An 80-year-old man, Pascal Mwango, is in custody on charges of being found in possession of a shotgun and 35 bullets inside the Ruaha National Park.

Mbeya Regional Police Commander, Benjamin Kuzaga, told Mwananchi digital on Monday, October 23, 2023, that the suspect was arrested in Masenjele neighbourhood, which is located inside the Ruaha National Park, by police officers and wildlife rangers who were on patrol to combat illegal hunting.

Kuzaga said that the incident occurred on October 20, after Mwango was searched in a bag he was carrying. He was found with a shotgun, 35 bullets, and gunpowder in a plastic bag.

Kuzaga also mentioned other items, including a knife, matches, and two firecrackers. Mwango did not have permits to own such items.

"Mwango admitted to committing the crime of hunting and killing wild animals inside the Ruaha National Park in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region," Kuzaga said.

Kuzaga added that Mwango is still being interrogated by the police to identify the network of a group involved in illegal hunting and the loss of animals, which are tourist attractions.

Meanwhile, the commander has announced a campaign for people who own weapons without a licence to surrender them before November 1, 2023. He explained that they were given a month to surrender them.

"I gave everyone a month to surrender their weapons without coercion. The exercise will end on October 31st, after which we will start the 'Catch a Weapon' operation," Kuzaga said.

He said that the operation will not spare people who own weapons without a licence and that it is time to obey the laws and instructions of law enforcement agencies by surrendering them at police stations and offices of village and ward leaders.

A resident of Iwindi District, Mbeya, Winfrida Joel, said that they are requesting the police force to have an alternative procedure for regularly testing the mental health of people who legally own weapons to reduce the incidence of murders and injuries.

"There is every reason to consider the importance of mental health testing because there are people who walk around with firearms in entertainment venues and bars, which threatens the safety of citizens and their property," Joel said.