Michael Gwarisa
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has publicly endorsed Clause 11 of the Medical Services Amendment Bill, a provision that seeks to broaden access to safe termination of pregnancy services in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe currently permits abortion 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 proposes reforms that would expand access within regulated medical settings, bringing the law in line with constitutional and public health realities.
In a statement issued on 12 February 2026, ZADHR said the inclusion of Clause 11 was a significant step toward safeguarding women’s health and rights.
“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,” the association said. It added that the reform “marks a pivotal move towards improving access to reproductive health services for all Zimbabweans.”
The doctors’ body noted that Clause 11 would amend the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977, which it described as outdated and no longer adequate to address current public health needs. According to ZADHR, the proposed changes would broaden access within regulated facilities, reduce procedural and bureaucratic barriers, strengthen informed consent, and prevent women and girls from resorting to unsafe and clandestine procedures.
Zimbabwe continues to face a heavy maternal health burden. The 2023 to 2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey estimates the maternal mortality ratio at 212 deaths per 100,000 live births. While this represents an improvement, ZADHR says the figure remains unacceptably high. Research by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Guttmacher Institute estimates that between 65,000 and 80,000 induced abortions occur annually in Zimbabwe, with about 25,000 women treated each year for complications arising from unsafe abortions. Unsafe abortion is estimated to contribute to around 16 percent of maternal deaths.
Global evidence supports law reform. The World Health Organization reports that restrictive abortion laws do not reduce abortion rates but increase the likelihood that procedures are unsafe, particularly in low and middle income countries.
