Harare– The Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) firearms amnesty initiative is progressing slowly, despite a rise in armed robberies across the country.
Since the commencement of the Voluntary Surrender of Firearms and Ammunition on September 1, 2024, the ZRP has only received eight firearms, according to a memo issued today by police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
The statement reminded the public that the amnesty period began on September 1 and will conclude on September 30, 2024.
“To date, only eight firearms have been surrendered to police nationwide,” said Nyathi.
He further expressed concern over the increasing number of armed robberies, attributing them to unregistered firearms in the hands of criminals.
“These firearms and ammunition are likely being used to commit criminal acts,“
Historical data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency shows that in 2020 and 2021, there were over 9,000 cases of robbery annually, with about 1,000 of those involving firearms each year.
The police also reassured the public that individuals surrendering firearms during this period would not face legal consequences.
“We urge the public to take advantage of this opportunity to surrender firearms and ammunition voluntarily, without fear of being questioned or arrested by the police,” he added
Armed robbery incidents have been associated with significant amounts of stolen cash and goods, particularly targeting businesses and cash-in-transit vehicles.
