HARARE – While the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is usually busy trying to stabilize the currency, one of its employees was busy trying to “multiply” the bank’s US dollars on the popular online betting game, Aviator—famously known as Kandege.
Unfortunately for 44-year-old Petsi Napwaro, the plane crashed both literally and figuratively.
Napwaro, a general hand at the RBZ headquarters along Samora Machel Avenue, has been sentenced to an effective 36 months in prison after a daring heist at his workplace ended in a gambling disaster.
The “Mission Impossible” Heist
The court heard that on April 25, 2026, Napwaro targeted the office of Assets Manager Benard Kenneth Chitenje. After Chitenje secured his office leaving US$1,500 in a drawer, Napwaro spotted an opportunity—a slightly open window.
In a move straight out of an action movie, the general hand used a chair to scale the window and gain entry into the high-security building’s office. He snatched the US$1,500 and vanished unnoticed.
Betting on the ‘Kandege’
Instead of disappearing or investing the loot, Napwaro headed straight for the “cockpit.” He admitted to investigators that he funneled the entire stolen amount into Aviator betting accounts belonging to two individuals, Tanatswa Honde and Lennon Masotha.
As every Kandege player knows, the higher the plane flies, the higher the multiplier—but if you don’t cash out before it flies away, you lose everything. Napwaro didn’t cash out. By the time police caught up with him, the US$1,500 was gone.
The Judgment
Despite the money eventually being recovered (likely through restitution or from his associates), the magistrate took a dim view of Napwaro’s “get rich quick” scheme.
He was slapped with a 57-month prison sentence. However, the court suspended 12 months for five years and another 10 months on the condition of restitution. This leaves the former RBZ worker with an effective 3 years (36 months) behind bars.
Why This Matters
The Aviator craze has taken Zimbabwe by storm, with many seeing it as a quick way to escape economic hardships. However, this case highlights the growing desperation and the risks individuals are willing to take—even within the walls of the nation’s most secure financial institution.
For Napwaro, the plane didn’t just fly away; it took his job and his freedom with it.
