Zimbabwe lawmakers consider radical expansion of abortion law

Zimbabwe's lawmakers are considering a bill that would radically expand the nation's abortion laws — a troubling development in a predominantly Christian country.

Key Takeaways:

• Zimbabwe's current law permits abortion only in cases of rape, incest, danger to the mother's life, or a prenatal diagnosis.

• A bill currently being considered would overhaul the existing abortion law by permitting abortions on request through 12 weeks of pregnancy, or up to 20 weeks, depending on the woman's health, mental state, or economic situation.

• Christian groups in the country are speaking out against the proposed legislation.

• Activist pro-abortion groups from outside the country have worked hard to push for abortion within the nation.

The Details:

Zimbabwe's 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP Act) restricts abortions to circumstances like rape, incest, danger to the mother's life, or fetal physical/mental impairments, conceptualized on the premise that abortion should be an exception and not the norm. This piece of legislation mirrors the nation's deep Christian heritage, where over 80% of Zimbabweans identify as Christian and view life as sacrosanct from conception.

In October, Zimbabwe's National Assembly greenlighted the Medical Services Bill, which would overhaul the existing abortion law by permitting abortions on request through 12 weeks of pregnancy, or up to 20 weeks, depending on the woman's health, mental state, or economic situation. The bill now awaits Senate review.

The bill proposes to terminate preborn lives on the pretext of physical issues, emotional stress, or financial hardship — categories wide and ambiguous enough to include almost any situation. In short, the fate of numerous preborn lives would lie largely in personal decisions instead of institutional and societal defenses. The proposed legislation further seeks to widen abortion accessibility for minors, circumventing requirements for parental consent or judicial oversight, thus cutting off vulnerable pregnant teenagers from life-affirming resources. 

“We are very afraid that in addition to going against the principle of life and human dignity, it just makes humans so dispensable—just like trash,” pro-life advocate Albert Dhafana admitted, in comments quoted by Christianity Today. “We really can’t imagine where this will end.”

Zoom In:

Dhafana indicated there is hope that Christian senators will resist the bill, spurred by local pro-life advocates. “There is a little glimmer of hope among the Christians," he said. "These are the only people that can make a difference.”

For instance, in a December 13 statement, members of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to “pray and speak out against proposed amendments to the country's Medical Services Bill that seeks to broaden and liberalize abortion provisions in the Southern African nation.” Likewise, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) cautioned that the bill would undermine protections against exploitation.

The Big Picture:

Though the nation historically has protected most children from abortion, it lacks strong pro-life support for women facing crises, with the few available options underfunded. Meanwhile, pro-abortion advocates have stepped up efforts to promote abortion over time, emboldened by increasing monetary support from pro-abortion groups like the Gates Foundation and MSI Reproductive Choices (previously known as Marie Stopes International).

These pro-abortion groups are working hard to persuade  Zimbabwean lawmakers to legalize abortion. 

“These [pro-abortion activists] are people who have obviously been paid,” explained Dhafana. “These are efforts to change our culture of preserving life.”

Indeed, local groups like the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission have sought to push for abortions for years, achieving a 2024 victory when the Ministry of Health enacted World Health Organization protocols permitting first-trimester abortions by medical professionals. Furthermore, the pro-abortion Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba decreed that sections of the TOP Act breached the constitution, alleging it discriminates against women with mental health issues and rape survivors by limiting abortion access to physical health grounds alone. Reports show funding from Sweden and the UK to NGOs pushing for abortion law amendments, showing how a significant portion of the pro-abortion movement hails mainly from liberal Western (and not local Zimbabwean) agendas exhorting African countries to welcome the murder of children as “progress” and “reproductive health.”

The Bottom Line:

At this critical juncture of Zimbabwean lawmaking and history, the stakes couldn't be higher. The Senate's upcoming vote will determine if the bill moves forward for presidential approval, representing a key point in Zimbabwe's ongoing discussion on abortion laws and pro-life principles. If adopted, the bill would mark a considerable change in a continent where most countries limit abortion. Zimbabwe's eventual stand could either encourage a wider African pro-life resurgence or erode the movement’s morale and effectiveness.