Hand in illegal guns, warns Kampyongo
GOVERNMENT has warned of stern action against all those that would be found with unregistered guns and other offensive weapons after the firearms amnesty which comes to an end in June, 2020. In an interview, Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo warned that the unregistered firearms in private hands should be handed over to authorities during the national firearms amnesty period, failure to which the owners would have themselves to blame. The Minister further warned that after the grace period, the police would carry out random inspections and all those found wanting would face the full wrath of the law. Mr Kampyongo also reminded those with inherited firearms from their deceased relatives without following laid down procedure in changing ownership to surrender such weapons to authorities. “We are saying after the amnesty, there will be clean-up operations. The Police which is mandated to take stock of who is owning what, will carry out random inspections and all those that will be found with unlicensed firearms will have themselves to blame. After the amnesty, it will be a different approach because amnesty provides them with an opportunity to surrender the guns without a recourse,” Mr Kampyongo said. Mr Kampyongo said Government was aware of firearms in private hands, and his ministry has put in place measures to ensure the security of the nation was not compromised. Mr Kampyongo said following the concern of proliferation of guns in private hands, Government has put in place stringent measures, and would soon take stock. He explained that a general firearms amnesty was aimed at removing prohibited and illegally acquired firearms as well as prohibited firearms accessories and ammunition from members of the public with a view of reducing the prevalence of violent crime in Zambia. On some political party cadres that have allegedly been brandishing firearms, especially pistols, in public, Mr Kampyongo said regardless of political affiliations, anyone found wanting would be brought to book.