LINKS to International Firearm Associations / Organisations
(Updated on 2 September 2008)

• Zimbabwe
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Tanzania

ZIMBABWE

The overall body for firearms ownership is the Zimbabwe Shooting Sport Federation and it is answerable to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and the Zimbabwe Sport and Recreation Commission (i.e. government).

The Federation is comprised of the following associations:

The Zimbabwe Pistol and Smallbore Association
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association of Zimbabwe
The National Rifle Association of Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Hunters Association
The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association
The Zimbabwe Firearms Dealers Association
The Zimbabwe Firearms, Ammunition, Antiques and Memorabilia Collectors Association
The Security Asssociation of Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, firearms ownership is regulated by the Firearms Act.  Every firearm requires a license, or Firearm Certificate, which is issued by the Central Firearms Registry of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. (This includes air weapons of .22 calibre). A Firearm Certificate is valid for a period of three years, after which it must be renewed. Firearm Certificates are issued for the following purposes:

1) Home Protection - may not be carried around except to a firearms dealer or gunsmith

2) Gun Club Sport - may only be carried to and from a gun club, or to and from a firearms dealer or gunsmith

3) Hunting - may be carried while hunting, to and from a gun club, and, to and from a firearms dealer or gunsmith

4) Personal Protection - may be carried on the license holder at all times

5) Collectors

When applying for a Firearm Certificate, the completed form must be supported by a letter confirming the intended use, e.g. by a shooting club, National Parks officer, landowner, etc., and the applicant's identity must be proved at a police station. A set of fingerprints must accompany each application, as well as a list of firearms already owned. At present there is no statutory limit to the number of firearms one may possess, however the current Controller of Firearms favours a limit of five per person.

There are numerous penalties for offences under the Firearms Act, but the main one is for possession of an unlicensed firearm. This is punishable by a minimum mandatory five years imprisonment without option of a fine.

Ammunition may only be possessed in respect of a specific Firearm Certificate and for the calibre specified. In the case of gun club sport, the amount is generally 300 rounds per annum. Private reloading of ammunition is legal in Zimbabwe, though it requires a specific permit, and the storage of powder and primers must be vetted by the Ministry of Mines, as well as the police. Reloaded ammunition is not recorded on one's Firearm Certificate, so sport shooters can have almost unlimited ammunition as long as the amount in their possession does not exceed that stipulated by the Firearm Certificates they hold.

Both firearms and ammunition must be securely locked away when not in use. A locking steel safe bolted to the wall is the benchmark and the Central Firearms Registry may require either a receipt for the purchase of a gun safe attached to the application or a letter from a policeman who has inspected your gun safe.

Information kindly supplied by: Ira Larivers
Secretary General, Zimbabwe Sport Shooting Federation
PO Box GD 838, Greendale, Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone: (263) 091-238-355
Email: zssf@webmail.co.za

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Association Contacts:

The Zimbabwe Pistol and Smallbore Association
Contact: Ira Larivers
PO Box GD838, Greendale, Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: (263 4) 487-799
Email: ijl@gauntlet.co.zw

The Clay Target Shooting Association of Zimbabwe
Contact: Mike Nicholson
7 Allenby Close, Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone: (263 4) 369-111/6 (w) Cell (263 11) 406-279
Fax: (263 4) 369-118
Email: mikenic@hms.co.zw

The National Rifle Association of Zimbabwe
Contact: Louis Nel
Email: select@spyder.co.zw

The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association
and
The Zimbabwe Association of Tour and Safari Operators (ZATSO)
These two associations share offices and have combined staff.
Telephone: (263 4) 702402 or (263 23) 316739
Email: zatso@mweb.co.zw

The Zimbabwe Hunters Association
Telephone (263-4) 707306

The three associations above represent the hunting industry in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Firearms Dealers Association
Contact: Peter Gwaza
Email: natecarms@yahoo.com

The Zimbabwe Firearms, Ammunition, Antiques and Memorabilia Collectors Association
Contact: Roy Nott
Email: joan@thoughtworks.co.zw

The Security Asssociation of Zimbabwe
Contact: Ira Larivers
Email: ijl@gauntlet.co.zw

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NAMIBIA

Namibia has no all inclusive gunowners association. There are three associations of interest.

Namibia Professional Hunting Association
Namibia Arms and Ammunition Dealers Association
Militaria Collectors Society of Namibia

Association Contacts:

Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA)
NAPHA deals with hunting related firearms issues.
PO Box 11291, Windhoek, Namibia
Telephone: (264 61) 234-455
Fax: (264 61) 222-567
Email: napha@mweb.com.na
Contact: Carlin Sobotta

Namibia Arms and Ammunition Dealers Association (NAADA)
PO Box 97, Windhoek, Namibia
Contact: Hanno Snyman
Telephone: (264 61) 290-9295
Email: hanno@agra.com.na

Militaria Collectors Society of Namibia
PO Box 2870, Windhoek, Namibia
Telephone/Fax: (264 61) 241-703
Email: radmore@mweb.com.na
Contact: Col. Des Radmore

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There is no all inclusive gunowners association in Botswana nor are there any shooting or collectors associations. There are however a few shooting clubs. Firearm ownership is very strictly controlled.

There are three ways to obtain a firearm in Botswana. The first is the annual government lottery, which is free, and wherein a limited number of firearm licences (approx 50-100) are available. The second way is to purchase a firearm which has an existing licence. The third way to obtain a firearm is at the government auction of confiscated firearms (those used for poaching offences, criminal activities, etc) which are auctioned with their licences.

A firearm may be “scrapped’ at the request of the owner and then a new one purchased to replace it i.e. the licence remains valid. A scrapped gun may be replaced by an equal or smaller calibre but not with a bigger calibre e.g. a .30-06 can be taken in place of a scrapped .470 but not visa versa.

No handguns or fully automatic weapons are allowed and .22 calibre licences are no longer issued (any existing .22 licences that are scrapped cannot be replaced).

There is no official limit to the number of firearms a person may own but after the fourth licence it is unlikely one will be allowed any more.

Ammunition is very restricted. Each licence is allowed 100 rounds per year but you may only be in possession of 100 rounds at any one time.

A hunter or visitor may temporarily import a firearm if they are booked with a registered hunting company. Only 100 rounds of ammunition are allowed per firearm and they may not leave the country without the firearm/s.

The owner of a firearm may leave the firearm, with its licence, to someone in their will. If there is no will the family decides who gets the firearm (and the licence) - usually the eldest son.

The Botswana Wildlife Management Association
This association is made up of professional hunters, hunting concession holders, and other interested parties that are recognized by government. They “speak” on behalf of the hunting industry and are mainly concerned with issues like game quota, hunting concession area boundaries, over-population of species, etc.

Note: SAGA is unable to verify all the above information on Botswana and cannot accept any responsibility for its accuracy.

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Tanzania has no all inclusive gunowners association or any gun clubs. There is however a professional hunters association.

Tanzania Professional Hunters Association (TZPHA)
PO Box 354, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel (255 22) 266-6174
Fax (255 22) 266-7692
Contact person: Michel Mantheakis

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