Category: SRHR

Why media narratives matter for safe abortion and reproductive justice in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau “Abortion kills.” “Abortion is illegal.” “Abortion is a sin.” “Baby Dumped in Bush as Illegal Abortions Rise.” “Zimbabwe: Our Ugly Secret – Abortion, Illegal but Thriving.” “How Can Zimbabwe Allow Abortion When It Has Just Abolished the Death Penalty?” “Zimbabwe: Historic Victory for Reproductive Justice – High Court Ruling.” “New Abortion Guidelines Expand Choice in Zimbabwe.” These are the headlines that shape Zimbabwean opinions long before anyone reads the actual law. Media breaking stigma or building it? The media plays a key role in shaping public…

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Young Mothers Left Behind as Sexuality Education Falters in Schools

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere In Highfield, many pregnant learners are quietly disappearing from the classroom. Every day, it is almost impossible not to see Chipo wandering barefoot around the neighbourhood. To strangers, she may appear troubled, yet her mind is sharp and her speech clear. Chipo became pregnant in 2022 at the age of 14 while attending a private independent college nearby. She has never returned to school, despite being the eldest of ten children. “I was never that bright in school, so returning is a waste of time. I have…

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Why Reforming the Termination of Pregnancy Act Can No Longer Wait

Michael Gwarisa

By Edinah Masiyiwa I have been closely following recent developments on access to safe abortion for women and girls in Zimbabwe. As I reflect on the Women’s Action Group’s (WAG) campaign on safe abortion in the early 1990s, I am encouraged by how far the country has come on this issue. When WAG advocated for access to safe abortion then, the organisation faced intense opposition that ultimately silenced the public campaign. Quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy continued, eventually resulting in post-abortion care being adopted as a key component of reproductive health services—an…

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15th SAYWHAT Students Conference Introduces Parliament Researchers

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The 15th edition of the Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) Students Conference roared to life on Monday with new additions, namely the presence of Parliament researchers and students from universities, teacher training colleges, and agricultural training institutions. The opening day featured a Research Indaba where parliamentary portfolio committee researchers shared insights and educated students on how Parliament works. Research papers presented by students covered topics such as GBV among males, the nexus between Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), disability and climate,…

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Zimbabwe makes landmark financing commitment for family planning and reproductive health

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  BOGOTÁ, Colombia, 5 November 2025 – As traditional global aid for reproductive health declines, Zimbabwe announced its own bold investment to safeguard access to family planning for women and girls nationwide. The commitment was announced at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá, Colombia, during a high-level session co-hosted by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and FP2030. Zimbabwe pledged an additional US $2.25 million yearly for the procurement of contraceptives in 2026 and 2027. “The Government of Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its commitment to the…

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Call for stronger regional collaboration to improve adolescent SRHR access

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere At a time when some East and Southern African (ESA) countries are reviewing their legal frameworks on the age of consent to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents and young people, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) chief executive officer Farai Machinga has called for stronger regional collaboration to ensure collective progress. Machinga made the call while officiating a two day Regional SRHR Meeting organized by Youth Advocates, Restless Development, and the Centre for the Study of Adolescence, with technical and financial…

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Hivos Hosts High-Level SRHR Meeting in Harare to Tackle Youth Access Barriers

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere As East and Southern African (ESA) countries continue to grapple with inadequate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services—particularly for adolescents and young people—Hivos’ Regional Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Fund convened a high-level strategic meeting in Harare on Thursday. The two-day event, held from Thursday to Friday, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including legislators, religious leaders, advocacy groups, and members of the judiciary. Central to the discussions was the contentious issue of the “age of consent” and its impact on access to SRH services…

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Mhangura Hosts World Contraception Day as Zimbabwe Pushes for Domestic Family Planning Investment

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere in Mhangura Zimbabwe last Friday belatedly marked World Contraception Day in Mhangura with the launch of the country’s Contraceptive Cost Recovery Framework, aimed at improving domestic financing for family planning commodities and services. The commemorations, held at Mhangura Recreational Club, drew hundreds of community members and health stakeholders. Mashonaland West was selected to host the national event to raise awareness on contraception, as the province records one of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancies in the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe’s…

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Legal Barriers Undermine Adolescent Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere There is a misalignment in Zimbabwe’s laws that continues to negatively affect access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services by adolescents, which may help reduce the scourge of teenage and child pregnancies. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as individuals aged 10–19 years, and youth as those aged 15–24. However, legal pronouncements governing the provision of SRHS remain restrictive, often influenced by cultural and religious beliefs. This concern was raised during a media sensitization workshop on the Step Up 4 Adolescents SRH campaign. YA executive director Tatenda…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe to Roll Out Revolutionary Contraceptive Ring for Women

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has launched the Contraceptive Acceptability Research (CARE), a pioneering study that will assess the acceptability, feasibility, and uptake of the Annovera contraceptive ring among women and adolescent girls in the country. The study, introduced this week, marks a significant step towards enhancing access to a wider range of contraceptive options, aligning with both national and global goals to empower women and girls to take greater control of their sexual and reproductive health. The Annovera ring is a user-controlled, long-acting, and reversible contraceptive method. Designed for use…

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