A Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) employee has been jailed after stealing US$1,500 from his workplace and losing the money through online betting. Petsi Napwaro, 44, a general hand at the central bank, was convicted of theft after admitting that he broke into an office and took the cash, which he later exhausted through Aviator betting—popularly known as “Kandege.”

The court imposed an effective 36-month prison term. Court records state that Napwaro targeted the office of Assets Manager Benard Kenneth Chitenje at RBZ headquarters on Samora Machel Avenue. According to the State, on 25 April 2026, the complainant left cash US$1,500 in a drawer after securing his office around 09:30 hours.

Prosecutors said Napwaro took advantage of a slightly open window, then used a chair to scale through and enter the office without permission. Inside, he allegedly took US$1,500, before leaving unnoticed. The theft was discovered when the complainant returned, leading to a police report and investigations that resulted in Napwaro’s arrest.

During questioning, Napwaro confessed and explained what he did with the stolen money. The State said he admitted the offence and indicated that he had already exhausted the funds through betting, using Tanatswa Honde’s and Lennon Masotha’s accounts.

Napwaro also led detectives to the scene and made indications about how the crime was carried out. Although the stolen money was later recovered, the court found his actions unlawful and ruled that he deserved custodial punishment. Napwaro received a sentence of 57 months, with 12 months suspended for five years, and 10 months suspended on condition of restitution, resulting in an effective 36 months in prison.