Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A businessman accused of masterminding an illegal scheme to export 720 tonnes of lithium ore to China has been granted US$1 000 bail by the Harare Magistrates Court.
Ning Yaokan, a co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa facing fraud allegations.
He was remanded to September 30 for finalisation of investigations, while the matter has been transferred to the Mutare Magistrates Court for trial.
The State alleges that Ning established an illegal mineral processing and dispatch operation at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, with the intention of fraudulently exporting lithium ore to China through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that Ning entered into a six-month lease agreement with Robert and Tirivanhu Baiwa for a six-hectare stand at a monthly rental of US$2 000.
A week after securing the property in December 2025, Ning allegedly moved equipment to the site, including jaw crushers, a front-end loader and TLB machines, and erected prefabricated structures.
The State alleges that Ning began stockpiling lithium ore at the premises in April this year before commencing processing operations the following month.
He allegedly enlisted Shuvai Muza and Charlene Tanyaradzwa Chivandire, who are already on remand, to handle ground operations, prepare fraudulent documentation and arrange transport of the mineral.
On July 16, Orequest allegedly made a booking with Maersk in Harare for 40 shipping containers, while transport brokers were engaged to ferry the ore to Mutare.
The State alleges that fraudulent export documents bearing the name of Bikita Minerals, a fully licenced and recognised mining houses, were prepared to facilitate the illegal export and evade customs requirements.
Brian Sakarombe was allegedly tasked with handling customs exit formalities at Forbes Border Post.
Six heavy haulage trucks were subsequently dispatched to the Ruwa premises to collect the lithium ore.
One of the trucks, belonging to Kutaki Investments (Pvt) Ltd, allegedly loaded lithium ore on July 16, crossed Forbes Border Post on July 19 and delivered the cargo to the Port of Beira in Mozambique on July 22.
Two other trucks were intercepted at Forbes Border Post on July 23 after allegedly presenting fraudulent documents bearing the name of Bikita Minerals.
Sakarombe was later arrested after he allegedly attempted to facilitate a bribe to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials.
Meanwhile, two ENG Logistics trucks allegedly loaded the ore into containers and proceeded to Ruwa before being ordered to wait following the interception at the border.
The trucks later offloaded their cargo at a truck stop in Lochinvar, while another truck returned its load to the Ruwa premises.
A subsequent inspection allegedly recovered 420 tonnes of lithium ore at the Ruwa site, 60 tonnes from aborted container loads and another 60 tonnes intercepted at Forbes Border Post.
The State alleges that 23 trucks had already successfully exported 690 tonnes, while a further 30 tonnes were cleared on the Kutaki truck, bringing the total quantity allegedly involved in the scheme to 720 tonnes.
Ning allegedly fled to China on July 29 after realising that the operation had been compromised, but was arrested on his return.
The financial prejudice allegedly suffered by the State is yet to be quantified by Ministry of Mines evaluators.
