Security authorities and experts have urged the government to intensify public awareness campaigns as a central strategy in curbing the spread of illegal firearms, warning that enforcement alone cannot secure lasting peace without informed and engaged communities.
The call was made at the close of a three-day training for members of the Committee on Firearms Control and Management held in Dar es Salaam, where participants stressed that sustained civic education would help citizens understand the dangers of illegal weapons and their impact on national safety and stability.
Closing the session, Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura, who also chairs the committee, said the training had strengthened members’ capacity to discharge their responsibilities, noting that the committee’s composition drawing expertise from both public and private sectors placed it in a strong position to support national efforts against illicit arms.
IGP Wambura emphasised that effective control of illegal firearms requires coordinated action among institutions, backed by communities that are aware of the risks posed by unlawful possession and use of weapons.
He said informed citizens are more likely to cooperate with authorities and resist practices that threaten public security.
Director of Criminal Investigations and Registrar of Firearms Ramadhan Kingai said the government would continue to enforce firearm laws strictly, warning that owners who violate licensing and storage regulations would face firm legal action.
He noted that tough enforcement remains essential, even as authorities expand preventive and educational measures.
Committee members observed that the unchecked circulation of illegal firearms continues to fuel serious crimes, including armed robbery and livestock theft, while also escalating communal conflicts that result in deaths, injuries and displacement.
They warned that persistent insecurity forces communities to live in fear, disrupts livelihoods and weakens social cohesion and economic development.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with communities, public institutions and other stakeholders to raise awareness and strengthen cooperation, expressing confidence that sustained collective action would contribute to long-term peace and security across the country.