By Political Reporter – Thousands of firearms issued to soldiers during the November 2017 coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe have flooded the streets of Zimbabwe, fueling a surge in armed robberies and violent crime.
These military-grade weapons, distributed during the operation that catapulted Emmerson Mnangagwa into power, remain largely unaccounted for, with authorities struggling to recover them.
Despite efforts to regain control of the situation, including multiple amnesties, the government has only managed to retrieve a fraction of the firearms handed out to soldiers and military intelligence personnel during the coup.
The failure to recover these weapons has led to a spike in gun-related crimes, marking one of the worst crime waves in Zimbabwe’s modern history.
Insiders within the security sector have revealed that thousands of assault rifles and other firearms provided to soldiers during the coup were never returned, leaving the streets awash with deadly weapons.
As crime rates soar, questions are being raised about the long-term consequences of Mnangagwa’s violent ascent to power and the uncontrolled militarization of Zimbabwean society.
In a desperate bid to address the growing crisis, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) launched a firearm amnesty in 2023, urging citizens to surrender illegal guns with no legal consequences.
However, the results were underwhelming. The first phase of the amnesty led to the recovery of only 586 firearms, and a second round in September 2023 brought in just 44 unregistered guns, indicating that thousands more remain in circulation.
ZRP spokesperson Paul Nyathi acknowledged the limited success of these efforts but emphasized the importance of the initiative. “So far, 44 unregistered firearms have been surrendered to the police since we launched the Presidential Firearms and Ammunition Amnesty on the 1st of this month. This is a positive development in reducing crimes,” Nyathi said in a press briefing in September last year.
Despite these efforts, the weapons that facilitated Mnangagwa’s coup now pose a serious threat to national security.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe admitted that the country’s existing gun laws have been too lax, enabling a dangerous proliferation of firearms.
“At the moment, almost anyone can access a firearm license, which may explain why so many guns are circulating. We need to make sure that only those who genuinely need firearms are given licenses,” Kazembe stated.
In response, the government is pushing to tighten firearm regulations.
Minister of Information Jenfan Muswere announced proposed amendments to the Firearms Act after a recent Cabinet meeting.
The new measures would introduce stricter licensing requirements, including psychological evaluations, mandatory training, and age restrictions.
As crime rates continue to rise, many Zimbabweans are questioning whether Mnangagwa’s path to power, marked by the 2017 coup, has led to a more dangerous society.
What was once hailed as a victory over Mugabe’s 37-year rule is now tainted by the proliferation of military-grade weapons that remain in the hands of criminals, casting a long shadow over Mnangagwa’s presidency.