Public urged to surrender illegal arms and ammunition

The Namibian Police have called on the general public to surrender their firearms and ammunition during September, designated as amnesty month.

"The Namibian Police Force is once again urging all citizens to take advantage of this important opportunity to surrender illegal and unwanted arms, ammunition and armaments at their nearest police stations across the country," the police said earlier this week.

The 30-day amnesty period is provided for under the Arms and Ammunition Act, which allows individuals in possession of unlawful arms, ammunition, and armaments to surrender them at the nearest police station without facing prosecution.

"Therefore, the Namibian Police Force is urging everyone to participate actively in this amnesty because it provides a chance to remove these potentially dangerous items from circulation and thereby contribute to community safety and avoid future legal consequences," the statement read.

Between 2021 and 2023, 1 568 firearms, 8 789 ammunitions, four magazines and seven explosive ordinances were surrendered during the amnesty periods.