By Tendai Chisiri
There is an 2022 Presidential Amnesty on voluntary surrender of firearms and compliance with police verification exercise running from 8th August to 30th September by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
In a press statement, the ZRP said they noted that some members of the public are holding on to or be in possession of firearms and ammunition yet some are not licensed or authorized to be in possession of such weapons.
This has led to the current abuse of firearms in the country in clear violations of the provisions of Firearms Act, Chapter 10:09.
“Checks and records have revealed that some companies have closed yet their representatives are still holding onto firearms. Some members of licensed gun clubs are no longer active while some farmers, hunters and individuals are no longer in the same position that they were when they applied for firearms. On the other hand, relatives of late firearm license holders are still holding to firearms with some of them being used to commit various crimes which include armed robbery”, said ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
The ZRP has also observed that some licensed firearm holders are no longer renewing their firearm certificates or even notifying the authorities about the change in residential bor business address to enable constant checks to be made by police on the status of firearms.
“Individuals and institutions are improperly securing firearms resulting in some falling into wrong hands and being used to commit robbery and murder cases. There are some licensed gun dealers and clubs who are holding on to unlicensed firearms which were surrendered to them for safekeeping. These have not ben taken by the owners for a number of years”, added Nyathi.
In this regard, the ZRP advises the public that in line with the Article 12 of SADC Protocol on the control of firearms, ammunition and related materials, the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has granted an amnesty to all members of the public who are in possession of the firearms and ammunition falling under the categories listed above to voluntarily surrender them to the ZRP from 8th August to 30th September 2022.
“The firearms should be surrendered to any nearest police station, with the volunteer being given an official safe custody receipt to confirm that the weapon had indeed been taken by the police officer at the local police station”, said Nyathi.
No criminal charges will be preferred to members of the public during this period as long as one complied with the provisions of the Presidential Amnesty.
The ZRP also said the public should note that physical checks and verifications will be conducted on all residential and business premises where all illegal firearms are suspected to be.
In the same vein, all licensed firearm owners are implored to visit local police stations and update their records in compliance with the Firearms Act, Chapter 10:09, advised the ZRP press and public relations department.
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