This follows recent incidents where two businessmen and a motorcycle taxi operator were attacked with guns in Thyolo including another who has been shot dead in Mzuzu last week Wednesday.

Kabisala told Zodiak Online Friday that the country needed to establish whether the small and light weapons are coming from the established security institutions, licenced individuals or smuggled elsewhere.

"There might be two ways either the weapons are found in the country after being imported or there is another way where some people are dubiously using firearms from the established security institutions. We also need to check if those with registered weapons are now using to do criminal activities", he suggested.

He doubted if the current presence of the firearms in the country is still a result of wars and instabilities the neighbouring countries had some years ago.

He therefore said that the prolification of these reveals a sucurity lapse.

Meanwhile, National Police Spokesperson, Peter Kalaya insisted that security is tight in the country and that officers are on the ground to track down those behind the recent armed robberies and shootings.

"We already launched investigations and we are at an advanced stage. In one of the cases, we recovered a vehicle and we are hopeful of making breakthroughs in arresting those involved. However, this should not be a cause for worry to Malawians," he said.

African Union (AU) designated the month of September as ‘Africa Amnesty Month’, in which people that own unlicenced guns should surrender them to law enforcers or change ownership and according to Kalaya, the door is still open to everyone who still keeps them.