Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart has warned that proposed changes to abortion regulations in the Medical Services Amendment Bill could have wide-ranging effects on families, teenage girls and the country’s moral values.
The amendments, which were passed by the National Assembly last week as part of revisions to the Medical Services Act, introduce major changes to existing abortion laws.
The bill was approved by the National Assembly on October 23 and is now awaiting consideration by the Senate.
Speaking on Tuesday at a children’s charity event in Bulawayo, Coltart called on senators to reject the bill and allow more time for public consultation before any changes are finalised. Said Coltart:
“As a father, a grandfather and a citizen, I am deeply concerned about these changes and the threat that they pose.
“Not just to the unborn child, but to teenage girls and the fabric of our families.”
Coltart criticised the way the amendments were introduced, saying there had not been enough public consultation.
He argued that changes to such sensitive laws should reflect the country’s national values and the views of the majority of citizens.
Coltart added that national priorities should focus on protecting and supporting children, especially those born into difficult circumstances, rather than adopting policies that could place them at greater risk. He added:
“As a nation, instead of focusing on terminating the lives of children, we should be asking what we need to do to ensure that children born into hardship are protected and nurtured.”
The Bill has become highly controversial because late-stage amendments introduced in October this year seek to liberalise Zimbabwe’s abortion laws.
More: CITE
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