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| author/source:Zim Online (SA) |
| published:Thu 30-Jun-2005 |
| posted on this site:Thu 30-Jun-2005 |
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| Article Type : News |
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Harare - Zimbabwe police have ordered all civilians to surrender firearms in what insiders said was a precautionary measure in a charged country after the government demolished thousands of homes and informal businesses in a controversial urban clean-up exercise. Police at the weekend said they were revoking licences for all automatic rifles and some types of pistols and said civilians owning such weapons had until today to surrender them. The law enforcement agency did not give reasons for the action but warned Zimbabweans that they could be prosecuted for failing to hand in their guns. A statement issued by the police read in part: "Police would like to advise members of the public that firearm licences of the following self-loading weapon: G3, FN 7.62mm rifles and scorpion pistols have since been revoked in terms of Sub-Section 7 of Section 6 of the Firearms Act (Chapter) 10: 09) . . . possession of the above-listed firearms is now unlawful." Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, in charge of the police, could not be reached for comment on the matter yesterday.
But sources at police headquarters in Harare said the move was just precautionary to ensure such weapons could not be used by civilians should tension gripping Zimbabwe in the wake of the government’s clean-up exercise erupt into public violence. "The ban is targeted at all automatic weapons which the government fears could pose a security threat in the country should the civil strife in Zimbabwe turn violent," said a source, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation. This is not the first time that the government has cancelled firearm licences. At the peak of its chaotic and often violent farm seizure programme in 2000, the government issued a decree compelling civilians to surrender their guns. The move was targeted at white commercial farmers who at that time held a number of assault guns for self-protection. Zimbabwe’s security forces have been on high alert since the government launched a "clean-up" campaign last month that has left close to a million people without shelter after their shanty homes were demolished.
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