Unlicensed firearm backfires for former MDC-T MP

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Former MDC-T Makoni West MP Webber Chinyadza and his son Tapiwa were recently fined a combined $1 000 by a Harare magistrate after they were convicted of contravening various sections of the Firearms Act.

Chinyadza bought a Norinco pistol and the firearm’s licence expired in 2008, but he failed to renew it and gave the pistol to Tapiwa who was not licensed to possess a firearm.

Chinyadza and Tapiwa appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe on separate records.

The former legislator pleaded guilty to two counts of “failing to renew a firearm certificate” and “allowing the firearm to fall into the possession of an unauthorised person”.

His son also pleaded guilty to two counts of “possession of a firearm without a valid licence” and failure to secure a firearm.

The pair was ordered to pay $500 each forthwith or risk going to prison for 16 months.

During the period before 2008, Chinyadza of 14623 Heyman Road, Gunhill, Harare acquired a pistol and some rounds of ammunition.

He registered the firearm with the Central Firearms Registry and the licence expired on February 1 2008.

Chinyadza, the court heard, registered the firearm under Comlaw Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which is not a registered company.

From that time to May 20 this year, Chinyadza is said to have failed to renew the licence. He then gave the firearm to his son in the full knowledge that he had no right to possess a firearm without a licence.

Tapiwa kept the pistol in a cardboard box inside a storeroom at his workplace where every employee had access.

Following a tip-off, detectives proceeded to AIT Distribution where they recovered the said pistol and 29 live rounds in a cardboard box.

Tapiwa told the detectives that he had been given the firearm by his father for safekeeping, leading to the arrest of the two.

In passing the sentence Mr Mahwe said Chinyadza committed a serious offence adding that the firearm could have fallen into the hands of criminals who would have used it to commit crimes.

Ms Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted.

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