to curb the illegal movement of the country’s mineral resources.
MinMin Song (30), finance director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, appeared before Harare magistrate Jessy Kufa on Saturday facing allegations of facilitating an illegal lithium processing and export operation at Ruwa.
Song, who was represented by lawyer Braine Hwachi, was remanded in custody until Tuesday, when her bail application is expected to be heard.
The case comes as Zimbabwe intensifies its crackdown on mineral smuggling and tightens controls over lithium exports as part of a broader push to retain more value from its mineral resources.
Government suspended exports of lithium concentrates and raw lithium minerals in February, while producers are expected to move towards local beneficiation ahead of the January 2027 deadline for the end of concentrate exports.
The alleged movement of 720 tonnes therefore comes against a significantly tougher regulatory backdrop, with authorities seeking to prevent raw and semi-processed lithium from leaving the country outside the approved export framework.
The State alleges Song worked with Orequest co-director Ning Yaokun, who remains at large, and another Chinese national identified as Andy to establish an operation designed to process and move lithium ore to China using fraudulent export documentation.
Prosecutors allege the operation was established in December 2025 after Song and Yaokun leased a six-hectare property at Plot 5 Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, for US$2,000 a month.
The property was allegedly equipped with jaw crushers, front-end loaders, wheelbarrows and TLB machines, while prefabricated structures were erected and local workers hired.
According to the State, the operation began stockpiling lithium ore in April, with processing for export starting the following month.
Song is also accused of working with Shuvai Muza and Charlene Tanyaradzwa Chivandire, who are already on remand, to prepare fraudulent documentation, organise haulage and facilitate payments linked to the alleged operation.
The State alleges Orequest initially booked 40 shipping containers with Maersk Harare, while Muza and Chivandire allegedly worked with transport brokers to secure heavy-haulage trucks.
The alleged operation also involved Mutare clearing agent Brian Sakarombe, who prosecutors claim was supplied with fraudulent export documents carrying the name of Bikita Minerals to facilitate customs clearance.
The use of the allegedly fraudulent Bikita Minerals documents adds another layer to the case, given the company’s position among Zimbabwe’s major lithium producers operating under the country’s controlled export regime.
Sakarombe was subsequently arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials following the interception of two trucks carrying lithium ore at Forbes Border Post.
Prosecutors allege that 23 trucks, each carrying about 30 tonnes of lithium ore, successfully passed through Forbes Border Post, while a further 30 tonnes had been cleared, bringing the alleged quantity exported to 720 tonnes.
Authorities subsequently recovered 420 tonnes of lithium following the investigation.
Of the recovered material, 300 tonnes were allegedly found stockpiled at the Ruwa premises, while another 60 tonnes were recovered from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Lochinvar, Harare. A further 60 tonnes were intercepted at Forbes Border Post.
The alleged scheme came to light on July 23 after trucks carrying lithium were intercepted at the border while allegedly presenting fraudulent Bikita Minerals export documentation.
The case forms part of a wider mineral-smuggling problem confronting Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe recently recorded 18 suspected mineral-smuggling and irregular-movement cases between January and August 20, involving 2,654.88 tonnes of mineral material and metal scrap, with lithium, chrome and silica among the minerals implicated.
The growing enforcement focus comes as Zimbabwe seeks to ensure that its mineral wealth contributes more significantly to domestic industrialisation rather than being exported in raw or minimally processed form.
The State alleges the operation caused financial prejudice to Zimbabwe, although the value of the loss is yet to be established by Ministry of Mines evaluators.
Song remains in custody pending the Tuesday bail hearing.
