TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
HARARE – The police have renewed their call for people and companies to “voluntarily” surrender illegal firearms and ammunition under a presidential amnesty.
National police spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement that those who had unregistered or smuggled weapons should use the amnesty to regularise their possession. He said they should go to the nearest police stations and formally hand over the firearms.
“The public and relevant institutions are reminded and urged to go to nearest police stations and formally surrender all firearms,” Nyathi said.
“No criminal charges will be preferred against anyone who voluntarily surrenders a firearm or ammunition during this period. The public is therefore urged to take advantage of this amnesty and regularize possession of firearms in terms of the Firearms Act, Chapter 10:09.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the amnesty in August last year, after a rise in armed robberies and other crimes involving firearms across the country. He said no one who surrendered a weapon or ammunition voluntarily would face criminal charges.
Last year, 580 firearms and 260 ammunition were surrendered to the police under the amnesty.
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