Three arrested for using unlicensed gun as surety for drinks

 

Three Harare men have been arrested for possessing an unlicensed weapon after asking a tuckshop attendant to hold onto the gun until they returned with payment for drinks they had taken.

Police disclosed the incident through social media saying: “On 20/10/22, Police in Marlborough acted on a tip-off and arrested Norman Chingonzo, 30, Tichaona Banda, 31, and Kudzai Gumbo, 24, for possessing a firearm without a licence in Mt Hampden.

“One of the suspects had left the black pellet gun at a tuck-shop as collateral after borrowing four bottles of soft drinks. Police have since recovered the firearm.”

Pellet guns or air guns are mostly used for game hunting but they inflict lethal injuries on humans. Ownership of one requires licensing.

Government gave unlicensed firearms holders an amnesty that ran between August 8 and September 30 to have their guns licensed in line with the country’s firearms laws.

This came after an upsurge in cases of armed robbery across the country was registered. The amnesty saw 538 firearms and 260 rounds of ammunition being surrendered voluntarily by September 29.

Those who did not heed the amnesty call face arrest.