Zimbabwe Orders Gun Confiscation, We Know What Comes Next...

[TCBF]

Register, then Confiscate, then Genocide..... the more things change, the more they stay the same.  Rwanda all over again.

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=12207



Harare compels public to surrender their guns print friendly version 



author/source:Zim Online (SA)
published:Thu 30-Jun-2005
posted on this site:Thu 30-Jun-2005

Article Type : News

 

Harare - Zimbabwe police have ordered all civilians to surrender firearms in what insiders said was a precautionary measure in a charged country after the government demolished thousands of homes and informal businesses in a controversial urban clean-up exercise. Police at the weekend said they were revoking licences for all automatic rifles and some types of pistols and said civilians owning such weapons had until today to surrender them. The law enforcement agency did not give reasons for the action but warned Zimbabweans that they could be prosecuted for failing to hand in their guns. A statement issued by the police read in part: "Police would like to advise members of the public that firearm licences of the following self-loading weapon: G3, FN 7.62mm rifles and scorpion pistols have since been revoked in terms of Sub-Section 7 of Section 6 of the Firearms Act (Chapter) 10: 09) . . . possession of the above-listed firearms is now unlawful." Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, in charge of the police, could not be reached for comment on the matter yesterday.

But sources at police headquarters in Harare said the move was just precautionary to ensure such weapons could not be used by civilians should tension gripping Zimbabwe in the wake of the government's clean-up exercise erupt into public violence. "The ban is targeted at all automatic weapons which the government fears could pose a security threat in the country should the civil strife in Zimbabwe turn violent," said a source, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation. This is not the first time that the government has cancelled firearm licences. At the peak of its chaotic and often violent farm seizure programme in 2000, the government issued a decree compelling civilians to surrender their guns. The move was targeted at white commercial farmers who at that time held a number of assault guns for self-protection. Zimbabwe's security forces have been on high alert since the government launched a "clean-up" campaign last month that has left close to a million people without shelter after their shanty homes were demolished.

 

[CH1]

It was a crying shame to see those arms being burnt in funeral pyres.  It is probably a prelude to yet another round of ethnic cleansing/genocide or what ever the catch phrase of the day is.

The Congo & other parts of the African continent have a good history of this over the last century.  All we can do is brace ourselves.

Cheers

 

[1feral1]

I wonder if Sir Bob of Live 8 will have to say about this?

Sadly Zimbabwe, could prosper if allowed to, but another corrupt government has pretty much ruined this country too.

So what is Mugabe goona buy next if his debt is lifted? Another gold plated jag?

Regards,

Wes

 

[Michael Shannon]

      Thus we come to the crunch. Is gun confiscation the signal to rebel? It's too late if you hand in your guns to "help fight crime" to find out the government are the criminals. I wonder what would have happened if a few dozen Nazi thugs had been centre punched on Kristalknacht. It couldn't have been worse than it turned out. Lesson 1: The primary purpose of civilian gun ownership is to limit government tyranny. Lesson 2: Never register all your guns. Lesson 3: Always have a hidden cache of ammo.

      The people of Zimbabwe should rise up in arms. I hope they have some and know how to use them. Canada should help.

      Here's a great humanitarian task for the CF. Our vaunted light force could take Harare Airport for a start. The phony rugby tour ruse might work.  JTF could bump off Mugabe and then arm, train and lead Zimbabwe insurgents if anything is left of the army. Some well placed CIDA money should cause the collapse of the Zimbabwean Army.

      A coup d'etat in Zimbabwe would be more useful and cheaper than G8 musical chairs.

 

[tomahawk6]

These types of weapons are banned in the UK/Canada and elsewhere, so why the double standard ?

 

[TCBF]

"revoking licences for all automatic rifles and some types of pistols and said civilians owning such weapons had until today to surrender them."

-Well, Some Full-Autos are still held in Canada by 'Grandfathered' owners.  Handguns are legal - providing you jump through the hoops - but over 500,000 handguns with short barrels or of certain other characteristics have been grandfathered Class 12(6).  So, in effect, there may appear to be a double standard, but the paragraph:

"But sources at police headquarters in Harare said the move was just precautionary to ensure such weapons could not be used by civilians should tension gripping Zimbabwe in the wake of the government's clean-up exercise erupt into public violence. "The ban is targeted at all automatic weapons which the government fears could pose a security threat in the country should the civil strife in Zimbabwe turn violent," said a source, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation."

...is a good indicator of a government that fears it's own citizens - and why is that?

Tom