‎By Maxwell Mapungwana
‎HARARE — The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested a Chinese national and co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, Ning Yaokun, also known as Tony, in connection with the smuggling of lithium ore out of Zimbabwe.
‎In a statement, the anti-corruption watchdog said Yaokun surrendered himself to the authorities on Wednesday, and was subsequently arrested.
‎”The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirms the arrest of Ning Yaokun, a Chinese national also known as Tony and co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, in connection with the alleged smuggling of lithium ore out of Zimbabwe.
He faces charges of contravening Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02], attempted smuggling as defined under Section 189 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], as read with Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act, and unlawful dealing.
‎According to investigations by ZACC, Orequest 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 Commission sai the syndicate used fraudulent documentation to facilitate the export of lithium ore through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
‎Investigations have established that about 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore were smuggled out of the country, resulting in financial prejudice to the State.
‎The full extent of the financial loss is yet to be quantified.
‎As part of the investigations, ZACC recovered 420 tonnes of lithium ore.
‎Of the recovered material, 300 tonnes were seized from the stockpile at the Ruwa site, while 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 anti-corruption body also seized equipment used in the illicit operations, including a jaw-crusher plant, a front-end loader, TLB machines, a heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows.
‎Yaokun is the latest suspect to be arrested in the investigation.
‎Other accused persons in the matter are Minmin Song, also a Chinese national, Shuvai Muza and Charlene Chivandire. The three have already appeared before the courts and are currently on remand.
‎Another suspect, identified only as Malvern, remains at large.
‎The case comes amid continued efforts by authorities to curb the illegal extraction and movement of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources, with lithium among the minerals attracting significant interest from international markets.
‎Yaokun’s appearance in court is expected to shed further light on the allegations as the State proceeds with its case.
