POLICE in Gwanda district, Matabeleland South province, have banned carrying dangerous weapons in public places amid fears the practice can trigger public disorder and breach of peace.
Officer Commanding Gwanda district, Chief Superintendent Bekezela Ndlovu, said the prohibition order was issued under section 2(4) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act to maintain peace and security in the district.
“The order prohibits carrying in public, whether openly or concealed, weapons such as catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spears, daggers or any other traditional weapons in Gwanda district for a period not exceeding three months,” he said.
Ndlovu said the directive covered the entire Gwanda policing area, which shared boundaries with Umzingwane district to the north and north-east, Masvingo West district to the south-east, Beitbridge district to the south, and Bulilima-Mangwe district to the west, as well as the international boundary with Botswana along Shashe River.
“The prohibition will be in effect from April 1 to May 30, 2026 and anyone found carrying the listed weapons in a public place during this period will be violating the law,” he said.
Ndlovu warned that those who defy the order will be charged under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, with offenders facing a fine not exceeding level five, imprisonment for up to six months or both.
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He urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement authorities and comply with the directive to maintain peace and safety in the district.
The ban comes as lawmakers begin public hearings today on the proposed Constitutional Amendment No 3 Bill, a process expected to spark heated debate and potential tension in some communities.