Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Officer Commanding Harare Central District, Chief Superintendent Masvivi, has issued a prohibition order that prevents members of the public from carrying items that could be used as weapons.
The ban comes just days before protests called by outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza, who has demanded that President Emmerson Mnangagwa resign for allegedly overseeing a corrupt and incompetent government.
On Wednesday night, Geza conducted another live broadcast, urging citizens to take to the streets on March 31 to protest.
In a statement released on March 26, 2025, Masvivi urged community members to refrain from carrying various items, including catapults, machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives, and daggers.
He said the ZRP has “reasonable grounds” to believe that carrying these items, whether openly or concealed, could contribute to public disorder or a breach of peace.
The prohibition also extends to traditional weapons, which the police have flagged as potential threats to safety.
This order will remain in effect for a period of two months, starting from Thursday, March 27, 2025, until May 31, 2025. Reads the order:
<blockquote>
ZRP Harare Central District
Prohibition Order
In terms of Section 13 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23, I, Chief Superintendent M. Masvivi, being the Officer Commanding Police, Harare Central District, policing area bound by four districts—Mbare to the south stretching from Braeside Area, Magaba Home Industry up to Sally Mugabe Hospital; Harare North to the west stretching from Marimba Suburban to Kirkman Road; Suburban to the north stretching from Kirkman Road to Corner Borrowdale Road and Churchill Road; and Harare East to the east stretching from Robert Mugabe Airport to Chikurubi Maximum Prison—believing on reasonable grounds that the carrying, whether openly or by concealment, in a public place or thoroughfare, or public display of any of the following weapons or items capable of use as weapons:
a. Catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, or daggers.
b. Any traditional weapons whatsoever likely to occasion public disorder or a breach of the peace,
hereby issue an order prohibiting the carrying of such weapons in Harare District or any part thereof for a period not exceeding two months, that is from 27 March 2025 to 31 May 2025.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that in terms of Section 13 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23, any person who fails to comply with such a prohibition shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 or imprisonment for six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
[M. Masvivi] Chief Superintendent 
Officer Commanding Police 
Harare Central District
</blockquote>

Pindula News

The police in Harare have said people cannot carry weapons like knives, swords, or traditional weapons like axes and machetes in public. They think carrying these things could cause problems. This rule will be in place for two months to keep everyone safe. If anyone breaks this rule, they could be fined or go to jail. The police want everyone to be safe and avoid fights or trouble caused by carrying dangerous things. So, it's best to leave these weapons at home to stay out of trouble.

Police In Harare Ban Carrying Of Traditional Weapons

Police in Mutare Rural have banned dangerous weapons from public places for a six-month period in a bid to contain a rise in violent crimes that include murder and armed robberies.
The prohibition order was issued in accordance with Section 4 of the <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Maintenance_of_Peace_and_Order_Bill_(MOPA)">Maintenance of Peace And Order Act</a> (Chapter 11:23), otherwise known as MOPA.
The order prohibits carrying machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spears or daggers, catapults, and other offensive weapons in public places.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/six-months-jail-time-for-carrying-knives-catapults/">The Manica Post</a>, the Officer Commanding Mutare Rural District, Chief Superintendent Plaxedes Mbira, who is in charge of Penhalonga, Odzi, Marange, Cashel Valley, Vumba, as well as Burma Valley, said:
<blockquote>
There has been an increase in the number of violent crimes. They are being committed on a daily basis so as the police we have seen it fit to put in place this prohibition order.
We have noticed that these crimes are being committed by people who are moving around with dangerous weapons.
For the avoidance of doubt, any person who fails to comply with this order may be found guilty of the offense and risks imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, a fine not exceeding level 5, or to both the fine and imprisonment.
</blockquote>
She appealed to members of the public to comply with the order and to report all those breaking it at their nearest police station.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police Ban Dangerous Weapons From Public Places In Mutare

The Zimbabwe Republic Police in Kwekwe District has banned the carrying of dangerous weapons for a three-month period starting on 19 April 2023.
Speaking during Independence Day Celebrations held in Silobela, the Officer Commanding Kwekwe District Chief Superintendent Ison Chapeta noted that criminal activities by machete-wielding gangs have spiked in the district. He was quoted by <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/we-will-crush-them-ruthlessly-says-police-boss-in-warning-to-machete-wielding-gangs/">NewZimbabwe.com</a> as saying:
<blockquote>
Crime rates have surged in Kwekwe. These crimes are mainly committed by people carrying offensive weapons.
As the officer commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Kwekwe District has put in place a prohibition order starting from 19 April 2023 to 19 July 2023, as the regulating authority Kwekwe District, this prohibition order is ordering people not to carry weapons.
Despite your station or statute in life, you are going to be arrested if you are found on the wrong side of the law.
We are going for elections and we don’t want such rogue elements in our midst therefore, we are going to deal with anyone found on the wrong side of the law decisively. We want to have peaceful polls.
If you are to be caught on the wrong side you will be jailed for a period not more than six months or a fine not exceeding level 5.
</blockquote>
Chief Superintendent Chapeta said he will personally command a 20-member team to enforce the prohibition order barring people from moving around with weapons. He said:
<blockquote>
You are our eyes in the community, notify us of anyone whom you will find carrying weapons and we will deal with that person, not the party not anything but the individual.
We must be peaceful in the district, we want to put an end to this.
I will personally command the team, I want the team to be ruthless, and I want the team to work as expected by the law, forewarned is forearmed.
</blockquote>
Dangerous weapons include firearms, explosives, knives with blades longer than 3 inches, machetes, and other items that are deemed to be potentially lethal such as catapults, axes, and knobkerries.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police In Kwekwe District Ban Carrying Of Dangerous Weapons

Police in Gweru have banned the carrying of weapons such as machetes, knives and catapults until year-end in a move meant to curb crime which is now rampant within and around the district.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, 20 September, Officer Commanding Gweru District, Superintendent Tambudzai Gumpo, said the ban is with effect from October 1 until December 31. she said:
<blockquote>
The following weapons or items capable of use as weapons namely, catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers will now be banned for a period of three months that is from 01 October to 31 December 2022.
</blockquote>
Last year,<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/06/14/police-in-gweru-gokwe-ban-dangerous-weapons-in-public/"> police in Gweru and Gokwe banned the carrying of dangerous weapons in public for three months</a> to contain violent crime in the two districts.
The weapons that were banned included machetes, axes, knobkerries, knives, daggers, catapults, spears, and swords.
The prohibition ran from June 14 through September 14 for Gokwe while for Gweru ran from June 22 until September 22.
Police sternly warned that those found on the wrong side of the law would face up to six months in jail.

Police In Gweru Ban Carrying Of Weapons Until Year-end

Police have refuted a report claiming that a large shipment of weapons was intercepted recently in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South Province.
According to the report, state security agents intercepted 3 trucks carrying 6 containers, some of which had AK47 rifles, rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives hidden under tiles.
However, in a statement this Saturday, 16 July, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi dismissed the story as false, adding that police were investigating the motive behind the report. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
FALSE REPORT CIRCULATING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA ON ALLEGED INTERCEPTION OF LARGE SHIPMENT OF WEAPONS IN ZIMBABWE
The Zimbabwe Republic Police dismisses a report circulating on the social media platform and attributed to the Daily Mirror on the alleged recovery and interception of a large shipment of weapons in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South Province.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police categorically states that it has not received such a report.
The Police, therefore, dismiss this false story with the contempt it deserves and the public is advised to ignore it.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is now conducting investigations with a view to establishing the motive behind this false story.
</blockquote>

ZRP Refute Report Of Alleged Interception Of Shipment Of Weapons

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has banned the carrying of dangerous weapons in public areas in Gokwe and Kwekwe districts for the next three months.
In a statement, Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said officers Commanding Police Gokwe and Kwekwe Districts have issued prohibition orders for the carrying of dangerous weapons in public areas.
The prohibition order is a response to the rise in violent cases involving the use of dangerous weapons. Said Insp Mahoko:
<blockquote>
This is due to the increase of cases of violence using machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spears or daggers, catapults and other offensive weapons or other traditional weapons.
Officers Commanding Police Districts are regulating officers for areas under them in terms of the law.
The notices are issued in terms of section 4(1) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23.
… Chief Superintendent Tsitsi Chikono issued a prohibition notice for areas under Gokwe District, running from 22 October 2021to 19 January 2022.
Chief Superintendent Denford Maingire on the other hand issued the notice for areas under Kwekwe District, covering the period 18 October 2021 to 17 January 2022.
</blockquote>
He warned that those who fail to comply with the order will be arrested. Said Insp Mahoko:
<blockquote>
Any person failing to comply with such a prohibition shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such a fine and imprisonment.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-ban-carrying-of-weapons-in-kwekwe-and-gokwe-districts/">Chronicle</a></h4>

ZRP Bans Carrying Of Weapons In Kwekwe And Gokwe Districts

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has banned the carrying of weapons that might cause public disorder or breach of peace in Harare Metropolitan Province.
In a statement on Monday morning, Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza said the order is in terms of section 4 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) Chapter 11:23).
Some of the prohibited weapons included catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, stones, daggers and any traditional weapon that would cause public disorder or breach of peace.
Insp Mwanza said violent crimes were prevalent in Harare central, Harare Suburban, Mbare, Harare South and Chitungwiza districts among others. He said:
<blockquote>The belief is informed by an escalation in violent crimes such as murder, assault, armed robbery and rape in the five police districts.
We, therefore, want to safeguard peace in our communities and get rid of marauding criminals.</blockquote>
Insp Mwanza said the order is for a period of three months, that is, from July 15 to October 15.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/police-ban-carrying-of-traditional-weapons-in-harare/">The Herald</a></h4>

Police Ban Carrying Of Dangerous Weapons In Harare

Police in Gweru and Gokwe have banned the carrying of dangerous weapons in public for three months as they battle to contain a spate of violent crime including gruesome murders ravaging the two districts located in the Midlands Province.
The weapons that have been banned include machetes, axes, knobkerries, knives, daggers, catapults, spears, and swords.
The prohibition order will run from June 14 through September 14 for Gokwe while Gweru’s will last from June 22 until September 22.
Those who will be found on the wrong side of the law would face up to six months in jail.
In a statement, officer commanding Gweru urban district, chief superintendent Tambudzai Gumpo said:
<blockquote>Due to the increase of cases involving the use of machetes, axes, knobkerries, knives, daggers, catapults, spears and other offensive weapons and any traditional weapons whatsoever, which is likely to occasion public disorder or breach of peace, I hereby issue an order prohibiting the carrying in public of such weapons, whether openly or by concealment, in a public place or public thoroughfare or display within Gweru Urban District or any part thereof for a period not exceeding three months.</blockquote>
And in Gokwe, the district commanding officer chief superintendent Tsitsi Chikono issued a similar order, adding that “members of the public are warned to desist from carrying or displaying in public any weapons whatsoever likely to occasion public disorder or breach of peace for the specified period of time.”
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/police-in-lupane-ban-machetes-in-public/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">READ MORE: Police In Lupane Ban Machetes In Public</a>
A similar ban was issued for citizens in Lupane District last week following a rise in cases of violence and looting of property.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2021/06/14/police-in-gweru-gokwe-ban-dangerous-weapons-amid-spate-of-violent-crime/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ZimLive</a></h4>

Police in Gweru, Gokwe Ban Dangerous Weapons In Public

Police in Gweru have banned the carrying of machetes and other dangerous weapons by members of the public for the next three months in a bid to reduce murder cases that have been occurring in the area.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the ban will be effective from Tuesday next week to 16 August.
Gweru Rural District Chief Superintendent Enthia Muzvidziwa issued the ban under Section 4 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act. Said Insp Mahoko:
<blockquote>This prohibition order has been issued in terms of Section 4 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23 which says any person failing to comply with such a prohibition shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 ($30 000) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such a fine and imprisonment.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Insp Mahoko said police are investigating two robbery cases that took place on 10 and 11 May respectively.
In the first incident, which occurred on 11 May, a man who was in the company of his niece was robbed of cash, cell phones and a motor vehicle by strangers whom he had offered transport along the Gweru- Bulawayo Road.
In the other incident, a 65 -year -old man was robbed of his Itel cellphone, black satchel and US$120 by two unknown men near Zvamabande Hospital Gate, Chachacha in Shurugwi on 10 May.
Insp Mahoko said the cases were reported to the police who attended both scenes adding that investigations are in progress and the suspects are still at large.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-extend-ban-on-weapons-in-public/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Police In Midlands Ban Machetes In Public

The Zimbabwe Republic Police In Nkayi has banned members of the public in the area from carrying dangerous weapons in public for the next 3 months following an increase in violent crimes in the area, the Chronicle reports.
This was revealed in a statement that was released by the officer commanding Nkayi police district Chief Superintendent Rashayi Munoda who issued the prohibition order which will run from Tuesday, December 15, 2020, to March 15, 2021.
<blockquote>Being the officer commanding police Nkayi District and therefore being the regulating authority of the area, believe in reasonable grounds that the carrying of machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, daggers, knives, catapults or any traditional weapon whatsoever capable of use as a weapon in a public place or public thoroughfare or public display has resulted in the commission of crimes of murder, assault, robberies and attempted murder.
<div class="sirius-dfp-inarticle">I therefore invoke the provisions of Section 04 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23 and hereby issue an order prohibiting carrying of the said weapons, causing public disorder and or breach of peace within my police district and do hereby prohibit the carrying of the aforementioned items for a period of three months beginning on 15 December 2020 to 15 March 2021 within Nkayi District.</div>
</blockquote>
<div>The Superintendent said any person within Nkayi District who fails to comply with the prohibition order shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Cases of armed robbery have increased in some parts of the country, a development that was attributed <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/10/16/criminals-from-south-africa-behind-the-spike-in-violent-crimes-mangwana/">to criminals coming home from down south</a> during the lockdown by a government official.</div>
<div></div>
<div>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-ban-carrying-of-dangerous-weapons-in-public/">Chronicle </a></div>

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