Khomas police confiscate hundreds of weapons

In just more than two months close to 200 firearms have been confiscated by the police in the Khomas Region. Also seized were more than 400 knives, pangas, axes and even weapons such as knopkieries, axes, golf clubs, oryx horns, wrenches, bolt cutters and even a broomstick. Amidst this campaign to confiscate potential murder weapons another body has been found in Katutura. The Khomas Regional Commander, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze, yesterday said violent crimes have been increasing in the region when he revealed that a man had been found murdered behind the Katutura Single Quarters at the Engen Service Station. According to him the man, who was in his thirties, had been stabbed and hit with a heavy object. The man was believed to be homeless and had set up a shelter in the area where his body was discovered. Tjiveze said the man’s girlfriend was assaulted and is currently in a stable condition at the Katutura State Hospital. “We do not want to connect the two incidents with each other until the woman has been questioned,” he said. Both the man and the woman have been identified by the police, but he said they were not able to release their names to the media yet. Tjiveze said 430 knives and 182 firearms had been confiscated by the police in the Khomas Region during a campaign that started on August 1. According to him, the weapons were confiscated when police performed stop-and-search activities. Among the confiscated firearms were 27 unlicensed guns, while 13 firearms were found lying on the ground – meaning they were dropped by the owners when they realised it was a police operation. There were also 21 firearms that were directly linked to crimes and 19 pangas. Other weapons that were confiscated included knopkieries, wrenches, screwdrivers, golf clubs and axes. Tjiveze stressed that that according to Namibia’s Arms and Ammunition Act whenever any firearm is lost, stolen or destroyed, the owner must report the loss to the police within seven days after having become aware of it. Tjiveze said gun owners must be able to exercise effective control over a firearm. “If you are in a shebeen and are under the influence of alcohol, are you able to exercise effective control?” According to the Act it is a contravention to handle a firearm while a under the influence of liquor or a drug with a narcotic effect. It is also illegal to supply a gun to a person whom they should reasonably suspect to be under the influence of liquor or narcotics. Tjiveze said the majority of the weapons were confiscated during the night as people think they “have to protect themselves when they go drinking.” He said ignorance of the law is not an excuse and the campaign will be intensified to make the streets in the Khomas Region safe. “We will stop and search anyone at any time,” he warned. He called on the public to assist the police in their efforts and said that there is community involvement from 24 Neighbourhood Watches in the region as well as the Women and Men Network Against Crime. ELLANIE SMIT