MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT (as amended) (3) Any person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level four or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.6 shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months and may, in addition, be required to find sureties to keep the peace for such period, not exceeding one year, as the court by which such person is convicted may determine.8 6 Penalty for certain other offences (1) Any person who— (a) without lawful excuse, the proof of which excuse shall be on such person, has in his custody or possession any implement or article for use in housebreaking, theft, fraud or a contravention of section 57 of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11]; or (b) is found by night, without lawful excuse, the proof whereof lies on him, in or upon any dwelling, premises or area; or (c) enters any dwelling, premises or area with intent to commit an offence; or (d) is found armed— (i) with any dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument; or (ii) with any thing which so closely resembles any dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument as to be likely to be mistaken therefor; and who, being required thereto, does not give a valid and satisfactory reason for being so armed; or (e) is found loitering in any public place under such circumstances as to afford reasonable grounds for believing that he has committed or is about to commit an offence; or (f) resists, or incites, aids or encourages any person to resist, or hinders or disturbs any police officer, constabulary member of the Police Force or officer of a local authority in the execution of his duty; or (g) fails or neglects to comply with any requirement of any police officer, constabulary member of the Police Force or officer of a local authority made in terms of any enactment; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.7 (2) In a prosecution for an offence under paragraph (a) of subsection (1), if it is proved that the accused person had in his custody or possession an implement or article made or adapted for use in housebreaking, theft, fraud or a contravention of section 57 of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11], it shall be presumed unless the contrary is proved that he had it in his custody or possession for such use. 8 Penalty for sale, etc. of certain types of knives (1) In this section— “specified knife” means a knife— (a) which has a blade— (i) which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, sometimes known as a “flick knife”; or (ii) which is released from the handle or sheath of the knife by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device, sometimes known as a “gravity knife”; or (iii) which is— A. released from the handle or sheath of the knife manually; and B. locked in the open position by means of a button, spring, lever or other device; and C. released from the locked open position otherwise than solely by manual pressure on the blade; other than a trimming knife the blade of which does not exceed thirty millimetres in length; or (b) which is declared in terms of subsection (2) to be a specified knife. (2) Where he considers it necessary in the public interest to do so, the Minister may, by notice in a statutory instrument, declare any knife or class of knife to be a specified knife for the purposes of this section and may, in like manner, withdraw any such declaration. (3) Any person who sells, hires or offers, displays or advertises for sale or hire, or lends or gives to any other person, or has in his possession, any specified knife shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. 9 (4) The court convicting any person of a contravention of subsection (3) may order that any knife which formed the subject of the charge shall be forfeited to the State. 7 Penalty for riotous or indecent conduct or threats, etc. Any person who, in any public place— (a) is guilty of riotous or indecent conduct; or (b) uses any threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaves in a threatening, abusive or insulting manner with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned; or (c) employs any means whatsoever which are likely materially to interfere with the ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the public or which are likely adversely to affect the safety of the public or does any act which is likely to lead to a breach of the peace or to create a nuisance or obstruction; 9 Wearing and possession of camouflage uniforms (1) In this section— “authorized person” means— (a) a member of the Defence Forces, the Police Force, the Prison Service or any other uniformed force of the State; (b) a member of a military force of a foreign State who is— (i) on attachment to any force referred to in paragraph (a) under an arrangement made between the Government and the Government of that foreign State; or (ii) present in Zimbabwe, with the approval of the Government, in the course of his official duties; -3-