Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A CHINESE national was arrested for orchestrating an elaborate scheme to smuggle 180 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore from Zimbabwe to China through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
Huanyi Chen was arrested following an operation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) that allegedly uncovered an attempt to export the strategic mineral without the requisite Government approvals.
Chen, who was represented by Mr Kennias Chimiti of Machaya Legal Practitioners, appeared before Harare magistrate, Mr Marehwanzvo Gofa on Wednesday, facing charges in both his personal capacity and as a representative of Zhe Li Mining (Private) Limited.
He was granted bail of US$3 500, and is expected to return to court on November 20.
He was charged with attempted smuggling as defined in Section 189 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) as read with Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 23;02, (6), alternatively contravening Section 6 of the Base Minerals Act (Chapter 21:01) as read with Section 1(c) of the Schedule of the Base Minerals Export Control (Unbeneficiated Base Mineral Ore) Mineral Ores) Order, 2023 (Statutory Instrument 5 of 2023). Statutory Instrument 57 of 2023.
The first accused is Zhe Li Mining (Pvt) Ltd, a company duly incorporated under the laws of Zimbabwe, carrying on the business of mining and situated at Unit 33, FBC Clusters, Eastlea, Zvishavane.
The company was represented by its director, Huanyi Chen, in terms of Section 385 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9:07].
The second accused is Huanyi Chen, a Chinese national, acting in his personal capacity, and also in his capacity as Zhe Li Mining director.
The court heard that sometime in September 2026, Chen hatched a plan to export unbeneficiated lithium base mineral ore from Zimbabwe to China.
The planned export was without the mandatory written permit from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development and without the required authorisation from the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ).
In pursuance of this unlawful corporate enterprise, Zhe Li Mining (Pvt) Ltd tasked Zhao Xin to arrange for six heavy-vehicle trucks to be loaded with lithium from the mine stockpile in Mberengwa for direct export to China.
Acting on the explicit directives of Zhe Li Mining (Pvt) Ltd, Zhao contacted a transport operator, Desmond Takudzwa Thom, to supply the required haulage logistics to transport the lithium concentrate from Mberengwa to Port of Beira, Mozambique, in transit through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
From September 25 to 29, and in execution of the contract, Desmond Takudzwa Thom supplied six haulage trucks (horse and trailer combinations).
These vehicles were loaded with the unbeneficiated lithium ore at the Mberengwa site and dispatched towards Forbes Border Post.
On September 28, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) received intelligence to the effect that the six trucks were transporting lithium ore from Mberengwa intending to smuggle the base mineral to China via Forbes Border Post using fictitious documentation.
On September 29, ZACC officials simultaneously intercepted two of the trucks at truck stops in Mutare close to the border.
The ZACC officers requested the drivers to produce the mandatory statutory export documentation authorising the physical movement and export of the lithium concentrate.
No valid export permits were availed, leading to the immediate detention of the two trucks and their 60-tonne cargo at the GMS Dry Port, Mutare.
Upon the interception of the first two vehicles, the truck drivers immediately informed Desmond Takudzwa Thom who instructed the drivers of the remaining four trucks to immediately halt their transit to the border, offload the illicit lithium consignments at truck stops in Mutare and Rusape, and attend to other business.
Consequently, follow-up investigations by law enforcement agents led to the recovery of the diverted cargo, comprising a 90-tonne stockpile offloaded at a truck stop in Mutare, and a 30-tonne stockpile offloaded at a garage in Rusape.
The total recoveries effected from the accused persons’ illicit operation comprise 180 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore.
ZACC intercepts China-bound 180t lithium ore
