Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
TAWANDA Hairwadzi thought it wouldn’t hurt, but now he’s feeling the pain.
He vanished with over a million litres of fuel about four years ago.
This week, the heat finally caught up with him after he was arrested in Portugal.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the 43-year-old fugitive on 9 July, in connection with a high-stakes Theft of Trust Property case that rocked the energy and government sectors.
Hairwadzi and his wife, Shungu Mwashaireni Hairwadzi, ran Eptha Energy [Private] Limited, a transport company contracted by Addax Energy in August 2021 to deliver 2 million litres of fuel to a government ministry.
Between August and November 2021, Addax released 1 040 000 litres of fuel, valued at US$ 743 600, for delivery. The fuel never reached its destination. The ministry never got it. And Addax was left hanging.
“It was discovered that Eptha Energy [Private] Limited had not delivered the fuel to the government ministry and had since closed operations,” said Comm Nyathi.
By the time authorities pieced together the betrayal, Hairwadzi had vanished. A report was filed in September 2022, triggering an INTERPOL Red Notice.
The global manhunt ended on 9 July in Portugal, where the fugitive was finally caged.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Tawanda Hairwadzi… The extradition process is underway. More details will be released in due course,” said Comm Nyathi.
Ironically, Hairwadzi’s surname means “it doesn’t hurt.” But with extradition looming and court dates ahead, the pain is just beginning.
Stay tuned — B-Metro will be watching as the noose tightens around one of Zimbabwe’s most audacious fuel fraudsters.
