A 49-year-old Air Zimbabwe employee has been arrested for allegedly stealing Jet A1 fuel from a grounded aircraft at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The accused, identified as Jacob Mutemeri, reportedly drained fuel from an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 737, nicknamed “Mbuya Nehanda.” The aircraft, which had arrived from Botswana on November 8, 2024, was parked in the airline’s Engine Run Section for maintenance due to a reported fuel leak. At the time, the plane contained 6.3 tonnes of jet fuel.
According to prosecutors, Mutemeri began siphoning the fuel on November 15, 2024. Using an Air Zimbabwe Nissan Navara, he allegedly accessed the hangar under the cover of darkness, filled containers with fuel, and exited through Gate A3. The theft reportedly continued on November 16 and November 18.
The theft was uncovered during maintenance work on November 22, 2024, when technicians identified the missing fuel and reported the incident to authorities. Mutemeri was later arrested and charged with theft.
Mutemeri appeared before a Harare magistrate and was granted bail of $150. He is scheduled to return to court on January 23, 2025, to face the charges.
The incident has raised concerns over airport security and the safety of grounded aircraft.
