Ayesha Nyanzunda
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched the 2024 amnesty on voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition, running for the whole month of September.
In a statement, ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Nyathi said, “The exercise is aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation, thereby enhancing public safety and reducing the risk of firearm related crimes.”
The public and relevant institutions are urged to surrender their firearms at the nearest police station under the following categories:
• Companies that have closed and their representatives are still holding on to firearms
• Farmers, miners, hunters and individuals who are no longer in the same position they were in when the applied for the firearm certificate
• relatives that are holding on to firearms that belonged to a dead relative
• unregistered firearms obtained by smuggling or other means
• gun dealers or gun clubs holding on to unclaimed firearms
• security companies holding on to redundant firearms
•
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police takes this opportunity to inform the public that physical check and verifications will be conducted on all residential and business premises where illegal firearms are suspected to be,” added Nyathi.
In addition, the ZRP says all licensed firearm owners are implored to visit local Police stations and update their records in compliance with the Firearms Act Chapter 10:09.
In September 2022, 538 firearms and 260 rounds of ammunition were voluntarily surrendered to the police in the same program.