The Acting Katavi Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Rashid Mohamed, said the verification exercise will officially end on May 20, this year, saying that so far 48 shotguns, several pistols and 12 rifles have been verified.
He further said that during the exercise, people who illegally owned homemade firearms popularly known as ‘magobole’ have voluntarily surrendered them to police posts and offices of local functionaries in the region.
The Acting RPC further said that the ongoing firearms verification exercise will involve individuals, public and private companies as well as institutions that are in possession of firearms.
The verification is carried out at the district police commanders’ offices in Mlele, Mpanda District as well as in Mpanda Municipality in the region. He said that all proprietors of guns should report to such offices with documents as well as two passport size photos.
“The upshot of authentication is to have right records of legitimate firearms owners and identify those who do not have the legal documents,” Mr Mohamed said.
He appealed to people owning guns illegally to voluntarily surrender them to the police stations, saying that after the May 20 deadline, the police force will launch a special operation to arrest all people owning weapons illegally.
According to the RPC, family members of gun owners who have died should also surrender the guns to police stations for safe keeping, where they will also be informed of other procedures of ownership.
