07 Aug 2025

Parliament has passed the Conventional Arms Control Bill 2025 that was tabled before parliament for third reading by the Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa. 

Reporting the Bill from committee with amendments on yesterday, Minister Mohwasa thanked the Members of Parliament for approving the Bill, saying it was meant to give effect to the Arms Trade Treaty to all state parties to establish and maintain national control systems for the regulation of conventional arms transfers, ensure compliance with international obligations and consider violations of human rights. 

The Bill, he said, would also provide for establishment of the National Conventional Arms Control Authority and National Conventional Arms Control Committee as part of the national system for the control of international trade in conventional arms. 

In line with the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant international conventions, the minister said the legal framework would regulate the authorisation, research, manufacturing transfer transit and brokering of conventional arms to promote transparency and responsible trade in conventional arms and to provide for matters incidental, there too. 

By doing so, the minister said this would ensure the country conformed to international standards and obligations toward promotion of local, regional and international stability.  Prior to its approval, Minister Mohwasa proposed for some amendments to be made in the Bill. 

The Bill, which has 41 Clauses, was approved with amendments at Clauses; 1, 2, 24, 27 and 28, whilst Clauses; 3 to 23, 25 to 26 and 29 to 41 where adopted, to stand part of the Bill, without any amendments. Subject to the provisions of the Bill, the minister said a person shall not manufacture or trade in or have in his or her possession a conventional arm, unless he or she owns a permit issued by the authority under the Act. 

“A conventional arms permit, or a manufacturing license, shall describe the conventional arms, to which it relates, and specify any relevant information in reference to the conventional arms as may be prescribed,” he said. 

Mr Mohwasa said a manufacturing license shall be made in such form, as may be prescribed and a person who contravened the provision of Sub-section 1, or b, had in his or her possession conventional arms in excess of quantities authorising the permit license or authorisation, commits an offense and was` liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding P500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both. Furtheremore, subject to the provisions of this Act, Mr Mohwasa also noted that a person shall not import or export a conventional arm unless he or she held a permit issued by the authority under the Act. ENDS