Policy Champions for Safe Abortion Engagement

As part of HLPC’s  ongoing efforts to advance the reform of the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 (TOPA), the Health Law and Policy Consortium (HLPC) convened a high-level Policy Roundtable on Safe Abortion. The meeting brought together a wide range of influential Members of Parliament’. The roundtable served a dual purpose, on the one hand, an awareness-building platform where policymakers were presented with evidence on the gaps in Zimbabwe’s existing policy and legal framework on abortion and the devastating impact of unsafe abortion on women and communities. At the same time, it became a vital advocacy space where MPs and stakeholders could engage directly with the realities faced by women under the restrictive provisions of the Zimbabwe’s current abortion law.

Turning silence into action : HLPC’s Policy engagement on safe abortion

  Honourable Daniel Molokeli, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, shared his reflections on the TOPA, emphasising that the law is outdated and that urgent reform is needed.

Since 2021, the Health Law and Policy Consortium (HLPC), in partnership with the Institute for Young Women’s Development (IYWD), has been working to bring the issue of safe abortion access to the center of Zimbabwe’s policy conversations. What was once regarded as too sensitive or taboo to discuss has now become a growing topic of dialogue in Parliament and beyond—thanks to HLPC’s targeted advocacy, strategic engagement, and storytelling rooted in lived experiences.

To advance access to safe abortion, HLPC led a series of policy engagement dialogues with Members of Parliament (MPs) drawn from across the political spectrum. A total of 25 MPs took part in these sessions, where they were sensitised on the restrictive provisions of the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 (TOPA) and the barriers it creates for women and girls. At the heart of these dialogues was HLPC’s use of powerful advocacy tools, including the documentary “The Story Behind Her Termination,” which captured the lived realities of young women whose lives have been drastically affected by unsafe abortion, and a position paper outlining the need to expand the grounds for accessing safe abortion.

“These tools gave us a way to connect with policymakers not just at the level of law, but at the level of empathy,” explained Dorcus Chitiyo, HLPC’s Programs Coordinator. “Our position paper laid out the evidence for reform, while the documentary brought faces and voices to the conversation. Together, they allowed us to show MPs that unsafe abortion is not just a statistic—it is a lived reality that is harming women and communities across Zimbabwe.”

The impact of this approach was profound. Out of the 25 MPs engaged, 23 expressed strong support for reforming the TOPA. Some Parliamentarians were so moved by the dialogues that they immediately took action. Honourable Chikomo, the MP for Hopely Constituency, remarked: “This is an important topic, and I’m glad to be involved. I support the cause wholeheartedly. In my community, young women are suffering and even dying due to a lack of knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health rights, particularly regarding access to safe abortion. I am committed to advocating for the reform of the Termination of Pregnancy Act.” Inspired by the discussions, he went on to draft a motion calling for parliamentary debate on the TOPA, which he shared with HLPC and IYWD for refinement before tabling it.

Other MPs have also stepped forward as champions for reform. Honourable Susan Matsunga, a member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, described the initiative as timely and necessary: “I am very pleased with this work. As a member of the Health Committee in Parliament, I already deal with sexual and reproductive health issues, and I look forward to discussing safe abortion with my colleagues and encouraging them to join us in pushing for law reform.”

For some MPs, the conversations struck a deeply personal chord. Honourable Lindani Moyo from Domboshava reflected on how lack of knowledge about the law had affected her own family: “Had I known about this earlier, my sister would not have died. I would have assisted her in seeking a safe abortion. Now that I know, I will share it with women in my constituency to help save lives.” Since the meeting, she has organised two community dialogues in her constituency to raise awareness about safe abortion and to dispel harmful myths.

The engagement also extended to traditional leaders. Chief Senator Marikopa admitted that he had not been aware that pregnancies resulting from incest are grounds for legal abortion under the TOPA. “I am grateful for the invitation to this meeting,” he said. “In our village courts, we confront these issues daily, particularly regarding incest. I was not aware that there is a law that allows women to access abortion in such cases. Now that I have this information, I will share it with my fellow chiefs and make sure cases of incest are addressed in terms of the law.”

In addition, Honourable Daniel Molokeli, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, has begun to influence conversations on abortion reform within Parliament itself, providing a safe entry point for his peers to join the dialogue without fear of political backlash.

These outcomes reflect how HLPC’s leadership in policy engagement has transformed the narrative around safe abortion. What began as quiet conversations has grown into parliamentary debates, motions, and community-level dialogues led by MPs themselves. Policymakers now see access to safe abortion not only as a women’s rights issue but also as a public health priority with real consequences for their constituencies.

As HLPC reflects on this journey, the progress is clear. “By working strategically with policymakers, our aim is to create an enabling environment for access to comprehensive abortion care services and to reduce maternal deaths and injuries caused by unsafe abortion,” said Kudakwashe Munemo, HLPC’s Knowledge Management, Documentation and Advocacy Coordinator. “The courage and commitment shown by MPs we have engaged marks a turning point in this struggle. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future where every woman can access the care she needs without fear or stigma.”