Chinese national arrested over alleged smuggling of 180 tonnes of lithium ore

A Chinese national has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to smuggle 180 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore from Zimbabwe to China through Forbes Border Post in Mutare.

Huanyi Chen, a director of Zhe Li Mining (Private) Limited, was arrested following an operation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, which allegedly uncovered an attempt to export the strategic mineral without government approvals.

Chen, who was represented by Kennias Chimiti of Machaya Legal Practitioners, appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanzvo Gofa on Wednesday. He faces charges in his personal capacity and as a representative of the company.

He was granted US$3,500 bail and is expected to return to court on 20 November.

He is charged with attempted smuggling as defined in Section 189 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act, alternatively contravening Section 6 of the Base Minerals Act as read with the Base Minerals Export Control (Unbeneficiated Base Mineral Ores) Order, 2023.

The first accused is Zhe Li Mining (Pvt) Ltd, a mining company registered in Zimbabwe and based at Unit 33, FBC Clusters, Eastlea, Zvishavane. The company is represented by its director, Huanyi Chen, who is the second accused in his personal capacity, in terms of Section 385 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

The court heard that sometime in September 2026, Chen allegedly hatched a plan to export lithium ore from Mberengwa to China without the mandatory written permit from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development and without authorisation from the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.

To execute the plan, the company tasked Zhao Xin to arrange six heavy vehicles to be loaded from its stockpile in Mberengwa for direct export to China via the Port of Beira in Mozambique, transiting through Forbes Border Post. Zhao contacted transport operator Desmond Takudzwa Thom to provide haulage.

Between 25 and 29 September, Thom supplied six horse-and-trailer combinations which were loaded at Mberengwa and dispatched towards the border.

On 28 September, ZACC received intelligence that the six trucks were transporting lithium ore and intended to smuggle it using fictitious documentation.

On 29 September, ZACC officers intercepted two of the trucks at truck stops in Mutare, close to the border. The drivers failed to produce valid export permits, and the two trucks and their 60-tonne cargo were detained at GMS Dry Port in Mutare.

After the interception, the drivers informed Thom, who instructed the drivers of the remaining four trucks to halt their journey, offload the ore at truck stops in Mutare and Rusape, and attend to other business.

Follow-up investigations led to the recovery of a 90-tonne stockpile at a truck stop in Mutare and a 30-tonne stockpile at a garage in Rusape, bringing the total recovered to 180 tonnes.

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