SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

GWERU – Officer Commanding Gweru District, Chief Superintendent Enock Chishiri has prohibited the carrying of dangerous weapons in a bid to curb rising murder cases, particularly those involving crimes of passion.
He issued the order stretching three months on Monday. The order is with effect from July 25, 2024 – October 25, 2024.
The banned weapons are catapults, machetes, knobkerries, axes, swords, knives and daggers.
“Acting in terms of Section 4 of Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Chapter 11:23), I do hereby temporarily prohibit the carrying in public (whether openly or by concealment in public or public display of any of the following weapons or items capable of use as weapons namely, catapults, machetes, knobkerries, axes, swords, knives or daggers for a period of three months that is from 25 July, 2024 to 25 October, 2024.
“This prohibition notice has been necessitated by the alarming and rampant abuse of these weapons thereby threatening the existence of public safety,” he said.
Gweru District policing areas stretch from the Midlands State University (MSU), Fletcher High School, Deyslesford, Coolmoreen Plots, Greenvale, Ridgemont, Hertfordshire, Montrose Plots, Woodlands, Mkoba 5, 14, 19, Dabuka, CSC and Heavy Industries. Chishiri added that should one be found in possession of the prohibited weapons, they would be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months or pay a fine not exceeding level five.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared in terms of Section 4 (4) of MOPA that any person who fails to comply with this prohibition notice shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment,” he said.
Similar orders have been issued in Gokwe and Chivhu.