Zimbabwe experiences an alarming nine abortions every hour, according to research highlighted by Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) National Director Isheanesu Chirisa. The data underscores a pressing public health and social issue, as most of these procedures are conducted under unsafe conditions due to restrictive abortion laws.
Speaking at a press briefing in Harare, Chirisa revealed that 25% of unintended pregnancies in Zimbabwe result in abortion, with adolescents disproportionately affected.
“Of the 80,000 abortions recorded in 2019, around 18% involved adolescents,” she noted, pointing out that fear of the law and high medical costs push many young girls to seek unsafe, backstreet abortions. Statistics from 2016 to 2017 show that 40% of pregnancies in Zimbabwe were unintended, reflecting a significant gap in access to contraception and reproductive health services.
WILSA’s advocacy for safe and legal abortion recently led to a landmark High Court ruling, declaring the prohibition of safe abortions unconstitutional. Chirisa emphasized that this decision is a step towards addressing the health risks posed by unsafe abortion practices, particularly among vulnerable groups like adolescents.
The ruling has sparked broader calls for legal reforms, including revisiting the 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act, which critics describe as outdated and discriminatory. WILSA vows to continue championing reproductive justice and ensuring women and girls have access to safe healthcare options.
