DAR ES SALAAM: THE Police Force has ordered all individuals, companies or institutions to surrender any homemade guns, inherited weapons and toy guns to the law enforcement agent.
This directive includes a three-month ultimatum for firearm owners who have not paid their licence fees to comply with the laid down existing rules and regulations.
Police Spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) David Misime, issued the directives in Dodoma yesterday.
DCP Misime further said the Police Force has also given private security companies until August 31, this year, to surrender all home-made guns. After this period, non-compliant companies will face legal action.
He reminded that the Arms and Ammunition Control Act No. 2 of 2015 replaced the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1991 to address contemporary challenges related to illegal firearm possession and distribution.
ALSO READ: State issues two-month amnesty to illegal weapons owners
The change included amending the Local Government Finance Act to transfer the authority for home-made gun licences from local councils to the Police Force.
Recently, the Police Force learnt that there are private security companies that are possessing homemade guns without permits, contrary to regulations that allow only shotguns for security use.
According to DCP Misime, individuals who own home-made guns through licences issued by the councils are allowed to continue possessing them but by only paying licence fees at the district police offices.
He added: “Private security firms using homemade guns for defence were warned of illegality, requiring immediate cessation and compliance with shotgun ownership regulations for lawful defence activities.”
On inherited weapon, he said Article 55 of the 2015 Act mandates that when a weapon’s owner dies, their relatives must surrender it to the nearest police station during the inheritance process.
“The Police Force urges citizens to turn in such weapons to prevent potential harm within the community. Keeping these weapons at home is illegal and could result in a 15-year prison sentence, a fine of 10m/-, or both,” DCP Misime explained.
He added, “The Police Force is giving firearms owners until September 30, 2024, to settle their debts. Failure to do so will result in license revocation as per Article 8(1)(b) of the 2015 Act.”
According to him, during the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) famously known as Saba Saba, the Police Force will set up a special desk in their pavilion for firearm owners to pay their fees and licence renewal.
DCP Misime said firearm owners must pay for ownership licence fees by July each year. However, he said, some owners have been violating the rule for several years.
Regarding toy guns, he said they have been used in crimes such as armed robbery, ordering citizens to surrender them to the police to avoid legal consequences.
He further said the police have also noticed an increase in individuals attempting to import non-lethal weapons for recreational shooting (target ranging). He said section 69(1) (ah) of the 2015 Act bans their importation without a ministerial order after consultation with the National Armaments Control Advisory Board.
DCP Misime said that the Police Force is committed to enforcing these regulations and will take necessary legal actions against anyone possessing illegal weapons.
