29 Nov 2018

There are 7 528 rifles and 28 264 shotguns registered in the country in terms of the Arms and Ammunitions Act, says Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe.

Answering a question in Parliament on behalf of Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kwerepe said the Arms Quota Board suspended the issuing of acquisition permits for rifles in 2013, as a measure to alleviate the problem of poaching which was escalating at the time.

He said it was true that there were instances of human/wildlife conflict experienced in the country, and that where such incidents occurred, the appropriate procedure was to report to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks or the nearest police station.

Mr Kwerepe said some wildlife species were extremely dangerous and government did not encourage members of the public to confront them on their own, and that the safest approach was to report such instances.

He said the suspension on the issuance of permits to acquire rifles would be reviewed as and when it became necessary, not only for human/wildlife conflict but also for other related protection needs.

Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu had asked the minister to state the number of rifles and shotguns registered, why rifle permits had been suspended and whether the board would as a matter of urgency lift the suspension of acquisition of rifles considering the current high level of human/wildlife conflict. ENDS