By Michael Gwarisa
The National Assembly has approved significant amendments to the Termination of Pregnancy Act [Chapter 15:10] (1977), marking a major step toward modernising Zimbabwe’s reproductive health laws. The changes were introduced under the Medical Services Bill, 2025, and are aimed at aligning the outdated 1977 legislation with the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) and current public health realities.
The amendments, introduced by Hon. Edwin Mushoriwa of Dzivaresekwa Constituency, were passed in the National Assembly on 23 October 2025. The Bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before being transmitted to the President for assent.
In an interview, Hon. Mushoriwa said, “We have made some progress on this issue. The amendments modernise the Termination of Pregnancy Act [Chapter 15:10] (1977) to bring it into alignment with the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) and contemporary public health realities. They aim to promote safe, accessible, and rights-based reproductive health services, particularly for women and girls.”
The original Act, enacted nearly five decades ago, has long been criticised for being restrictive and out of touch with modern standards of healthcare and human rights. Health and women’s rights advocates have repeatedly argued that the law’s rigidity has contributed to high levels of unsafe abortions and preventable maternal deaths, particularly among adolescents.
Key Features of the Amendments
Under the revised provisions, girls under 18 years will be able to access a termination on demand within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks, they can still obtain the procedure under standard medical or legal grounds, such as risk to life or pregnancy resulting from unlawful sexual acts. The rationale, according to lawmakers, is that a child cannot be expected to bear a child, and that the measure will help reduce unsafe abortions while allowing young girls to continue their education.
For adult women, the amendments permit termination up to 20 weeks under specific conditions. These include risk to the woman’s life or physical or mental health, cases of severe foetal abnormality, or where the pregnancy results from unlawful sexual intercourse, including rape and incest. Beyond 20 weeks, termination is allowed only if the woman’s life is in danger or in cases of severe foetal malformation.
The amendments also strengthen consent and bodily autonomy, specifying that only the woman’s own consent is required, regardless of age. Parents or guardians will not be allowed to veto a girl’s decision to terminate a pregnancy. Advocates say this provision represents a significant step toward recognising the autonomy of girls and women over their reproductive choices.
In addition, the Bill retains provisions for emergency terminations where delay would endanger the life or health of the pregnant person.
One of the most notable reforms is the removal of bureaucratic barriers. The amended law eliminates the need for magistrates’ approval or multiple medical certificates before a termination can be carried out. This change is expected to prevent delays that have, in the past, resulted in tragic outcomes. A case often cited in this regard is that of Mildred Mapingure, a rape survivor who was forced to carry a pregnancy to term after procedural delays in obtaining court and medical approvals.
The amendments stipulate that procedures must be conducted by qualified medical practitioners in designated institutions, which will be required to keep records and report to the Ministry of Health.
Policy Rationale and Impact
According to Hon. Mushoriwa, the overall goal is to harmonise Zimbabwe’s reproductive health framework with constitutional rights. “These changes ensure that our laws respect the rights to health, dignity, education, and bodily autonomy as guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said. “They also seek to reduce unsafe abortions and maternal deaths while replacing colonial-era restrictions with a human-rights-based approach.”
Public health experts have welcomed the amendments as a progressive step toward improving reproductive health outcomes. Zimbabwe continues to record high rates of unsafe abortions, often driven by limited access to safe and legal services. The new framework, once fully enacted, is expected to ease the burden on women and healthcare providers by simplifying procedures and expanding access within regulated medical facilities.
The Bill’s passage in the National Assembly represents a landmark moment in Zimbabwe’s legislative history. However, the reforms will only take effect once the Senate has approved the Medical Services Bill and it receives presidential assent.
