Has anyone from the UK taken a rifle to Zimbabwe for a hunt?

[VertigoBE]

Not speaking for the UK, but for the EU.
Here you can find the full text (from 2004, last extended on 20 February 2023 for one more year)

Regulation - 314/2004 - EN - EUR-Lex

eur-lex.europa.eu

I took out the most important articles:

I leave it up to legal minded people to make the correct interpretation (because all law needs interpretation) but I could interpret from all this, is the prohibition of all arms of any type for military purposes, or that could be used for internal repression. --> THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVISE ! I AM JUST A GUY FROM THE INTERNET !

 

[WAB]

I can assure you that US hunters take their firearms to Zim all the time. As stated above, you separate your flight itineraries and get both SA and Zim permits. It is not at all difficult.

I can’t comment on the UK other than to note that I am reasonably certain that UK hunters do take firearms to Zim.

 

[VertigoBE]

I can assure you that US hunters take their firearms to Zim all the time. As stated above, you separate your flight itineraries and get both SA and Zim permits. It is not at all difficult.

I can’t comment on the UK other than to note that I am reasonably certain that UK hunters do take firearms to Zim.

You can add the EU to that list. I know of many EU citizens that have booked two separate tickets and brought their hunting rifle to Zimbabwe for a hunt.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

So come on any UK guys, have you or have you not taken your guns into Zim? I know the USA guys do, no problem.

 

[spike.t]

So come on any UK guys, have you or have you not taken your guns into Zim? I know the USA guys do, no problem.

Kevin probably not the best for them to answer this ......

 

[Hunter4752001]

It would need a proper, high level, legal opinion. To me, the clear intent of the wording is around military equipment. However, that doesn't mean the government department regulating the law doesn't interpret it as covering all firearms and ammunition. Likewise individual officers may have their own interpretation. Being in the right is little comfort if you have to endure years of legal battles and thousands of pounds in barrister fees.

I have seen an analogous situation in Australia where the early trade sanctions against Putin (re possibly the Georgia or Crimea invasions ?) were for military arms and specified that it didn't apply to civilian sporting arms. None the less, all Russian civilian fireams were treated by Customs as prohibited.

 

[mark-hunter]

Still in place due to do with the general state of play of even the present zim president and government......and was put in place in first place due to mugabes how shall we say behaviour and doings..

So is this embargo a relic from Mugabe times, or there are reasons to be kept in place?

 

[mark-hunter]

Where this embargo can be found online?

It would be intetesting to know in which countries it applies?

I tried searching online, but could not find.

 

[SRvet]

The act in its current format is here:

The Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) to establish a sanctions regime in relation to Zimbabwe for the purposes of encouraging the Government of Zimbabwe to: respect democratic principles and institutions and the rule of law; refrain from the...

www.legislation.gov.uk

The important bit is below….all firearms are considered restricted goods.

CHAPTER 2Restricted goods and restricted technology​

Export of restricted goods​

21.—(1) The export of restricted goods to, or for use in, Zimbabwe is prohibited.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 6 (exceptions and licences).

Supply and delivery of restricted goods​

22.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly supply or deliver restricted goods from a third country to a place in Zimbabwe.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 6 (exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence to show that the person did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the goods were destined (or ultimately destined) for Zimbabwe.

(4) In this regulation, “third country” means a country that is not the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Zimbabwe.


What strikes me is that each subsection is qualified by the words…. is subject to Part 6 (exceptions and licences).

Also in Part 6 it says …The prohibitions in Chapters 2 and 3 of Part 5 (trade) do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State under this regulation.

​

 

[spike.t]

So is this embargo a relic from Mugabe times, or there are reasons to be kept in place?

Probably because there has been not much in the way of change under the new model of bob....

 

[ianevans]

Hi I took my rifle in 2019 . got outfitter in SA to invite me to hunt did all paperwork ,imported rifle to SA then with seperate ticket flew to Harare and went throuhg the customs there . had a meet and greet in SA to avoid problems.

 

[BRICKBURN]

So come on any UK guys, have you or have you not taken your guns into Zim? I know the USA guys do, no problem.

Not a good plan to admit ignoring an embargo of firearms on the net.

 

[Borderer]

I went through this with a UK solicitor last year when considering a trip to Zimbabwe. His advice was very clear that by exporting a rifle to Zimbabwe, you are committing a criminal offence in the UK and could face a prison sentence, if you do it the ‘American Way’ and travel via South Africa. This is because you are breaking a British embargo. He told me that you are likely to get picked up on your return to the UK when Zimbabwe stamps are seen in your passport and you are travelling with a firearm.

There is a solution however, that you can apply for a one off temporary export permit from the UK to Zimbabwe. I believe this has to be done through a solicitor specialising in firearms law and there is a fee of a couple of hundred pounds.

I spoke to someone last month who has an application in progress and I think it is straightforward if expensive for a firearm that is obviously for sporting use.

I think there is a solicitor in Preston who specialises in these.