Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
TWO men accused of stealing 69 tonnes of lithium ore worth US$207 000 from a stockpile in Ruwa appeared before Harare magistrate, Mr Francis Mapfumo on Wednesday and were remanded in custody to November 13 for a bail application.
Robert Baiwa (38), of Ruwa, and Nigel Tanaka Francisco (27), of Greencroft, Harare, face allegations of conspiring to steal the mineral from a 300-tonne stockpile recovered by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) during an operation in September.
The State, represented by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleged that the pair arranged to sell part of the stockpile, which investigators had recovered at Plot 5 Cheltenham Park Drive in Ruwa on September 9.
The two were represented by advocates Morris Kuwana, of Sadowera Kuwana and Tinotenda Kaseke, of Mugiya Law Chambers.
According to State papers, ZACC investigators recovered 300 tonnes of lithium ore arranged in 30-tonne piles. The mineral was allegedly being stored for illegal export.
Investigators also seized equipment suspected of being used in illegal mineral dealings, including a jaw crusher plant, front-end loader, TLB machines, heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows.
The operation led to the arrest of five people, including two foreign nationals, who remain on remand as investigations continue.
The court heard that Baiwa and his brother, Tirivanhu, had entered into a lease agreement with a Chinese national, allowing him to use their six-hectare property at Plot 5 Cheltenham Drive for US$2 000 monthly.
While arrangements were underway to remove the recovered mineral, Baiwa allegedly enlisted Francisco to find buyers for part of the stockpile.
Francisco reportedly secured a Chinese buyer identified only as Collins, who worked with Esmary Chizengeni, also known as Mai Tadiwa.
On September 22, Collins allegedly sent Chizengeni to inspect the lithium ore. The parties reportedly agreed on US$100 per tonne, with Baiwa undertaking to arrange transportation from the premises to Ruwa Industrial Area.
The State alleged that the following day, Baiwa allegedly instructed Chizengeni to facilitate the removal of the mineral and requested an US$800 deposit, which Francisco received on his behalf.
On September 25, Chizengeni allegedly arranged a truck, registration number AHE 2765, which transported 32 tonnes of lithium ore to Triple A Quarry in Domboshava.
She reportedly paid the outstanding balance on September 27.
On October 21, Francisco allegedly sold another 37 tonnes to Chizengeni. The consignment was transported to Atlanta Lithium plant in Goromonzi.
The alleged theft came to light on November 9 when ZACC investigators inspected the stockpile and discovered that it had been tampered with.
Investigations reportedly established that 69 tonnes were missing, with 32 tonnes traced to Triple A Quarry and the remaining 37 tonnes to Atlanta Lithium plant.
The missing mineral is valued at US$207 000 at the official market price. Efforts to recover the consignments from the two locations are underway.
Police arrested Baiwa and Francisco on Tuesday before bringing them before the court on Wednesday.
