Orequest Finance Director Arrested Over 720-Tonne Lithium Smuggling Scandal
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Orequest (Pvt) Ltd Finance Director MinMin Song over a scheme to smuggle more than 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium out of Zimbabwe.
Song’s arrest adds another suspect to a case involving an alleged mineral smuggling syndicate operating from Ruwa.
She is expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates Court on Saturday, 5 September 2026, for initial remand.
The case centres on alleged attempts to move lithium out of the country through Forbes Border Post using fraudulent export documentation.
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Two Co-Accused Already On Remand
Song joins Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire, who were arrested on 27 August.
The two suspects are already on remand in connection with the investigation.
ZACC revealed that Song worked with Ning Yaokun and a Chinese national identified only as Andy.
Both Yaokun and Andy remain at large.
Authorities allege that the group established an illegal mineral processing and dispatch facility at a plot in Ruwa during 2025.
The operation allegedly became fully active in May this year.
Ruwa Site Used To Process And Stockpile Lithium
Investigators allege that lithium ore was transported to the Ruwa property and stockpiled there before being prepared for export.
Chivandire and another suspect identified as Malvern, who is also still at large, allegedly handled activities on the ground.
Their alleged responsibilities included processing export paperwork and connecting the operation with local transport brokers.
The syndicate allegedly moved to arrange international freight in July.
Song reportedly made an initial booking with Maersk Harare for 40 shipping containers.
She also allegedly engaged All Way Global (Pvt) Ltd to source heavy-duty trucks for transporting the mineral.
690 Tonnes Leave Zimbabwe
According to ZACC, the syndicate managed to move 23 trucks through Forbes Border Post.
Each truck allegedly carried a 30-tonne container loaded with lithium ore.
The combined consignment amounted to about 690 tonnes.
Investigators allege that fraudulent documents purporting to originate from Bikita Minerals were used to facilitate the exports.
Chivandire and Malvern allegedly engaged Mutare-based clearing agent Brian Sakarombe to handle customs procedures.
ZACC alleges that Malvern supplied Sakarombe with the fraudulent paperwork.
The investigation later uncovered further movements linked to the operation.
More Trucks Intercepted
Yaokun allegedly arranged for another six trucks to collect containers from the Ruwa premises.
Two of them reportedly passed through Forbes Border Post on 19 July before reaching the Port of Beira in Mozambique on 22 July.
However, authorities intercepted three other trucks after they loaded lithium ore at the Ruwa site on 18 and 21 July.
The vehicles had travelled towards Mutare but were stopped after allegedly presenting fraudulent Bikita Minerals export documents.
The three trucks were carrying a combined 60 tonnes of lithium ore.
Hundreds Of Tonnes Recovered
Investigations subsequently led authorities to additional lithium stocks connected to the alleged operation.
A further 300 tonnes were reportedly discovered at the Ruwa property.
Another 60 tonnes were found inside containers abandoned at Lochinvar in Harare.
This brought the quantity of recovered ore to 420 tonnes.
ZACC said the value of the lithium that was allegedly smuggled and the material recovered during the investigation has not yet been determined.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is expected to establish its value.
Raw Mineral Exports Banned
The case comes against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s policy to promote mineral beneficiation.
Earlier this year, the Government prohibited the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrates as part of efforts to encourage local processing and value addition.
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