Zimbabwe offers amnesty for voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunitions

Zimbabwe has announced an amnesty for the voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunitions.

“…The Zimbabwe Republic Police advises the public that in line with Article 12 of SADC Protocol on the control of firearms, ammunition and related materials, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has granted an amnesty to all members of the public who are in possession of firearms and ammunition falling under the categories listed above to voluntarily surrender them to the Zimbabwe Republic Police from 8th August to 30th September 2022,” a statement read.

The categories concerned are:

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Some members of licensed gun clubs are no longer active while some farmers, hunters and individuals are no longer in the same position that they were when they applied for firearm licenses.
Relatives of late firearm licence holders are still holding to firearms
Some licensed firearm holders are no longer renewing their firearm certificates or even notifying the authorities about the change in residential or business addresses to enable constant checks to be made by the Police on the status of the firearms.
Some licensed gun dealers and clubs who are holding on to unclaimed firearms which were surrendered to them for safekeeping. These have not been taken by owners for a number of years.
Anyone who is in possession of any weapon which was smuggled or illegally brought into the country.

Police say some of the firearms are falling into wrong hands and being used to commit robbery and murder cases.

“No criminal charges will be preferred to members of the public during this period as long as one complies with the provisions of the Presidential Amnesty,” the statement further added.

Cops further say that ‘physical checks and verifications will be conducted on all residential and business premises where illegal firearms are suspected to be.’

Zimbabwe has seen increase in gun-related crime. Some has resulted in death. Shootouts between cops and robbers have become more regular than in previous periods.