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44 killed by illegal arms -police
2006-05-26 09:49:24
By Gerald Kitabu
A total of 36 people were killed by illegal arms last year alone, and eight people have lost their life in similar circumstances between January and February this year.
In 2005,a total of 641 illegal arms were impounded whereas,136 have been impounded by the Police Force between January and February this year.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Dar es salaam yesterday, the Deputy Director of CID, who is also the National Focal Point Co-ordinator on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police,Dominic Hayuma attributed such casualties to increased wave of international organised crimes, partly backed by some unfaithful local people.
He said international organised criminal syndicates have complicated the process of smoking out armed robbery and the illicit circulation and use of small arms and light weapons in the country.
He said currently, there were many sophisticated weapons smuggled across the borders and many others such as home made guns have been developed and modernised locally to shoot just like SMGs and LMGs.
He said few unfaithful refugees from Burundi, Rwanda,DRC and Somalia collude with some Tanzanians to engage in crimes such as armed robbery.
The Deputy CID boss said the Force on its part are working very hard to deal with the situation although it is hampered by several factors, including shortage of staff.
’’Currently,the ratio is one police for 1,300 people, while the required United Nations ratio is one police for 400 people,’’ said Hayuma.
Commenting on steps taken to deal with the situation, Hayuma said,currently his office has embarked on a major project that aims at smoking out all criminals in the country in the near future.
Small and Light Weapons control programme which is funded by European Commission calls for the voluntary surrendering of weapons as well as conducting police operations among others.
He said the project,which began in 2003 is a renewable three year contract between the European Commission and the government of Tanzania (Police Force) that is aimed at training of law enforcers, public awareness creation from the national to village level, agencies among other stake holders.
He said so far,the project has proved a success especially in the category of public awareness in various places including border regions that are most affected by illegal arms proliferation.
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