Tanzania takes important step to reduce gun violence
The Tanzanian government intends to register all legal guns in civilian hands during August and September 2006.
These activities have been undertaken as part of the National Action Plan on Small Arms. Developed in September 2001, implementation of the plan started in January 2002, with capacity building projects including the creation of a computerised Central Arms Registry.
The registry will allow police to trace illicit small arms to the original source of diversion from the legal trade, so preventing further diversion. Also, the registry will promote responsible behaviour from legal gun users, in the same way that motor vehicle registration promotes responsible use by the owners.
According to a survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies in 2002:
- demand for guns is linked to a perceived insecurity closely linked to increasing poverty, rather than increasing violent crime.
- over a quarter of Tanzanians would own a firearm, there was strong support for stronger legal regulation of these guns.
- while Tanzania appears to be relatively safe (during daylight hours) the greater perception of insecurity in Kagera and Kigoma regions is linked to the greater availability of guns in those regions
There are two versions of the registration form:
Registration form for owners.
Registration form for private companies.
These forms are compliant with both the SADC Protocol and Nairobi Protocol, both legally-binding agreements applying to Tanzania. |
