…. 58 firearms, 509 rounds of ammunition seized in 11 months
…. 87 suspects arrested, including 22 foreign nationals
…. REPS warns tougher raids will follow after amnesty month
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE– EmaSwati illegally possessing firearms have been given the entire month of September to hand them over to police without fear of arrest or prosecution, as authorities intensify efforts to remove dangerous weapons from communities and curb violent crime.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has officially declared September 2026 as Firearm Surrender Amnesty Month, giving people in possession of illegally held firearms an opportunity to voluntarily surrender them before a tougher nationwide crackdown begins after the amnesty period.
National Commissioner of Police Manoma V. Masango, in a media statement issued on September 2, said the initiative was aimed at taking illegal firearms out of homes, streets and communities before they could be used to take innocent lives or fuel other violent crimes.
The appeal comes against worrying statistics showing that between October 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, at least 87 people were arrested and charged for allegedly possessing illegal firearms.
Of those arrested, 65 were EmaSwati while 22 were foreign nationals.
During the same period, police recovered 58 firearms and 509 live rounds of ammunition, figures which authorities say demonstrate the scale of the challenge posed by illegally held weapons.
For ordinary families and communities, however, the issue goes beyond numbers.
Police say illegal firearms often find their way into robberies and other violent crimes, leaving behind victims, grieving families and communities living in fear. The September amnesty is therefore intended to provide a peaceful way of removing such weapons before they can cause further harm.
NO ARREST FOR VOLUNTARY SURRENDER
Masango assured those who voluntarily surrender illegally possessed firearms during September that they should not be afraid of approaching the police.
“We urge EmaSwati to come forward during this period and surrender all illegal firearms as this is a golden opportunity,” the National Commissioner said.
He further assured members of the public wishing to take advantage of the amnesty that there would be no arrest or legal consequences arising from the voluntary surrender of the illegal firearms during the amnesty period.
The initiative forms part of the wider African Union Africa Amnesty Month, which is observed every September and promotes the voluntary surrender and collection of illegally owned weapons and firearms across the continent.
Eswatini, as a member of the African Union, is participating in the initiative as part of efforts to promote peace, security and safer communities.
Masango said illegal weapons and their use in violent crime remained responsible for deaths, suffering and disruption to livelihoods in communities.
He said the success of the programme ultimately depended on the cooperation of ordinary people, particularly communities which experience the consequences of gun-related crime first-hand.
ZERO FIREARMS SURRENDERED IN 2025
Police have, however, expressed concern that the previous amnesty did not receive the response authorities had hoped for.
According to Masango, not a single firearm was surrendered during the 2025 Amnesty Month, despite continued police encounters with illegally possessed firearms and crimes involving guns.
The National Commissioner described the situation as disappointing, saying people who had an opportunity to surrender illegal weapons without facing arrest had instead continued keeping them unlawfully.
This year’s campaign therefore carries an even stronger appeal for people to use the window provided by the police.
Authorities want September 2026 to produce a different outcome, with firearm holders being encouraged to consider the wider consequences of keeping an illegal weapon.
The surrender of even one firearm, police believe, could potentially prevent that weapon from later being used in a robbery, assault or other violent crime.
Masango called upon every Liswati to attach greater importance to the initiative so that illegal guns were not merely silenced temporarily but permanently removed from communities.
TOUGH CRACKDOWN AFTER SEPTEMBER
While September offers an opportunity for voluntary surrender, the Police Service has made it clear that the window will not remain open indefinitely.
Once Amnesty Month ends, REPS says it will intensify operations against illegal firearms through targeted raids and other police operations.
The warning means those who choose to retain illegally possessed firearms beyond the amnesty period could face arrest and prosecution when found in possession of them.
Police say the increasing number of firearms recovered through arrests, particularly after previous amnesty periods, shows why stronger enforcement will remain necessary.
The authorities are therefore urging firearm holders to make use of September rather than wait until illegal weapons are discovered during police operations.
COMMUNITIES URGED TO HELP POLICE
Members of the public also have an important role to play.
REPS has encouraged anyone with information about illegally possessed firearms to report it to the police, while assuring informants that their identities will remain protected.
The Police Service said removing illegal guns was central to ensuring that EmaSwati were not only safe, but also felt safe in their own communities.
The campaign consequently places responsibility on both firearm holders and the wider public: those possessing illegal weapons are being asked to surrender them, while those with information are encouraged to assist law-enforcement authorities.
For police, the ultimate objective is not simply the recovery of firearms but the prevention of the tragedies that may follow when weapons remain in the wrong hands.
With 87 arrests, 58 firearms seized and 509 live rounds recovered in less than a year, September’s amnesty represents an opportunity to change that picture through voluntary cooperation rather than arrests.
The message from the National Commissioner is clear: September is the opportunity to surrender illegal firearms peacefully; after the month ends, police enforcement will intensify.
At community level, the hoped-for outcome is equally straightforward — fewer illegal guns, fewer opportunities for violent crime and safer neighbourhoods for EmaSwati.
(Courtesy Pic)
