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Tanzania takes firm grip on illicit firearms
2007-08-11 10:47:23
By Anaclet Rwegayura, PST, Addis Ababa
Tanzania is among five countries in eastern Africa that have made much progress in streamlining national laws and regulations on the control of firearms and ammunition, according to a regional intergovernmental watchdog.
However, all countries of the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa need a broader strategy and strong legislation to deal with the public security challenge that is posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, according to the Nairobi-based Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA).
The Centre’s Communications and Public Relations Officer, Isaie Bagabo, has named the other countries making commendable progress in this area as Ethiopia, Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda.
Speaking here on Thursday at the opening of a two-day workshop on harmonisation of regional legislation on firearms and ammunition in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa, Bagabo said that strengthening of legislation was a vital element in addressing the small arms problem.
Attended by regional state police commissioners and representatives of federal government institutions, the workshop was intended to review the current controls on small arms and light weapons in Ethiopia and to develop a work plan for legislative review.
Held under the auspices of RECSA, the workshop would kick-start nationwide consultations for the development of more effective measures and strategies for the long-term control of firearms in Ethiopia, said Workineh Gabayehu, Director-General of the Ethiopian Federal Police Commission.
According to Workineh, Ethiopia needs not only to eliminate serious shortfalls in its legislation on firearms and ammunition, but also to raise public education on civilian possession and use of light weapons.
“Ethiopia has arrived at a time when we can no longer afford to have issues that detract us from our focus on development.
`Wars and conflict which are exacerbated by the presence of illegal firearms are a great hindrance to any effort put on development,` the police chief said.
Member States of RECSA are Burundi, DR Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Following the signing of the peace and stability pact of the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa countries, RECSA has been given extended mandate to implement the protocol on small arms and light weapons in four additional countries, namely Angola, Central Africa Republic, Republic of Congo and Zambia.
RECSA is currently undertaking a five-year programme (2006-2011), which is expected to increase the participation of stakeholders in the fight against proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region.
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