RBZ employee jailed after losing stolen funds to Aviator betting
Napwaro admitted the theft and told investigators he had already used the entire amount on online betting.
Zimbabwe.- A Zimbabwean court has sentenced a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) employee to an effective 36 months in prison after he stole US$1,500 from his workplace and lost the money on online betting.
The convict, Petsi Napwaro, 44, worked as a general hand at the central bank. He was found guilty of theft after breaking into an office at RBZ headquarters along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare.
Prosecutors said the money belonged to assets manager Bernard Kenneth Chitenje, who had left US$1,500 in his office drawer after locking the property on April 25, 2026.
Investigations revealed that Napwaro gained entry by exploiting a partially open window, using a chair to climb into the office without authorisation. Once inside, he took the cash and left the scene unnoticed, according to prosecutors. The missing money was later discovered, triggering a police report that led to his arrest.
During interrogation, Napwaro admitted the theft and told investigators he had already used the entire amount on online betting, mainly through Aviator, popularly known as “Kandege”. He also indicated that the betting activity was carried out using accounts linked to other individuals.
While the funds were eventually recovered, the court ruled that the intentional break-in and misuse of access rights justified jail time. The judge handed him a 57-month sentence, suspending 12 months for five years and a further 10 months subject to restitution, leaving 36 months to be served in custody.
