Church Leaders Reject Proposed Abortion Law, Call For Resistance

By Correspondent

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has rejected proposed amendments to abortion provisions in the Medical Services Bill, warning that the changes would mark a significant departure from the country’s long-standing moral and constitutional principles.

ZHOCD comprises of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), UDACIZA, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ).

In a 29 November letter, the body objected to changes which include permitting abortions for pregnancies up to 12 weeks.

Reforms will simplify access to services by reducing bureaucracy and empowering medical practitioners and patients to make decisions.

They will do away with requiring a magistrate’s approval through a cumbersome judicial process.

Informed consent will now also be the sole requirement for terminating a pregnancy, including for pregnant minors.

However, ZHOCD says the proposals pose a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s established commitment to protecting unborn life.

“These proposals threaten the constitutional framework that has until now protected unborn children.

“(They) reflect a departure from the clear national consensus expressed during the constitutional consultation process: that unborn life is to be protected and abortion tightly restricted.

ZHOCD Rejects Liberalisation of Abortion

It argues that the amendments would effectively introduce abortion on request for both minors and adults up to 20 weeks.

This, it says, will weaken existing safeguards, including parental and spousal involvement. 

The measures “dismantle long-standing protections and contradict the consensus reached during the constitution-making process” which affirmed that unborn life should be preserved and abortion strictly limited. 

“This commitment has always reflected our cultural respect for motherhood, family, and human dignity”, the ZHOCD added.

Concerns Over Specific Provisions

ZHOCD highlighted several areas of concern.

It noted that the amendments would allow girls under 18 to obtain abortions on request up to 20 weeks.

This will permit children to undergo the procedure without parental knowledge, and remove spousal notification requirements for married women. 

The church leaders warned that eliminating these safeguards could create conditions in which abusers and traffickers exploit girls and women by concealing sexual offences and avoiding accountability.

Theological Basis for Opposing the Amendments

The ZHOCD emphasised that its position is grounded in Christian doctrine rather than political considerations. 

Citing biblical teachings, the body argued that abortion violates divine moral law and undermines the inherent dignity of human life. 

“Every life, regardless of stage of development or ability, possesses inherent dignity”.

The church leaders urged Christians and people of conscience to engage their Members of Parliament.

 It said the proposed changes are to be resisted as they are an attempt to introduce an overly broad liberalization of abortion laws.

The Medical Services Bill was gazetted in October 2024 and is currently under consideration in the National Assembly.

If approved, it will be transmitted to the President for assent before becoming law.