Zimbabwe moves to tighten gun laws with Firearms Amendment Bill for greater public safety

ZIMSPHERE 

HARARE – The Zimbabwean government is set to introduce stricter regulations governing firearm ownership through the proposed Firearms Amendment Bill. The bill aims to overhaul the existing Firearms Act (Chapter 10:09), tightening control over the registration, licencing, and monitoring of firearms across the nation.

Information minister Jenfan Muswere 

At a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the principles of the Firearms Amendment Bill. These principles were presented by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe. 

The proposed amendments to the Firearms Act will introduce a series of comprehensive measures, including the creation of a national firearms database and registry, along with enhanced requirements for obtaining a firearm certificate. 

"The Bill will regulate the registration and licensing of firearms, establish a firearms database, and introduce psychological and training tests before the issuance of a firearm certificate," Muswere explained during the briefing.

Among the key provisions of the bill are new age restrictions on firearm possession, limitations on the number of firearms an individual can own, and the introduction of profiling mechanisms to aid in identifying and tracing firearms. The bill also proposes tougher penalties for firearm-related offences, particularly in cases where firearms are not properly secured.

"The government is prioritizing public safety by regulating who can own firearms and how they are secured. This is a necessary step to ensure responsible ownership," Muswere added, emphasizing the importance of the legislation in safeguarding the public.

Once finalized, the Firearms Amendment Bill will be tabled in Parliament, where it is expected to undergo further debate and approval.

Addressing questions during the briefing, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said the Firearms Act had been in existence since 1957 and a lot had changed since then. This had necessitated the amendment of the law.

“It is not consistent with the current trends. Some of the terms in that Act are not consistent with what is obtaining at the moment and some new firearms are not defined in the old Act. There are also a lot of gaps that we’ve identified,” Minister Kazembe said.

He said Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions, hence the law needed to be aligned to those conventions. Under the current law, a 16-year-old is allowed to possess a gun, a situation which government is seeking to change.