We arrived in Joburg last evening and, while clearing the rifles with SAPS, I got a call from AIRLINK (our connecting carrier to Harare) and was informed that ammunition wasn’t allowed in checked baggage.

They wanted it in your carryon?

I don't believe they want it in your carry-on. I just got back a week or so ago doing same trip to Zim. Airlink had me take it out of my checked bag and check it separately. The good news was when I returned they let me have it in my checked bag and check it straight through to ATL. Avoiding having to take possession in Joburg and go through that whole hassle.

You must not have got the memo . It's been that way for quite a while with Airlink and fairly common knowledge. I don't know the reason for it. Did they charge for an extra checked bag?

When I went through this in 2023, the "gentleman" weighed my luggage,tuffpak, etc and printed out a tag. Airlink allowed weight is less than the 50 lbs per luggage piece that other airlines allow so I was expecting a charge for it. Only then did he ask me if I had ammo in my checked bag. Of course I did and it was to be checked separately as is normal there. BUT be printed out new tags showimg weight and stapled all tags for me to take to another counter where I was charged. The lady there said I was WAY overweight and the charge was a lot more than I expected. I should've figured out then that I was double charged by the dirty SOB at the 1st counter but I didn't until later. I hadn't went through Airlink before and so they got me!