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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When Religion Rules the Womb: Zimbabwe’s Fight Over Abortion Rights
By Kuda Pembere The High Court last month delivered a landmark judgment declaring parts of Zimbabwe’s abortion law unconstitutional. The court ruled that provisions of the Termination of Pregnancy Act violate several fundamental rights, particularly those of women with mental illness and victims of sexual abuse within mental health institutions. Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba found that
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Africa Cannot Afford Another Year of Delay: The Case for Embracing Safer Nicotine Alternatives
By Joseph Magero, Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) As another year ends, it’s important to reflect on Africa’s position in the global fight against smoking-related diseases. Unfortunately, the familiar pattern continues: while the rest of the world adopts modern harm reduction strategies, Africa remains significantly behind, stuck in outdated methods that don’t address current public
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Teen Pregnancies Are Not Recklessness. They Are a Sign of Silence, Stigma, and System Failure
Mildred Mushunje and Dean Mutata Why Zimbabwe must urgently invest in youth reproductive health and safe abortion care to unlock its demographic dividend Sub-Saharan Africa is recorded as having one of the world’s youngest populations, and Zimbabwe is a striking example. With adolescents and young people constituting roughly 60%–62% of the population, the country is
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Policy Capture at COP11: What It Signals for Global Health GovernanceÂ
By Dr Vivian Manyeki, Public Health Specialist and Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocate In the busy corridors of the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, a heated exchange occurred. A young delegate, determined and armed with data, confronted a representative of a major global foundation.
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