Women’s Action Group (WAG) today held a half day long workshop with Chiefs and Senators from various constituencies in the country with the aim of familiarizing them with the country’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (ToP) and access to various sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for women.

By Michael Gwarisa

The sensitization meeting is part of ongoing engagements with key opinion leaders with the aim of creating a conducive policy environment that supports equitable access for women and girls to comprehensive prevention and treatment services-contraception, safe termination of pregnancy and post-abortion care.

Speaking at the SAFE ENGAGE (Strengthening Evidence-Based Policy to expand access to safe termination of pregnancy) Dissemination and SRHR dialogue with the Chief’s Council and Senate, President of the Chief’s Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira said engaging traditional leaders should be done at the initial stages so that they become part of the process since they are the custodians of culture.

There is need for wide consultation regarding the Termination of Pregnancy Act in Zimbabwe. Consultations should start from the grassroots and traditional leaders who are the custodians of culture should also be a part of the process.

“There is need to engage traditional leaders at the initial stages of any research so that we become a part of the process and we also approach the subject from an informed perspective. Abortion is not an easy subject and needs us to approach from a knowledgeable perspective,” said Chief Charumbira.

Zimbabwe is currently operating under a 1977 Termination of Pregnancy ACT V (No. 29 of 1977). In the Zimbabwe context, abortion is defined as a spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy before 22 weeks of gestation or delivery of foetus less than 500 grams foetal weight....