DODOMA, Sept. 1 -- THE government has announced a two-month amnesty for people possessing firearms illegally, giving them an opportunity to voluntarily surrender the weapons without facing prosecution.

The amnesty, which takes effect on September 1 and runs through October 31, this year, is part of a national campaign aimed at removing illegal firearms from communities and preventing their use in crime.

Minister for Home Affairs Patrobas Katambi said yesterday in Dodoma that the government had formally announced the amnesty through a government notice dated August 28, this year, as it seeks to strengthen peace and security in Tanzania.

Under the arrangement, people who surrender firearms they possess without the required permits or thr...