Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
POLICE have issued a stern warning to shops selling fake guns which has resulted in the rise in replica firearm crimes at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with violent armed robberies, resulting in deaths and serious injuries.
The replicas look identical to real guns that victims are unable to tell them apart from genuine firearms. Police say the surge in availability of these weapons has contributed to rising armed robberies across the country.
National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the sale by shops and possession by individuals of fake guns was against the law.
“It is against the law to possess a fake gun and police strongly warn shops from selling the replica guns that look like real firearms. Government is in the process of tightening the Firearms Act to include provisions such as training and psychological tests before licences are issued to individuals that apply for firearms, impose age restrictions, make sure all firearms are profiled so owners can be traced, and increase penalties for offences,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
“We are concerned as police about the rise in crimes where fake guns are used to threaten victims so it should be made clear that the sale of those guns is against the law. Police will not hesitate to apply the arm of the law on businesses that are selling the replica firearms.”
In Bulawayo, the fake guns are sold at a number of outlets. A Sunday News crew launched an investigation at one outlet, disguised as genuine customers and were told that one-gun costs US$200 and the magazine carries a maximum of 12 rounds, with a bullet costing US$1.
When the news crew enquired from the shop assistant if owning the firearm will not get the purchaser in trouble with the police, she said a receipt from the store was all one needed to explain to law enforcement authorities adding that the replica firearm does not need a license.
She referred further enquiries to the shop owner, a Mr Dereck Gudo who said the guns are non-lethal and do not need to be registered.
He, however, warned those that buy the guns to desist from using them to commit crimes.
“The guns can only be used when the owner is in distress such as when they are under attack during a home invasion and the guns must remain concealed at all times. If the owner of the gun decides to commit crime using the firearm, then they will have to face the full wrath of the law.
“The gun looks like a real gun and is not an issue because one should be able to defend themselves against criminals or any imminent danger,” said Mr Gudo.
“We have one customer who just days after buying the gun started brandishing it in a bar and he got into serious trouble with detectives from CID (Criminal Investigations Department) Homicide and that is why I’m stressing that the owners of these guys must only use them to defend themselves,” he said.
Last year Cabinet approved the principles to amend and strengthen the Firearms Act, modernising the 1957 legislation and upgrading the registration and licensing of firearms, and setting up a firearms database and registry.
The amendment will also regulate the number of firearms an individual can own while providing for the profiling of all firearms for purposes of easy identification and tracking. It will also specify the penalties for firearm offences, including the failure to properly secure firearms.
The new Act will have different categories for licenses while also using new technologies to manage or profile firearms and ammunition, among other things.
The holder of the license will also be tested to ensure psychological and mental fitness to own the firearm.
Last week, members of the public apprehended two armed robbers that attacked a shop in Mzilikazi with a pellet gun in a failed robbery attempt.
The incident happened when the shop owner and his three employees were about to close the business premises.
Three suspects attacked the business premises when the shop owner was doing stock taking around 10PM. They pounced on one of the workers that had gone outside to empty out a refuse bin.
The employee was forced marched back into the shop before one of the armed robbers pulled out a pellet gun and demanded cash.
A brave employee grabbed the suspect who was holding the pellet gun from behind and disarmed him and others called for help from people nearby who assisted them in apprehending two of the accused.
