Airport employee arrested for stealing jet fuel from grounded airplane

A 49-year-old Air Zimbabwe employee, Jacob Mutemeri, has been arrested for allegedly stealing Jet A1 fuel from a company aircraft at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The theft, which unfolded over several nights, came to light after maintenance work on the plane, a Boeing 737, nicknamed “Mbuya Nehanda.”

According to The Herald, Mutemeri took advantage of the grounded aircraft, which had arrived from Botswana on November 8, 2024. The plane, requiring maintenance due to a reported leak, was parked at the airline’s Engine Run Section with 6.3 tonnes of fuel onboard. Mutemeri is said to have devised a plan to siphon the fuel over multiple nights.

The prosecution claims that starting November 15, 2024, Mutemeri drove an Air Zimbabwe Nissan Navara to the hangar under the cover of darkness, where he allegedly siphoned fuel into containers before exiting the premises via Gate A3. This activity reportedly occurred again on November 16 and 18.

The scheme was uncovered on November 22, 2024, during maintenance work when technicians discovered that fuel had been stolen from the aircraft. A report was filed with authorities, leading to Mutemeri’s arrest. Mutemeri, who appeared before a Harare magistrate, has been charged with theft. He was granted bail of US$150 and is scheduled to reappear in court on January 23, 2025.