HARARE – A 44-year-old Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) employee has been jailed for an effective 36 months after stealing US$1,500 from the central bank and spending it on online gambling.
Pets Napwaro, of George Drive in Masasa, Harare, and employed as a general hand at the central bank appeared before magistrate Mahi Ayanda Dhlamini where he pleaded guilty to theft.
He was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment, with 12 months suspended for five years and a further 10 months suspended on condition of restitution, leaving him to serve 36 months.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri told the court that Napwaro, a general hand at RBZ, stole the money from the office of assets manager Benard Kenneth Chitenje.
“On April 25, 2026, at around 9.30AM, the complainant secured his office… leaving cash US$1,500 in a drawer,” the prosecution said.
The court heard that Napwaro took advantage of a slightly open window to execute the theft.
“The accused person… used a chair to scale through the window to gain entry into the office without any permission,” the prosecutor said. “Whilst inside the office the accused person took cash US$1,500… and went away unnoticed.”
The theft was discovered when the complainant returned, leading to a police report and investigations that resulted in Napwaro’s arrest.
Upon questioning, Napwaro confessed and revealed how he disposed of the money.
“He admitted to have committed the offence and indicated that he had already exhausted the stolen money through betting… Aviator (Kandege),” the State said, adding that he used third-party accounts to place the bets.
He later led detectives to the scene and made indications confirming how he carried out the offence.
The stolen money was recovered.
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