ZIMBABWE – Uptake of post-abortion care still low despite Government efforts

November 28, 2025
Tendai Gukutikwa

GOVERNMENT has been applauded for making progress in ensuring that post-abortion care is available at designated health facilities.

However, uptake remains worryingly low, with experts warning that thousands of women continue to suffer complications in silence due to stigma, fear, misinformation and cultural barriers that push them away from lifesaving treatment.

In an interview on the sidelines of a media training, Women’s Action Group programme officer, Ms Vimbai Nyika said the availability of care is an important step in safeguarding women’s health, but misconceptions around abortion and community attitudes are still discouraging women from seeking help.

Continued: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/uptake-of-post-abortion-care-still-low-despite-government-efforts/

28.11.2025

News

post-abortion care

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Abortion in Queensland in the 21st century

3 February 2025
Caroline de Costa

It is hoped that the incoming Queensland Government keep Queensland on the path to safe and fully accessible reproductive health care for all women and pregnant people within the public sector.

Throughout the 20th century, abortion remained in the criminal legislation of all Australian states and territories, despite efforts to decriminalise laws and provide safe abortion care that began in the 1960s. Only in the 21st century has Australia seen real change in abortion law: from 2000 to 2024, all jurisdictions have decriminalised abortion. Although much remains to be done, there has been improved provision of safe accessible abortion care, including early medical abortion in many parts of the country, lessening of the stigma long associated with abortion, teaching of medical students and doctors about abortion, and promotion and publication of research around the topic.

Continued: https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/4/abortion-in-queensland-in-the-21st-century/

Women Advocate Group Applauds Landmark Ruling on Safe Abortions

December 18, 2024

HARARE – The Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) has raised alarm over Zimbabwe’s high maternal mortality rates and complications from unsafe abortions, particularly among adolescents. The organisation has hailed a recent High Court ruling that effectively outlaws the prohibition of safe abortions, calling it a step forward in addressing these pressing issues.

Speaking at a media briefing in Harare on Tuesday, WILSA National Director Isheanesu Chirisa highlighted staggering statistics on unsafe abortions in the country. She revealed that studies from 2019 show that 219 abortions occur daily in Zimbabwe, with 80,000 abortions recorded that year.

Continued: https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/health/woemn-advocate-group-applauds-landmark-ruling-on-safe-abortions/

Zimbabwe court rules against law that denies abortion to marital rape victims and girls below 18

Farai Mutsaka, The Associated Press
Dec. 3, 2024

HARARE, Zimbabwe - A law prohibiting abortion services for women raped by their husbands and girls under the age of 18 is unconstitutional, Zimbabwe’s High Court has ruled.

In his ruling handed down on Nov. 22 and made public this week, Judge Maxwell Takuva said since Zimbabwe’s laws already criminalize marital rape and sex with a minor, victims should be allowed to abort if they become pregnant.

The ruling is significant, given Zimbabwe’s restrictive abortion laws that often lead women and girls into illegal and unsafe backstreet abortions that in many cases turn fatal.

Continued: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/zimbabwe-court-rules-against-law-that-denies-abortion-to-marital-rape-victims-and-girls-below-18-1.7131471

03.12.2024

News

rape and abortion

teenage pregnancies

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Zimbabwe -Youths collaborate towards accessible reproductive healthcare

Health By Richard Farekaye
Sep 21, 2024

YOUTH-LED organisation My Age Zimbabwe on Wednesday hosted an Open House ahead of the International Safe Abortion Day commemorations, an event which brought together parliamentarians, stakeholders, young women, and girls, creating a platform for critical discussions on the milestones achieved and ongoing challenges regarding access to safe abortion services in Zimbabwe.

The International Safe abortion Day is an annual day of action commemorated annually on September 28 in support of the right to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/amp/health/article/200032590/youths-collaborate-towards-accessible-reproductive-healthcare

21.09.2024

News

International Safe Abortion Day

Josiah Makombe

My Age Zimbabwe

Tendaishe Changamire

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Zimbabwe’s Review of Restrictive Abortion Laws

Activists are calling for a review of a decades-old abortion law to increase protections for women and girls

by Derick Matsengarwodzi
June 20, 2024

The Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP Act), passed in 1977, has been increasingly attacked by human rights activists, victims, and legislators because it minimizes access to reproductive health for vulnerable women and girls in Zimbabwe.

Activists are calling for a review of the act and amendments to include rape within a marriage, access to safe abortion, and reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/zimbabwes-review-restrictive-abortion-laws

How To Get An Abortion In Iceland

Published March 11, 2024
Words by Catharine Fulton (The útlendingur’s ongoing guide to getting shit done)

Much like wrangling your annual tax return or figuring out how to register your kid for extra-curriculars, navigating the health care system in Iceland can be tricky and frustrating and, sometimes, rage inducing.

But if there is ever a time when you don’t need the extra stress of research or trial and error it’s when you find yourself pregnant. If you are a pregnant person planning on carrying a foetus to term, then your first stop should be your neighbourhood Heilsugæslan, where you will be paired with a midwife to oversee your care. Nota bene: you are in control, so if you don’t like the care you receive from your assigned midwife, it is your right to request another midwife to take over your care.

Continued: https://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2024/03/11/how-to-get-an-abortion/

11.03.2024

abortion in Iceland

Catherine Fulton

Dr. Kolbrún Pálsdóttir

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Ireland’s abortion laws ‘still failing women who struggle to access services’

The Irish Family Planning Association has called for a full decriminalisation of services

Cate McCurry
Jan 3, 2022

Ireland’s abortion laws are still failing women who struggle to access services, a family planning group has said, because of a lack of provision and time restrictions on terminations.

Niall Behan, chief executive of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), called for a full decriminalisation of abortion services in the country.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ireland-dublin-brexit-department-of-health-b1985818.html?r=71510

Backyard Abortions: Zimbabwe’s Silent Pandemic

By Lovejoy Mutongwiza
Oct 20, 2021

The
COVID-19 pandemic which brought about lockdown restrictions has further
restricted women and girls’ access to safe abortion services in traditionally
marginalized communities in Zimbabwe.

With COVID-19
restrictions, obtaining the necessary appointments and documents to access
health facilities has become a nightmare, especially for women in poor areas
and this has aided the need for most women and girls who fell pregnant,
unintentionally or otherwise, to Nicodemusly seek the termination of
pregnancies.

Continued: https://www.263chat.com/backyard-abortions-zimbabwes-silent-pandemic/

Zimbabwe: Push to Review Abortion Legislation

27 SEPTEMBER 2021
The Herald (Harare)
By Edinah Masiyiwa

Two bodies of newly born babies were found in a bin in Harare, recently.

Because of the lack of accessible contraceptives during Covid-19, 5 000 girls were reported to have fallen pregnant in January alone, and sadly, the abandonment of unwanted babies is one of the outcomes.

Unsafe abortions are another. The reality is, this could just be a tip of the iceberg of what is happening to women and girls as a result of their inability to access contraceptives.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202109270217.html

27.09.2021