Poverty drives rise in unsafe abortions

Poverty has been identified as one of the leading factors behind the rise in illegal and unsafe abortions in many areas across the country where reports indicate that some families are extorting money from alleged perpetrators to conceal rape cases.

According to reports, several sexual abuse cases, especially those involving juveniles are being settled privately, particularly when the alleged perpetrators are from better-off families.

Instead of seeking justice through legal channels, some families reportedly accept money in exchange for silence, leaving young victims without proper support or protection. This has contributed to an increase in unsafe abortions, as victims and their families attempt to hide pregnancies resulting from abuse.

Ms Samantha Choga, from Ziko Village under Chief Seke expressed deep concern over the increasing number of illegal and unsafe abortions in the area and called on stakeholders to address the problem urgently.

“We grew up hearing of herbs, sharp objects and back-room procedures, no one explained the law to us. Women end up risking their lives because they believe there is no legal way out,” said Ms Choga.

She added that the lack of information about abortion laws has left many women including rape victims vulnerable to unsafe methods.

“There is little information in our area regarding abortion laws, and this has seen a number of rape victims resorting to unsafe procedures, which are not only life-threatening but also have serious long-term effects on women’s health,” she said.

Ms Choga urged authorities, health professionals and community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and ensure that women and girls have access to accurate information and safe health services.

At the heart of the problem is Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 which permits termination of pregnancy only under limited circumstances.

These instances are when the continuation of the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman or seriously threatens her physical health, where there is a serious risk of physical or mental defects in the child to be born or where the pregnancy was conceived as a result of unlawful intercourse, including rape or incest.

Even when these conditions are met, the law requires written permission from the superintendent of a designated health institution and certification from two medical practitioners confirming that the legal grounds exist.

In cases involving unlawful intercourse, a magistrate’s certificate is also required to confirm that the pregnancy likely resulted from rape or incest. These requirements are time-consuming, costly and intimidating especially for rural women with limited access to legal and medical services.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 73 million abortions occur each year worldwide, and around 45 percent of these are unsafe meaning they are performed by unskilled people or in conditions that do not meet medical standards.

Unsafe abortions are a significant contributor to maternal mortality and severe injury. In Zimbabwe, the gap between what the law permits and what women need has created a shadow reality where many women seek unsafe procedures.

Research over the years has indicated that thousands of illegal abortions occur annually in Zimbabwe, many of them unsafe and unregulated.

The secrecy and stigma surrounding these procedures, combined with poverty and lack of access to contraceptives, reproductive health education and quality services, drive women underground.

Some women have reportedly turned to community members who claim to offer back-room procedures. Others use herbs, sharp objects or self-administered chemicals — methods that carry high risks of infection, haemorrhage, infertility or death.

As Parliament debates proposed amendments to abortion laws under the Medical Services Amendment Bill, stories from communities like Ziko underscore the human impact of restrictive legislation.

Public health experts, women’s rights advocates and civic organisations have called for reforms that would broaden legal access to safe abortion services. They argue that the existing law fails to reflect the lived experiences of women, particularly those in poverty, and that reform is essential to reduce preventable maternal deaths and complications.

The proposed amendments seek to allow abortion on request for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, and up to 20 weeks where the pregnancy poses a risk to a woman’s physical, mental health or threatens her socio-economic well-being.

Among other changes, the reforms aim to simplify procedures and remove some of the legal and administrative barriers that have made access difficult even for those who qualify under the current law.
Supporters say these reforms could help move abortions out of unsafe environments and into regulated health facilities, where women can receive proper medical care.

Midlands Proportional Representation MP Cde Perseverance Zhou said the proposed amendments are intended to broaden legal access while simplifying procedures.

“Under the proposed law, pregnancies beyond 12 weeks could be terminated up to 20 weeks if continuing the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s life or to her physical or mental health, or if the pregnancy resulted from unlawful sexual intercourse.

“The Bill also proposes allowing minors under the age of 18 to consent to a termination within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without requiring approval from a parent or guardian.

“It further seeks to remove a number of bureaucratic procedures that have previously made access difficult, while setting out a clearer regulatory framework governing how and where the procedures may be carried out,” she said.

In addition, the legislation includes a conscience clause permitting medical practitioners to decline to perform abortions on moral or religious grounds, while ensuring that patients are referred to alternative providers.

Gender activist, Thando Gwinji welcomed the proposed reforms, describing them as vital to reducing deaths linked to unsafe abortions.

“Many girls have been forced to use unsafe methods because of restrictive laws and lack of access to services. Making abortion services lawful and accessible under clear conditions will reduce unsafe procedures and save lives,” she said.

Gwinji added that the reforms recognise women’s rights to health and dignity.

However, the proposed changes have drawn criticism from some sections of society who view abortion as morally unacceptable. Traditionalist Josaphat Ndumba said expanding access contradicts cultural and religious values.

“Legalising abortion is like allowing people to take life. It goes against our culture and we cannot support such practices,” he said.

His views reflect the deep cultural and moral debate surrounding abortion in Zimbabwe, where questions of health, law, religion and tradition often collide.

Health professionals emphasise that the issue is primarily about saving lives and curbing complications that arise from unsafe abortions, which include severe infections, excessive bleeding, infertility and organ damage.

“The legalisation and expansion of safe abortion services is a crucial, life-saving measure to address the high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity caused by unsafe clandestine procedures. When performed in line with clinical best practices, abortion is one of the safest medical interventions available,” said Dr Sandra Ncube.

Advocates say law reform must go hand in hand with improved access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly health services. Without these, they warn, unsafe abortions will continue despite changes to the law.

As Zimbabwe moves closer to reforming its abortion laws, the challenge remains to ensure that legal change translates into real access for women and girls across the country. Without that, unsafe abortion will remain a persistent public health crisis, which will continue to claim lives and compound the hardships faced by those already struggling to survive.