Police at OR Tambo International Airport have seized a consignment of handguns which might have belonged to the Zimbabwean police force. The weapons - 50 CZ 75 9mm parabellum handguns - were found yesterday in the cargo hold of a passenger plane, packed in a simple wooden padlocked box which had “Zimbabwe contingent” scrawled across it. The plane had stopped over in Zimbabwe. Most of the weapons, which appeared secondhand, had ZRP stamped on them with an additional serial number. According to a security expert, ZRP stands for Zimbabwe Republic Police. The firearms were made in the Czech Republic, and still had their original serial numbers. No ammunition was found in the consignment, which is estimated to be worth about R175000.
(Source)
From my book “Without Honour“:
“The CZ ‘75 is a semi automatic handgun made in the Czech Republic and originally introduced in 1975 by Ceska Zbrojovka Brod (CZUB) in 9mm calibre parabellum. It is one of the original ‘wonder nines’ featuring high-capacity double column magazine, sturdy all-steel construction, great accuracy, and superb reliability.
Weighing in at exactly 2 kilograms with a full magazine and one up the spout, the CZ is a remarkable weapon and had slowly become the issue pistol of the ZRP, taking the place of the aged and somewhat antiquated P1. I know how good the CZ ’75 is because not only had I qualified as a marksman with it every year I was in the Police, but I had also used it in the Police Pistol Shooting Championships in Harare for two years and found it to be the perfect pistol for myself - I have rather large hands.”