- 8 things you need to know about the BA.3.2 ‘Cicada’ variant of COVID-19
- Zimbabwean Company Launches Drone Technology to Deliver Medicines and Blood Products
- Two LGBTIQ-Linked Zim NGOs Rejected Under New PVO Decisions
- Egyptian Cardiothoracic Surgeons Lead Zimbabwe’s Third Paediatric Heart Surgery Mission
- Burundi mystery outbreak remains unsolved after More Than 200 pathogen tests
The Cost of Inaction: Urgent Attention to Abortion Law in Zimbabwe
By Mildred Mushunje (PhD) & Dean Mutata (BSc, MSc) Background Zimbabwe’s health crisis is often framed in terms of economic decline or health financing gaps. Yet there is another crisis, silent, gendered, and entirely preventable, rooted in abortion policy inaction. Trapped between inherited colonial law, religious anxiety, and political discomfort and misinformed moralistic judgemental attitudes,
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Zimbabwe’s abortion debate is asking the wrong questions
By Memory Pamella Kadau Zimbabwe’s abortion conversation remains trapped in the wrong questions. Why are we still debating whether the procedure should be allowed when the law (ToP) already makes provision for it? And why, under a system that claims to protect women, are they still dying from unsafe procedures, while young girls are forced
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World Oral Health Day in Africa: Separating Fear from Facts on Nicotine, Smoking, and Oral Nicotine Alternatives
Joseph Magero As Africa celebrates World Oral Health Day, the emphasis usually lies on brushing, dental visits, and preventive care. But one of the most persistent threats to oral health across the continent, cigarette smoking, calls for a more nuanced, evidence-based response. For years, public messaging has treated all nicotine use as equally harmful. However,
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South Africa’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill Faces Acid Test
Michael Gwarisa South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Health has flagged grey areas in the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, warning that the legislation continues to permit the smoking of combustible cigarettes and may therefore fail to protect millions of South Africans. The discussion took place on the same day Finance Minister
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Senate Approves Medical Services Amendment Bill After Deleting Clause 11
Michael Gwarisa After days of speculation and heightened public debate, Zimbabwe’s Medical Services Amendment Bill [H.B. 6A, 2025] has passed Parliament, but without the contentious Clause 11, which was formally deleted during the legislative process. The Bill was considered during the Committee Stage in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, where Clauses 1 to 10 were approved
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Clause 11 Debate Puts Zimbabwe’s Abortion Laws in the Spotlight
By Michael Gwarisa Today, the Senate is set to debate amendments to the Medical Services Amendment Bill, a move aimed at aligning the principal Act with Section 76 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which guarantees access to emergency medical treatment. Among the proposed amendments, Clause 11 has emerged as the most contested provision, attracting attention from civil
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No Woman Dreams of Motherhood Born of Violence
By Maceline Mukwamba, Director, Adult Rape Clinic By the time a girl or woman gathers the courage to report rape, the clock has often already worked against her. Research in Zimbabwean communities finds that the majority of sexual abuse goes unreported, with cultural norms, fear of stigma, and protective attitudes toward perpetrators cited as major
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All Eyes on the Senate: Can Zimbabwe Modernise Its Termination of Pregnancy Law Through Evidence and Consensus
By Michael Gwarisa In October 2025, Zimbabwe’s National Assembly approved far-reaching amendments to the Termination of Pregnancy Act [Chapter 15:10] of 1977. The proposed changes, introduced through the Medical Services Amendment Bill, 2025, now await consideration by the Senate before possible presidential assent. The outcome will determine whether Zimbabwe aligns its reproductive health laws with
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Africa’s Nicotine Moment: What to Watch in 2026
By Joseph Magero As Africa moves into 2026, the continent is quietly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds for the future of tobacco harm reduction. With a fast-growing population, limited healthcare capacity, and millions of adult smokers, policy decisions taken in the next year will determine whether smoking declines rapidly or remains entrenched for
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E-cigarette users face up to $190 fines in Vietnam
People who use e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products in Vietnam will face fines ranging from VND3 million to VND5 million (US$114–190) and will be required to destroy the products, a government decree stipulates. Under Decree No. 371, which takes effect on Dec. 31, individuals who allow the use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products at
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