In a statement World Population Day United Nations for the recent World Population Day, the UN General Secretary expressed that while the world will reach the 8 billion population mark this year, it is important to not focus on the numerical figure but on the actual people.
By Edinah Masiyiwa
The State of World Population 2023 report, published by the United Nations Population Fund, calls for reframing narratives surrounding population growth, urging leaders to consider women’s rights and the ability to freely make reproductive choices. This report further highlights that the old prescriptions for managing population change do not work, and in the worst cases they lead to violence and harm.
The suggestion to focus on real people makes me think of what this means for women and girls in Zimbabwe and the struggles many of them face accessing contraceptives. Section 76 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that: “Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic health-care services, including reproductive health-care services.”
Despite the constitutional provisions accessing health care in Zimbabwe presents many challenges for women and girls mainly because of cost. A report in a report on access to maternity health care in Zimbabwe women have lamented the cost of ante natal care services with some choosing to deliver at home.[1]Another barrier in accessing reproductive health care is the legal framework. Zimbabwe has a Termination of Pregnancy Act which does not give the right to women and girls to choose not to have a child in any circumstance. Termination of pregnancy is only allowed if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, if the fetus is grossly malformed, and if the health of the mother is at risk. Even for these circumstances, there are processes that have to be followed until a magisterial certificate is issued, in case of unlawful intercourse. The world over it has been reported that many women and girls do not report rape because most get no justice when they do. This means women will have unintended pregnancies which will result in delivery.
The World Health Organisation reported that adolescent pregnancy is a global phenomenon with clearly known causes and serious health, social and economic consequences. Zimbabwe is also experiencing high teenage pregnancies, some of which end in unsafe abortion but some go to term. Allowing children to have children is a violation of the girls’ rights. As conversations around termination of pregnancy in Zimbabwe continue, I urge the policy makers to ensure girls access to safe termination of pregnancy. If we are to focus on the actual people rather than numbers in our growing population, this issue should be given priority.
Before COVID-19 hit, one out of every three girls in the country were wed before the age of 18, many with unplanned pregnancies, because of lax enforcement of laws, widespread poverty and cultural and religious practices. These issues continue, so I also call for the enforcement of the current laws. I also call for addressing negative social norms and religious practices. There is also a strong argument that keeping girls in school reduces adolescent pregnancy. The government should put in place social protection measures to stop adolescent girls from getting pregnant through keeping them in school.
