Zimbabwean Businessman Arrested in Portugal Over Fuel Scandal

Zimbabwean authorities have confirmed the arrest of businessman Tawanda Hairwadzi in Portugal over allegations of misappropriating fuel that was meant for a government ministry.

According to a statement released on Friday by national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Hairwadzi, 43, was apprehended on July 9 after an Interpol Red Notice was issued against him.

Hairwadzi and his wife, Shungu Mwashaireni Hairwadzi, are co-directors of Eptha Energy (Pvt) Ltd. Their company had been contracted by Addax Energy to transport two million litres of fuel on behalf of a government ministry in August 2021.

Commissioner Nyathi explained that between August 1 and November 30, 2021, Addax Energy released over a million litres (1,040,000 litres) of fuel to Eptha Energy, with an agreement that the government would later pay US$743,600 for the consignment.

However, the payment was never made, and further investigation uncovered that Eptha Energy failed to deliver the fuel as agreed, later shutting down its operations altogether.

Authorities launched a formal police investigation in September 2022 when it became apparent that Hairwadzi had left Zimbabwe. Subsequent efforts by Interpol resulted in his capture earlier this month.

Commissioner Nyathi confirmed that the extradition process is now underway.