ZADHR Backs Bill To Expand Access To Abortion Services In Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has endorsed Clause 11 of the Medical Services Amendment Bill, a provision aimed at broadening access to safe abortion in Zimbabwe.

Currently, abortion in Zimbabwe is only permitted under limited circumstances, including when a pregnancy poses a serious risk to a woman’s life, in cases of severe foetal abnormalities, or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Clause 11 of the proposed legislation seeks to expand access to abortion services within regulated medical settings, aligning the law with constitutional provisions and public health considerations.

In a statement issued on 12 February 2026, ZADHR described the inclusion of Clause 11 as a “significant step towards safeguarding women’s health and rights.” The ZADHR said:

“ZADHR supports the inclusion of Clause 11 within the Medical Services Amendment Bill, 2024.

“This significant step aligns with Section 76 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which enshrines the right to healthcare, as well as Sections 48, 51 and 52, which protect the rights to life, dignity and bodily integrity.”

ZADHR said Clause 11 of the Medical Services Amendment Bill would update the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977, which it describes as outdated and inadequate for today’s public health needs.

According to ZADHR, the proposed changes would expand access to abortion services within regulated facilities, reduce procedural and bureaucratic hurdles, strengthen informed consent, and prevent women and girls from turning to unsafe, clandestine procedures.

The group highlighted that Zimbabwe continues to face a heavy maternal health burden. The 2023–2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey estimates the maternal mortality ratio at 212 deaths per 100,000 live births.

While this marks an improvement, ZADHR stresses that the figure remains unacceptably high, with unsafe abortion estimated to contribute to around 16 per cent of maternal deaths.

Citing research from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and the Guttmacher Institute, ZADHR said roughly 65,000–80,000 induced abortions take place in Zimbabwe each year, with around 25,000 women requiring hospital treatment for complications arising from unsafe procedures.

The doctors’ association added that evidence from organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) consistently shows that restrictive abortion laws do not reduce abortion rates.

Instead, they force women to resort to unsafe methods, sharply increasing the risk of severe complications and death. It added:

“ZADHR firmly believes that the Medical Services Amendment Bill represents a constitutionally sound and evidence-based reform that will directly lead to a reduction in preventable maternal mortality, protect women and girls from life-threatening complications, bolster informed medical practice, and ultimately align Zimbabwe’s health framework with international best practices and human rights standards.”