Police Ban Machetes, Knobkerries and Other Weapons in Zvishavane
By Delicious Mathuthu — Zvishavane police have banned carrying and display of machetes, axes, knives and other weapons in public from October 31, 2026, to January 31, 2027, citing rising assaults, robberies, murders and other violent crimes.
Delicious Mathuthu 
Zvishavane — Police in Zvishavane have banned the carrying of machetes, axes, knives and other weapons in public for three months, starting end of October 2026, warning that offenders risk arrest, fines or imprisonment.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Officer Commanding Police in Zvishavane District, Chief Superintendent Enock Chishiri said the ban, under Section 4 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, has been necessitated by increased violent crimes in the jurisdiction.
"Acting in terms of Section 4 of Maintenance Of Peace And Order Act [Chapter 11:23] [Hereinafter referred to as MOPA], do hereby temporarily prohibit the carrying in public (whether openly or by concealment in a public place or public thoroughfare) or public display of any of the following weapons or items capable of use as weapons namely, catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers for a period of 3 months that is from 31 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
"The reason for the issuance of this prohibition order is to curb the sharp increase in assaults, robberies, murder cases and other violent crimes involving the aforementioned weapons in Zvishavane District," he said.
The prohibition order covers weapons carried openly or concealed in public places and on public thoroughfares across the Zvishavane Police District.
The order covers areas under the Zvishavane and Mberengwa administrative districts, with boundaries extending across several traditional leadership areas.
These include areas under Chiefs Masunda, Mazvihwa, Ngungumbane, Nyamhondo, Mketi, Mahlebadza, Bankwe, Mtevaidze, Bvute, Mafala, Wedza, Mapanzure and others within the designated police jurisdiction.
Under the order, police officers have been authorised to seize any weapon found, in violating the prohibition.
"By virtue of this notice any Police officer is, in terms of Section 4 (5) of MOPA, hereby authorised to seize without warrant, any weapon or item capable of use as a weapon, found in the possession of any person in contravention of this prohibition notice, and shall place in safe custody every weapon or item so seized so that it may be submitted to the jurisdiction of the court to be dealt with in accordance with the law," Chief Superintendent Chishiri said.
He said anyone who fails to comply with the order faces a fine, imprisonment or both.
"For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared, in terms of Section 4 (4) of MOPA, that any person who fails to comply with this prohibition notice shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment," Chief Superintendent Chishiri warned.
