Zimbabwe moves to tighten gun laws

The Zimbabwe government says it will move to tighten gun control laws in the country in the wake of a spate firearm related crimes.

This was revealed by the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere at a post-cabinet news briefing on Tuesday.

“The amendments seek to regulate the registration and licensing of firearms, and the establishment of a firearms database and registry,” he said

“The Amendment Bill will make provision for the classification of firearms certificates to differentiate those issued to individuals and juristic persons.”

Some of the amendments are

introducing psychological and training tests before one is issued with a firearm certificate;
placing an age restriction on the possession of firearms;
regulate the number of firearms per person;
providing for the profiling of all firearms for purposes of easy identification and tracing thereof; and
specifying the penalties for firearm offences, including the failure to properly secure firearms.

Historically, Zimbabwe has not had an issue with guns but that has changed somewhat in recent times.

The country’s gun control is government by the Firearms Act of 1957. It was last amended in 1972.