By Staff Reporter
THE Roman Catholic Church in Zimbabwe is planning to doorstep President Emmerson Mnangagwa for a one on one discussion on the proposed Medical Services Bil.
The institution says the legal document which is now poised for a Senate vote, seeks to expand access to abortion services, including allowing women and minors to request the procedure up to 20 weeks of pregnancy without parental consent, as well as removing the requirement for spousal notification violates Christian principles..
Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare, also the President of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has condemned the proposed law as an affront to Zimbabwe’s moral fabric
He made the remarks while speaking to a congregation at a Confirmation Mass in Mt. Pleasant on Sunday.
“This is not just about legal rights; it is about the very soul of our nation,” Ndlovu warned, pledging to approach President Emmerson Mnangagwa should the Bill pass in the Senate, urging him to veto it.
The Archbishop criticised Parliament for prioritising abortion laws over pressing issues such as Zimbabwe’s crumbling infrastructure, water shortages, and widespread poverty. “In the communities where we live, potholes litter the streets, and taps run dry. Yet, our leaders are debating abortion while neglecting the basic needs of the people,” Ndlovu lamented. He added that while women’s reproductive rights are important, he believes they should not come at the expense of moral responsibility.
As the Bill advances, Church leaders are calling for national reflection. Ndlovu has urged Zimbabweans to observe a day of prayer and fasting on February 6, warning that the country is “heading toward a crisis” that could irreparably damage its identity. “Life is precious, and the weakest of all are the unborn,” he emphasised, reinforcing the Church’s position that abortion should not be framed as a human right but as an affront to the sanctity of life.
Additionally, Ndlovu raised suspicions about foreign involvement, claiming that international entities and embassies are funding the push for the Bill. “We know who is behind this – the organisations, the lawyers, the diplomats,” he said, though he stopped short of naming them. “These are sensitive issues, but the reality is clear: foreign interests are influencing our policies.”
The Bill has divided opinion across Zimbabwe. Proponents argue that the existing 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act is outdated, making it difficult for women to access safe abortions due to bureaucratic hurdles and legal restrictions. Advocates for the Bill say that it would modernise Zimbabwe’s abortion laws and provide women with greater autonomy over their reproductive choices.
However, the Church’s vociferous opposition highlights the wider cultural divide, where traditional moral values clash with the push for modernisation and individual rights. As the Bill waits for its final vote in the Senate, Zimbabweans will likely continue to grapple with the tension between progress and tradition.
In the coming days, Zimbabweans will hold their breath as this critical piece of legislation moves through the political process — a decision that could define the nation’s moral direction for years to come.
