Africa-Press – Botswana. Members of Parliament have expressed support for the Arms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (Bill No. 25 of 2022), tabled by Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi.
Debating the bill, which seeks to amend the Arms and Ammunition Act and, among others, clarify the role of the police commissioner and that of the Arms and Ammunition Licensing Board, Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga said although he supported the bill, he was concerned that the minister did not provide any supporting data or statistics as evidence to show that crimes of firearms had increased in the country.
Providing such evidence, Mr Kapinga said, was important for Parliament to appreciate if the increase of penalties was proportionate to the rate of offences by firearms.
MP for Kgalagadi North, Mr Sam Brooks said he supported the bill amendments because it was evident that the illegal possession of guns was rife and increasing in the country as per criminal activities committed using illegal firearms.
Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy said it was appropriate that Parliament was discussing the pertinent issue of handling arms and ammunitions, given the increase in incidents of crimes committed using guns.
The MP also said he supported the bill as it was triggered by the influx of firearms, saying it would help safeguard the country’s peace and tranquillity.
However, Mr Mangwegape-Healy said he did not believe the country was at the stage where police officers should be armed.
For police officers protection, he appealed to the police high command to ensure officers were given pepper sprays and taser guns.
Jwaneng/Mabule MP, Mr Mephato Reatile supported the bill, saying it would help control the illegal use and influx of firearms locally.
However, he expressed concern that the bill seemed to have been amended to target certain individuals within society.
Gaborone South MP, Mr Dumizweni Mthimkhulu said he fully supported the bill, saying it would save Botswana from lawlessness incidents that were happening in other countries such as mass shootings.
He said the bill was also meant to safeguard peace and tranquillity by maintaining public peace around the country.
He said it would also help deal with the illicit use or trade in firearms.
He added that he also supported the enhanced and increased penalties as introduced in the bill.
Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere said generally Batswana who owned guns legally used them responsibly.
He, however, urged the minister to stop the use of AK47 by the police, saying it was a high powered rifle.
“Minister, AK47s should be removed from police and be given to the army because it’s an unsafe and dangerous weapon.
International laws says if you are going to fire that gun, you carry the responsibility to evacuate people first around that area within a one mile radius,” he explained.
Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe also supported the bill, saying although there were some incidents of gun crimes in Botswana, it was a generally peaceful country.
Therefore, he said the bill would serve as a deterrent by increasing the charges for crimes committed using firearms.
Mogoditshane MP, Mr Tumiso Rakgare said over the years Botswana had managed to maintain peace and tranquillity through the rule of law and good governance.
For that reason, he said he found it fitting for the minister to have presented such a bill as it sought to ensure legal ownership and safe use of firearms for peace and security.
Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai said he supported the bill because it would help farmers protect their lives from wild animals when given licenses to own guns.
He said the quota for gun licences was low and that it should be increased.
He, however, said people should be screened first before acquiring lisenses.
He also said police officers required protection against criminals, but said he was against the removal of the police commissioner and deputy police commissioner from the Arms and Ammunition Licensing Board.
Tlokweng MP, Mr Thulagano Segokgo supported the bill, but stressed that gun licenses should not be easily issued.
He also expressed concern about the influx of firearms into the country.
Lerala/Maunatlala MP, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele said the bill amendment was a welcome development as it sought to control and promote safer use of firearms in the country, as well as clarify the role of the police commissioner and that of the Arms and Ammunition Licensing Board.
The bill, he said, was triggered by the increase in crimes of firearms in the country, ‘which requires no imperial investigation of any sort.’
He said it was befitting for government to do all that was necessary to ensure peace continued to prevail in the country.
Mahalapye East MP, Mr Yandani Boko also supported the bill, saying it would ensure responsible use of guns in the country through issuance of licenses to those who ought to own them.
Mmadinare MP, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi also supported the bill, and explained that there was no clause in the bill that said MPs, ministers and police officers should be armed with guns.
However, he said police officers should be allowed to use guns where necessary, but not to carry them at all times.
Shoshong MP, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said Botswana was built on peace, which had continued to prevail over the years.
He also supported the bill, sharing the sentiments that the bill would help maintain peace and guard against illegal use of arms and ammunitions in the country.
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