Hilary Muza 
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently gave an amnesty to illegal holders of firearms to surrender them to their nearest police station without any repercussions. This amnesty runs until the September 30, 2022.
This was in response to the growing trend of violent crimes around the country involving unregistered firearms.
This week’s article will address how to legally own a firearm in Zimbabwe and the steps that one must take to achieve this.
Types of firearms that can be registered by private individuals are rifles, shot guns and guns. The only types of firearms that can currently be registered are semi and non-automatic.
Fully automatic weapons cannot be registered. Air rifles do not need to be registered unless they are above 1.77mm calibre.
Requirement for registration of firearms
Firearms are registered in terms of the Firearms Act. An application process is required after which a successful application will receive a firearm certificate. Section 5(2) of the Firearms Act provides that a firearm certificate will only be issued where an applicant has a good reason for purchasing, acquiring or having in his/her possession the firearm or ammunition in respect of which the application is made.
Further, the applicant must not be a danger to public safety or to the peace. There is therefore, a high amount of discretion that goes into the awarding of firearm certificates and the requirements may be adjusted from time to time.
Major considerations
In assessing who should be eligible to register a firearm, various considerations are taken into account. These include the character of the applicant. This is normally verified through a police clearance exercise and support from the applicant’s local police station.
Security of the weapon is established by visiting the applicant’s place of residence and examining where the weapon will be kept, for example, the gun cabinet, safe or strong room. In the case of a company, this will be the place where the firearms will be stored.
This exercise is carried out before the application is made. Other requirements depend on the intended purpose. For crop or livestock protection, support letters from local police, the relevant department of Parks and Wildlife offices as well as the Local Authority.
The applicant must also prove ownership through a land offer letter, title deeds or through a letter from the local councillor or headman.
For target shooting and gun clubs for sport, support letters from an official from the gun club as well as the local police are required.
For hunting, a letter by the person on whose land the applicant is authorised to hunt is required together with a support letter from a senior National Parks officer.
Protection of cash in transit for an individual requires the applicant to submit a current bank statement, support letter from the bank manager, supporting letter from the Officer Commanding District and Officer Commanding Province.
Proof of source of funds is also required.
Protection of cash in transit for companies requires the company’s constituting documents, support letter from the bank manager, bank statement and either a board resolution or letter from company management authorising the applicant to make the application.
For home protection, a letter of support from Officer Commanding District and Officer Commanding Province are necessary.
Title deeds or a lease agreement for the property at which the applicant resides will also be required.
Firearm licences can also be issued to protect mining operations and similar enterprises. The Act, however, does not appear to regulate government-owned firearms.
The same requirements above also apply when applying for importation of firearms and when renewing expired licenses.
Applications are forwarded to the regional registrar of firearms who, after satisfying himself that all requirements have been met, forwards the application and all other relevant documentation to the controller of firearms in Harare.
If an applicant is successful, they will be issued with a firearms certificate, which specifies the conditions under which the firearm is to be held, and the nature and serial number of the firearm.
The document also states how much ammunition the licence holder may purchase or hold at any one time.
One certificate may be issued for both a firearm and its ammunition, but a separate certificate is required for each firearm.
A firearm certificate is valid for three years calculated from the first day on the month in which it was issued, thereafter renewals will be necessary.
Muza is a duly admitted lawyer with expertise in business law, labour law and commercial litigation. He writes in his personal capacity. For feedback, email him at hilarykmuza@gmail.com or call on +263719042628.
