OCD: Gun owners should not lend firearms
BUKOBA District Commanding Officer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bashiru Bashiru has warned individuals who possess firearms to avoid lending them to security groups or to other persons, because this was contrary to the law.
He explained that his office has been receiving reports indicating that some individuals who possess firearms lawfully were lending them to security groups or other persons for hunting purposes.
SSP Bashiru clarified that Section 11 part (1) of the Firearm and Ammunition Possession Act requires that a person in question should be not less than 25 years old, has obtained a certificate of competency and should be a Tanzanian citizen or a holder of Tanzanian residence permit.
He appealed to all persons who possess weapons to report to their nearest police stations for the ongoing verification exercise, warning that those who will not heed the call would be prosecuted in court.
“The issue of possession of firearms is clearly defined in the Tanzania Firearms and Ammunition ACT of 2015 where first of all one must apply to own a weapon and before applying you must assess yourself if you are suitable and you must be of sound mind, and above 25 years old,” he said.
Adding, “Section 10 (i) under the Firearms and Ammunition ACT of 2015 clarifies that any person shall possess a firearm after he has obtained a licence or permit under this ACT,… while S.10 (7) stipulates that a person shall not use for security or any other purposes, a firearm licence issued in the name of another person,” he said.
