Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THREE Chinese nationals and their two Zimbabwean counterparts have been arrested for carrying illegal mining activities.
The five, who are directors and managers at Beable Investment Private Limited, have already appeared in court accused of extracting clay and moulding bricks without a licence from the Environmental Management Agency and of contempt of court.
Ye Youying (43), Zhou Jiacheng (38), Chen Fengzhou (55), Ndai Mutarabusha (47) and Taurai Pundo (27) were arrested on Tuesday and appeared before Harare magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe on Thursday, who granted Mutarabusha and Pundo US$100 bail with reporting conditions and surrender of travel documents, while the three foreigners will have to stay in prison until Monday as their immigration status was yet to be verified.
Appearing for the prosecution, Lorrence Gangarahwa said on June 29, 2023, Beable Investment Private Limited was issued with a mining certificate of registration for clay and consequently an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report from the Environmental Management Agency.
On October 17, 2024, following a petition made by Umwinsdale residents that they were not consulted during the EIA review process citing adverse and detrimental environment irreversible consequences from the project, the issued mining registration certificate and EIA certificate were suspended pending cancellation.
Beable Investment Private Limited was ordered to stop operations.
Despite the suspension orders, the accused persons ignored the orders and operated at full swing.
In Annexure to ZRP Form 242 DR 29/10/25, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Guidemore Saruchera, from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Harare, appended that since their arrest, Ye, Zhou and Chen were yet to produce formal identification particulars, hence he needed to check with the Interpol National Central Bureau Harare, as well as their immigration status with the Department of Immigration.
The court heard that on August 24, 2025, Elene Athina Bruggisser, the secretary of Marimba Residential Properties Limited, reported to the police that they obtained a provisional order from the High Court of Zimbabwe dated 27/06/25, directing Beable Investments (Private) Limited to stop its clay extraction and brick moulding operation at a piece of land in Springs Farm, which Marimba Residential Properties Limited are registered owners.
The matter was referred to CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit, Harare for further management.
Upon carrying investigations, the detectives established that Beable Investments, on October 17, 2024, received separate orders or directives to stop its operations from the Mines and Mining Development ministry and the other from the Environmental Management Agency.
In the same letter dated October 17, 2024, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, nullified mining registration certificate number ME2064BM in Beable Investments’ name.
Further investigations established that on February 3, 2025, EMA reviewed an order served to Beable Investments two days earlier.
In the review letter, the company was directed to stop operations until it produced proof of land lease from the responsible authorities.
However, despite a High Court order and directives to stop operations from EMA and the Mines and Mining Development ministry, the accused persons connived with Lin Weilan, who is at large, disobeyed the directives and order and continued extracting clay and brick moulding operation at the farm.
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