Tanzania, East Africa | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Tanzanian police have issued a stern warning to individuals in possession of illegal firearms, urging them to surrender these weapons voluntarily before the midnight deadline on Tuesday. The Tanzania Police Force’s statement emphasizes that once the grace period for surrendering illegal firearms expires, the police will initiate an aggressive crackdown, and offenders will face prosecution in court.
David Misime, the police spokesperson, stressed the importance of illegal firearm owners taking this opportunity to surrender their weapons to local government authorities or police stations before facing legal consequences.
In August, the police announced a crackdown on illegal firearms, providing a two-month window from September 1 to October 31 for voluntary surrender. Minister of Home Affairs Hamad Masauni warned that those who do not comply within this period will face legal action.
Notably, in November 2022, the police destroyed 6,208 illegally owned firearms, including pistols, rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. These weapons were voluntarily surrendered by citizens during a crackdown that occurred from September 5 to October 31, 2022.
