Many illegal weapons surrendered

A large number of illegal weapons have been surrendered to the police during the amnesty announced last year.

A total of 1 170 firearms, 95 824 rounds of ammunition and 81 explosive devices were surrendered over the past five months. The latest progress report on the amnesty, for the period 18 August to 18 January, has just been released.

It states that the majority of illegal firearms (801) were surrendered in the Khomas Region. In second place was the Otjozondjupa Region, where 71 illegal firearms were surrendered, and third was Karas with 68 firearms. Illegal firearms were handed over in all 14 regions. With regard to ammunition, 55 633 rounds were handed over to police in the Kavango West Region, 21 904 in the Otjozondjupa Region and 8 477 in Oshikoto. Kunene was the only region where no ammunition was surrendered.

Explosives were surrendered in only three regions - 45 in Otjozondjupa, 21 in Khomas and 15 in Karas. The police have urged people who still have unregistered weapons in their possession to take them to the nearest police station. The amnesty was initially scheduled to end on November 18 last year but it has been extended to 18 February this year.

ELLANIE SMIT