A Chinese national accused of masterminding a scheme to smuggle 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore out of Zimbabwe has been remanded in custody until Tuesday for a bail hearing.
MinMin Song (30), the finance director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, appeared before Harare magistrate Jessy Kufa on Saturday represented by lawyer Braine Hwachi.
The State alleges Song and her accomplices established an illegal lithium processing and dispatch operation in Ruwa, using fraudulent export documents to move the mineral through Forbes Border Post in Mutare to China.
Song, who is on a valid temporary work permit expiring in May 2027, is accused of acting with Orequest co-director Ning Yaokun, who is still at large, and another Chinese national identified only as Andy.
Prosecutors allege the scheme was conceived in December 2025, after which Song and Yaokun leased a six-hectare property at Plot 5 Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, for US$2,000 a month.
They allegedly installed jaw crushers, front-end loaders, wheelbarrows and TLB machines, erected prefabricated structures and employed local workers.
The State alleges the operation began stockpiling lithium ore in April and processing it for export in May.
Song is further accused of working with Shuvai Muza and Charlene Tanyaradzwa Chivandire, who are already on remand, to process fraudulent paperwork, arrange haulage and facilitate payments to people involved in the operation.
According to prosecutors, Orequest made an initial booking with Maersk Harare for 40 shipping containers, while Muza and Chivandire allegedly engaged transport brokers to source heavy haulage trucks.
The State alleges the accused also engaged Mutare clearing agent Brian Sakarombe to handle customs formalities and supplied him with fraudulent export documents bearing the name of Bikita Minerals.
Sakarombe was later arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials after two trucks carrying lithium were intercepted at Forbes Border Post, the State said.
Prosecutors allege 23 trucks carrying 30-tonne loads of lithium ore were successfully exported through Forbes Border Post, while another 30 tonnes were cleared, bringing the total quantity allegedly smuggled out of Zimbabwe to 720 tonnes.
The State further alleges 420 tonnes were recovered following the bust.
Of that amount, 300 tonnes were found stockpiled at the Ruwa premises, 60 tonnes were recovered from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Lochinvar, Harare, and another 60 tonnes were intercepted at Forbes Border Post.
The alleged scheme was exposed after trucks carrying lithium were intercepted on July 23 after presenting fraudulent Bikita Minerals export documents, according to the State.
The prosecution alleges the accused and her accomplices caused financial prejudice to the State, although the value has yet to be quantified by Ministry of Mines evaluators.
Song was remanded in custody until Tuesday when her bail application is expected to be heard.-newsday
