MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) seized 58 illegal firearms and 509 live rounds of ammunition during the period between October 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.
The figures were revealed by National Commissioner of Police (NATCOM), Vusi Manoma Masango in a press statement marking September as the African Union (AU) Firearm Surrender Amnesty Month.
According to the statement, at least 87 people were arrested and charged with possession of illegal firearms during the period under review.
Of those arrested, 65 were emaSwati, while 22 were foreign nationals.
The recovery of 58 firearms during the arrests highlights the continued presence of illegal guns in communities, with police warning that such weapons are frequently linked to violent crime and pose a serious threat to the safety and security of communities.
The police have called on people in possession of illegal firearms to use the September amnesty period to surrender their weapons without fear of arrest or prosecution.
The initiative is intended to remove illegally held firearms from communities and reduce the risk of gun-related violence.
The call comes after no firearm was surrendered during the 2025 Amnesty Month, despite what police described as persistently high levels of crime involving illegal firearms.
The police have, therefore, urged members of the public to take advantage of this year’s amnesty and surrender illegally possessed guns before the amnesty period comes to an end.
While the police are offering an amnesty during September, they have warned that their approach will change once the month ends.
REPS says it will intensify its crackdown on illegal firearms through targeted raids and operations after September.
The police say illegal firearms and their illicit proliferation remain a major concern because of their association with violent crime, loss of life, suffering and the disruption of livelihoods in communities.
Eswatini, as a member of the AU, observes September each year as Africa Amnesty Month, an initiative aimed at encouraging the surrender and collection of illegally owned weapons and firearms.
The police say the success of the initiative ultimately depends on communities, which are among those most affected by gun violence and the presence of illegal weapons.
Police are particularly concerned that illegal firearms continue to remain in private hands despite the risks associated with their possession and use.
The police have expressed disappointment over the lack of participation in last year’s amnesty.
According to Masango’s statement, not a single firearm was surrendered during the 2025 Amnesty Month.
This was despite what police described as persistently high levels of crime involving illegal firearms and the loss of innocent lives.
The police are, therefore, appealing to every liSwati to take the 2026 initiative seriously and use the opportunity to remove illegal firearms from communities.
The objective, according to REPS, is not simply to silence the guns, but to ensure that illegally possessed firearms are removed from communities altogether.
The police have assured those who wish to surrender illegal firearms that they will not be arrested or face legal consequences for surrendering the weapons during the amnesty period.
The authorities describe the initiative as an opportunity for people to voluntarily hand over firearms before enforcement measures are intensified.
The authorities also want the public to understand that the amnesty is intended to encourage voluntary compliance rather than rely solely on arrests and enforcement operations.
According to the police, the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms can contribute significantly to reducing the number of dangerous weapons in circulation and preventing such firearms from being used in criminal activities.
While the police are offering an opportunity for people to surrender illegal firearms during September, they have issued a clear warning about what will follow once the amnesty period ends.
The warning places additional urgency on the current amnesty, particularly for people who are unlawfully keeping firearms and ammunition.
REPS has reiterated its commitment to protecting the nation and removing illegal firearms and ammunition from circulation.
The police say illegal weapons must not remain in the hands of criminals because of their potential to facilitate violent crimes and endanger innocent members of the public.
The service has also encouraged members of the public to report information relating to illegal firearms and ammunition in their communities.
According to the police, anyone with information about illegally held guns can approach the authorities, with anonymity guaranteed.
The police have further urged people who may know of individuals keeping illegal firearms to come forward and provide information to the relevant authorities.
How many out of the 22 were South Africans?