A 49-year-old Air Zimbabwe employee, Jacob Mutemeri, has been arrested for stealing Jet A1 fuel from a grounded aircraft at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
According to The Herald, the State alleges that Mutemeri exploited the situation of a grounded Air Zimbabwe Boeing 737, nicknamed “Mbuya Nehanda,” which had arrived from Botswana on November 8, 2024.
The aircraft, requiring maintenance for a reported leak, was parked at the airline’s Engine Run Section with 6.3 tonnes of fuel on board.
Mutemeri reportedly devised a plan to siphon fuel from the aircraft over several nights. Starting on November 15, 2024, he allegedly drove an Air Zimbabwe Nissan Navara to the hangar under the cover of darkness. Using containers, he is accused of siphoning fuel and exiting the premises via Gate A3.
This activity allegedly continued on November 16 and 18, with Mutemeri entering the airport premises at odd hours and leaving with stolen fuel.
The scheme was uncovered on November 22, 2024, during maintenance work to address the reported leak. Technicians discovered a fuel discrepancy, prompting a report to be filed with authorities. Mutemeri was subsequently arrested.
Jacob Mutemeri appeared before a Harare magistrate, where he was charged with theft. He was granted bail of US$150 and is scheduled to reappear in court on January 23, 2025.
