THE Catholic Lawyers Guild of Zimbabwe (CLGZ) has condemned proposed amendments to the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOPA), which seek to legalise abortion.
The reforms, currently under review, 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 physical or mental health, or to her socio-economic stability.
The National Assembly passed these progressive changes at the committee stage during debate on the Medical Services Amendment Bill.
In a statement, CLGZ condemned the relaxation of the abortion law, citing the Legislature’s failure to conduct public hearings.
“The amendments to the Bill seeking to introduce changes to Zimbabwe’s abortion law must be rejected by all who believe in the sanctity of life and in democratic governance,” the statement read.
“These were never put to the public, never debated and are, therefore, bereft of public consultation.
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“The amendments are an affront to the right to life, which is guaranteed under the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“We affirm that every person, including an unborn baby, has a right to life and that, as a profession of faith, we are called to protect and uphold that right.”
CLGZ urged faith-based and non-faith-based organisations to resist the Bill's enactment.
“As Catholic lawyers, we also take guidance from the social teachings of the Catholic Church. We, therefore, call on all progressive faith and non-faith-based organisations to affirm the sanctity of life and demand that our lawmakers pass laws that reaffirm the right to life and not severely undermine it.”
The guild also criticised the parliamentary procedure, arguing that amending TOPA through the Medical Services Amendment Bill is improper.
“If there is an intention to amend the Termination of Pregnancy Act, such must be reflected through a Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill and subjected to the public for consultation and debate,” the statement read.
“The attempt to amend the country’s chief legislation on abortion through another Bill of Parliament by introducing amendments at the committee stage is inconsistent with section 48 of the Constitution.”
In its bid to “ensure the protection of unborn babies”, CLGZ called on the Senate to “reject all amendments that speak to the termination of pregnancy in the Medical Services Amendment Bill.”
It argued that the proposed changes present “a fundamental violation of the Constitution and its founding values and principles”, citing the right to life guaranteed under section 48.
Women’s and girls’ support groups have backed the amendments, arguing that they reduce life-threatening risks, particularly for young girls in rural areas.
They note that TOPA is a colonial-era law that has remained largely unchanged since its enactment in 1977.
The proposed reforms aim to simplify access to services by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, empowering medical practitioners and patients to make decisions without requiring a magistrate’s approval.
They also seek to recognise women’s autonomy, allow trained midwives to provide abortion care — especially in rural areas — and expand the legal grounds for abortion.