POLICE in Makonde have imposed a three-month ban on the carrying of knobkerries and other weapons following an increase in violent crimes in the district.
Makonde district officer commanding Chief Superintendent Obert Ngirazi imposed the ban under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa).
The ban kicks off on June 15 and will run till September 14, 2023.
Ngirazi said the carrying of axes, catapults, machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers was prohibited during the period.
“Police (ZRP) being the regulating authority for Makonde police district... do hereby temporarily prohibit the carrying in public (whether openly or by concealment) in a public place or public display of any of the weapons or items capable of use as weapons,” Ngirazi said in the notice.
‘‘This prohibition order has been caused due to an upsurge in the use of dangerous weapons in cases of murder, armed, robbery, rape and assault among others.”
He said it was an offence to defy the ban.
“‘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,’’ said Ngirazi.
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The ban on the carrying of dangerous weapons came days after a serial armed robber Bright Zaranyika alias Svosve was arrested in Hurungwe.
Zaranyika of Kapfunde under Samuriwo village was shot on the leg on Tuesday in Chikuti at a bus stop as he wanted to escape to Beitbridge.
Earlier, he had tried to rob a woman in Chikuti.
Zaranyika committed over 20 crimes in Hurungwe, Karoi and Makonde.
