By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe records an estimated 70,000 illegal abortions annually, primarily due to restrictive abortion laws. Currently, abortion is only legal under limited circumstances, such as when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life, results from rape or incest, or involves severe fetal impairment. Most women do not qualify under these conditions. Other factors contributing
Read MoreBy Michael Gwarisa Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health have begun preparations for a Private Member’s Bill seeking amendments to the Termination of Pregnancy Act (ToP). The proposed changes aim to broaden the legal grounds for abortion, allowing for greater access under specific circumstances. A Private Member’s Bill is a proposed law introduced
Read MoreBy Edinah Masiyiwa On the 20th of January, the day that Donald Trump was sworn in as the president of the United States of America, I was really moved by the title of an article on the Safe Abortion Action Fund site which read, “We Wish US Politics Didn’t Have a Big Impact on Global
Read MoreBy Michael Gwarisa The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has criticized the 2025 National Budget for neglecting the unique health needs of women in Zimbabwe, accusing it of failing to adopt a gender-responsive approach. Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) integrates gender considerations into budgeting processes to ensure that policies, interventions, and resources address the distinct needs of
Read MoreBy Michael Gwarisa Advocates for safe abortion in Zimbabwe, comprising the Health Law Policy Consortium (HLPC) and the Institute for Young Women’s Development (IYWD), with support from the Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF), are lobbying for the establishment of a One-Stop Centre for safe abortion services. The initiative aims to address obstacles faced by women
Read MoreBy Kuda Pembere City life knows no sleep particularly for children living and working on the streets of the Harare Central Business District (CBD). Access to sexual reproductive health services is usually a hurdle for children due to a number of reasons. Around 11 pm, only a handful of people can be seen milling around
Read MoreBy Edinah Masiyiwa As the country undergoes the budgeting process for the year 2025, it is time for the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to prioritise women’s access to maternal health services. The focus especially should be put on comprehensive abortion care guidelines as it greatly contributes to a reduction of maternal mortality.
Read MoreBy Michael Gwarisa Amid growing donor fatigue and declining international support, Zimbabwe is pursuing a cost recovery framework for contraceptive commodities to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of reproductive health services. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and other partners, this
Read MoreBy Michael Gwarisa For the past nine years, Mutsa Katsidzira, 33, a nurse at Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare, has practiced as a nurse. Although she finds her job fulfilling, she has always dreamed of a career in midwifery, where she could help pregnant women deliver safely. Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector has faced significant setbacks over
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