THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested a Bulawayo woman (20) and her boyfriend (27) for unlawfully aborting a pregnancy which resulted in the lady discharging a foetus inside a plastic bucket.
By Michael Gwarisa
Through their official micro-blogging account, the ZRP said they were also looking for the doctor who assisted the couple in terminating the pregnancy.
The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful termination of pregnancy in which a Bulawayo woman (20) conspired with her boyfriend (27) to terminate pregnancy. The two visited a private doctor who is still at large and were given some pills on 30/09/21.
“After taking the pills, the woman’s condition deteriorated resulting in her discharging a foetus in a plastic bucket. Police has since arrested the two suspects,” said the ZRP.
Abortion or termination of pregnancy is still illegal in Zimbabwe and according to Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP) of 1977, aborting is only permitted when the pregnancy poses a threat or risk to the life and health of the mother and unborn child and if the pregnancy is as a result of incest or rape.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe and other pressure groups have been spearheading the safe abortion campaign lately with the view of having the TOP Act amended or reviewed in order to widen the net and allow termination of pregnancies for other reasons besides the current three mentioned above.
Speaking at the just ended World Safe Abortion Day commemorations, Women’s Action Group (WAG) Executive Director, Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa safe termination of pregnancy would be allowed to avoid unnecessary loss of life and post abortion complications.
“Abortion is happening on daily basis and many young women are dying because they cannot have access to safe abortion or post abortion services due to stigma associated with abortion thereby further complicating their health. We call on government to review the Termination of Pregnancy Act,” said Mrs Masiyiwa.
Meanwhile, there has been a spike in unsafe abortions lately especially within the adolescents age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In Guruve alone, a total 10 unsafe abortions were carried out in the juts ended lockdown period while some young girls aged 12 to 14 lost their lives due abortion related complications.
