African legislators in campaign to address gun violence

Midrand, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | African legislators have started a campaign to push for ratification and implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty to address armed violence rampant on the continent. The Members of Parliament (MPs) noted that the readily available small arms and weapons are responsible for the high crime rate and terror among the population in Africa.

Karin Olofsson, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons while addressing Parliamentarians attending a Pan African Parliament (PAP) workshop in Midrand, South Africa on Saturday, 3 March 2018, said in South Africa alone, 18 people are killed every day by guns.

“The situation in the world related to armed violence is very serious. Each year, 875 million small arms and light weapons in circulation worldwide cause the tragic death of thousands of individuals,” she told the The Pan-African Parliament .

She added that armed conflict and violence, regardless of scale, are perpetuated by uncontrolled availability of small arms and light weapons. She told legislators that misuse of the arms have devastating consequences. They fuel conflict, impede peace and sustainable development.

Uganda was represented at the session by her Members to PAP Jacquiline Amongin (NRM, Ngora), Prof. Ogenga Latigo (FDC, Agago North), Anifa Bangirana Kawooya (NRM, Ssembabule), Felix Okot Ogong (NRM, Dokolo South) and Babirye Kadogo (Ind. Buyende).

According to Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the heart of the problem of gun violence in Africa is in politics.

“The core issue in Africa is politics, governance and the ability to establish governance systems where people find equity, where everybody feels they belong; where concerns are addressed fairly, where there is satisfaction in the governance processes including elections; and forming governments and delivering services to the people,” he said.

Lilian Timveos (Zimbabwe) and also Member of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons notes that there is a lot of criminality and armed robberies arising from the prevalence of small arms and light weapons.

“It is important for government to regulate the flow of small arms and weapons. If countries ratify the ATT and domesticate it, it will go a long way in addressing gun violence,” she said adding “There are a lot criminals that have these small arms and weapons. In Zimbabwe for instance, just two weeks ago, thugs used guns and robbed a bank.”

The parliamentarians noted that the situation in Zimbabwe in not any different from Uganda where armed robberies and killings are prevalent. On Thursday, it was reported that two armed thugs attacked a businesswoman in broad day light in Bweyogerere, a Kampala suburb, slitting her throat. Police however pursued the thugs and killed them.