Air Zimbabwe employee steals jet fuel from parked plane

HARARE — A 49-year-old Air Zimbabwe employee has been charged with stealing Jet A1 fuel from a Boeing 737 while it awaited servicing at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Jacob Mutemeri, who appeared at Harare magistrates’ court earlier this week, was granted $150 bail and is due back on January 23, 2025.

Prosecutors allege that Mutemeri drained fuel from the plane, named “Mbuya Nehanda,” over several nights in November. The aircraft had arrived from Botswana on November 8, 2024, with 6.3 tonnes of fuel and was awaiting maintenance for reported defects.

According to the State, Mutemeri used an Air Zimbabwe vehicle to access the plane, siphoning fuel into containers and leaving through the airport’s Gate A3. This alleged operation occurred between November 15 and 22.

The theft was discovered during maintenance on November 22 when a reported fuel leak turned out to be missing fuel. Mutemeri was arrested shortly afterward.

Air Zimbabwe and the authorities have not commented publicly on the incident.