Zimbabwe’s largest church group is warning that proposed changes to the country’s abortion laws pose a constitutional and moral crisis, urging Parliament to reject amendments that would dramatically expand access to the procedure.
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) said the proposed Medical Services Amendments Bill that seeks to expand and liberalize abortion was “deeply concerning” and that the development has “distressed Christians, parents, and many citizens who uphold biblical and cultural values protecting life as a fundamental human right.”
"Our nation faces a serious constitutional and moral challenge," the church leaders warned. "Parliament is considering amendments to the Medical Services Bill that would significantly widen abortion access."
ZHOCD argues that the law threatens constitutional protections for unborn children. The caucus believes the proposed legislation represents a departure from the clear national consensus expressed during the constitutional consultation process: that unborn life deserves protection and abortion should remain tightly restricted.
The Medical Services bill seeks to amend the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOPA) 1977, signaling a major shift in Zimbabwe's approach to reproductive health. The reforms reportedly aim to bring the country's nearly 50-year-old abortion law into alignment with the 2013 Constitution and current public health practices.
Under TOPA, abortion is generally prohibited but allowed under limited, specific circumstances, such as when the mother’s life is in danger due to the pregnancy. The act states that there must be certification by two independent medical practitioners, who are not from the same practice, that the conditions are met.
The National Assembly passed the amendment on Oct. 23, 2025. The legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate before moving to the President for assent.
According to the Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF), a pro-choice organization, the new amendments will "allow abortion on request up to 12 weeks of gestation and up to 20 weeks in cases where the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's health, mental well-being, or socio-economic stability." These provisions underpin the church's concerns.
SAAF also notes that the bill would permit abortion based solely on informed consent, including for pregnant minors. Additionally, trained midwives, particularly in rural areas, could provide abortions to help address the shortage of medical practitioners.
Parental rights and access for minors
Section 8D of the bill states that any parent or guardian who prevents a child from receiving health services or withholds consent for such services will contravene the law.
The bill's memorandum clarifies that health care services for minor children, including reproductive health care, must not suffer prejudice from the “moral and religious beliefs of their parents or guardians, as per section 60(3) of the Constitution.”
The ZHOCD argues that the legislation would allow girls of any age to obtain abortion without parental knowledge. The group also warned that married women could undergo the procedure without notifying their husbands.
The denominations further warned that the bill's broad interpretation of "mental health" could enable late-term and even sex-selective abortions. They argued that emotional or psychological distress may justify the procedure at advanced stages of pregnancy.
The church leaders add that the lack of restrictions could also permit abortions where pregnancies end based on disability, even well into the third trimester. The concern intensifies with provisions allowing a single medical practitioner to authorize abortions. Faith leaders said this amendment removes essential safeguards and increases the risk of abuse.
Beyond the moral and ethical issues, the church bodies argue that weakened reporting requirements could create loopholes for non-compliance and concealment of illicit activity. They warned that reduced parental and law enforcement involvement could expose women and girls, especially minors, to exploitation by abusers and traffickers who could use abortion services to hide sexual offences.
The church leaders insisted that the proposed legal changes threatened long-standing protections, calling for Parliament to reject the bill in its current form.
"Zimbabwe has consistently upheld the sanctity of life. Our Constitution, culture, and shared spiritual values affirm this commitment," the ZHOCD letter declares. "The proposed amendments to the Medical Services Bill would dismantle long-standing protections and introduce abortion on request into our nation. For the sake of our moral integrity and social stability, these changes must be rejected."
The ZHOCD has urged Christians and all people of conscience to take a firm stand on the issue. The organization expresses unified opposition to what it views as an excessively broad expansion of abortion access.
"We therefore urge all believers to stand firm in defending life, to pray diligently for our nation and its leaders, and to actively engage your Members of Parliament in your respective constituencies," the statement concludes.
