IANSA: Southern Africa

Angola
Botswana
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia


Southern Africa
	Small arms and light weapons are widely available in Southern Africa. Many were transferred there during the Cold War, but others originate from within the region. Civil and inter-state conflicts drive demand for small arms and create a pool of weapons which can be used to commit violent crime as well as fuelling conflict. South Africa in particular also has a sizeable arms production industry. Recognition of the problem is growing, and many countries are involved in co-ordinated action, mainly within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The SADC Protocol on Firearms, Ammunition and Related Materials aims to create regional controls over trafficking and possession. See below under individual country headings for details on how the protocol is being implemented and how civil society groups are getting involved. The Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation was formed to tackle cross-border criminal activity. The 12 member countries are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SARPCCO’s priorities are to reduce the trafficking of firearms and their use in crime in the region. Small Arms Survey: Africa Angola Angola has created a National Focal Point to co-ordinate work on small arms issues. Angola 2000 and SaferAfrica organised a public awareness campaign which was publicly noted by the Angolan government. Links Angolan Center for Teaching Peace All the Presidents Men (Global Witness report, 2002) The devastating story of oil and banking in Angola's privatised war (English) L’histoire accablante du pétrole et des affaires bancaires dans la guerre privatisée de l’Angola (Français) A história devastadora das indústrias petrolíferas e bancárias na guerra privatizada de Angola (Português) Botswana Botswana has a National Focal Point to co-ordinate work on small arms issues. A national conference has been held to kickstart implementation of the SADC protocol and the country is reviewing its small arms legislation. Lesotho Operation SARDIEN is a joint initiative between Lesotho and South Africa. In November 2001, SARDIEN destroyed 3843 surplus and redundant small arms and light weapons belonging to the Lesotho Defence Force. The US provided financial assistance and acted as an independent observer. Malawi A Community Safety and Firearms Control Pilot has been set up to work with local communities and police to tackle firearms proliferation. A ‘training the trainers’ workshop scheme for the police, NGOs and civil society and community representatives was supported by publicity materials including posters and a film. The project has also arranged a series of public broadcasts by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi to raise public awareness about the work of the police and the need for community action to counter violent crime and the spread of firearms. Research showed that, following the broadcasts, both the police and local people were more supportive of the work of community policing. Links e-mail: chhr@sdnp.org.mw Malawi National Stakeholders' Meeting on small arms (Word Document) Mozambique SaferAfrica and Saferworld are helping the Mozambique government and civil society organisations draw up a National Action Plan for dealing with small arms issues. Projects Police forces from Mozambique and South Africa are working together to destroy illicit small arms and light weapons in Mozambique. Many weapons currently enter South Africa from Mozambique. Since Operation Rachel began in 1995, it has collected and destroyed 21,600 firearms, 1,610 anti-personnel landmines and 5.1 million rounds of ammunition. The Christian Council of Mozambique’s ‘Tools into Ploughshares’ project collects and destroys guns and provides communities with tools and construction materials in return. Links FOMICRES Christian Council of Mozambique Namibia Namibia has a National Focal Point to co-ordinate work on small arms issues. A national conference has been held to kickstart implementation of the SADC protocol, and the country is reviewing its firearms legislation. Links National Society for Human Rights South Africa South Africa was one of the driving forces behind the 2001 UN Small Arms Conference. Since the conference, South Africa has: developed new legislation on domestic firearms control and on the export, marking and brokering of firearms. The penalty for illegal possession of small arms has been raised to a maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment, and firearms owners now have to prove their competency every five years; established a national point of contact for small arms; carried out a comprehensive audit of all state owned firearms to facilitate the tracing of weapons. The new central Firearms Register has been designed so that other countries in the region can make use of it. The government has also introduced legislation regulating the transfer of weapons across state borders. Projects Gun Free South Africa has been working with the South African Police Service to make schools in five areas in South Africa firearm-free. A communications campaign has been set up to help people in the different pilot areas learn from each other. GFSA is also involved in general awareness-raising about the dangers of firearms. Links Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) Institute for Security Studies Zambia Zambia is planning a national conference to kickstart implementation of the SADC protocol.