Malawi Police Offer Voluntary Firearms Surrender Amnesty in November
This is the second phase of the firearms surrender campaign in Malawi.
Lilongwe, Malawi - The Malawi Police Service has announced a voluntary firearms surrender amnesty month for November, urging all Malawians possessing illegal firearms to cooperate by relinquishing them at the nearest police station, writes Romeo Umali.
Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the amnesty is aligned with the international 2023 Africa Firearms Month, but is being held in November instead of September, the global observance month.
Kalaya said individuals in possession of illegal firearms will not be prosecuted or arrested if they willingly surrender them during the amnesty period.
"The Malawi Police Service encourages the public to take this opportunity to contribute to the safety of our communities by voluntarily surrendering any illegal firearms at their nearest police location," Kalaya said.
Social commentator Victor Chipofya said the amnesty should not be limited to a one-month duration but should be an ongoing process due to the potential threat it poses to national security.
"National security is a continuous concern, and efforts to address illegal firearms possession should be sustained beyond a mere monthly initiative," Chipofya said.
This is the second phase of the firearms surrender campaign in Malawi.
In the first phase, a joint operation by the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Police resulted in the confiscation and subsequent destruction of over 170 firearms earlier this year.