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Dzivaresekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa (CCC) has said misinformation played a key role in the removal of Clause 11 from the Medical Services Amendment Bill [H.B. 6B, 2024].

Mushoriwa was among the MPs who backed the amendments when the bill first passed through the National Assembly before heading to the Senate.

However, Senators—particularly traditional leaders—successfully pushed for Clause 11 to be deleted. The Bill has now been sent back to the National Assembly. Said Mushoriwa:

“As a legislator, I must acknowledge that public policy debates sometimes become clouded by misinformation and heightened emotions.

“In this instance, Clause 11 was unfortunately castigated for something it was never intended to do.”

Mushoriwa said Clause 11 was purely a medical services matter, meant to update the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 to align with the 2013 Constitution and recent court interpretations of constitutional rights. He said:

“Unfortunately, the public debate around the clause became highly polarised.

“Certain church groups and religious organisations, often without fully examining the contents of the clause, characterised it as introducing ‘abortion on demand’ or legalising abortion in Zimbabwe. That characterisation was incorrect.”Zimbabwe News Aggregator

Mushoriwa argued that Clause 11 wasn’t about introducing abortion on demand. He said its purpose was simply to clarify the situations in which termination of pregnancy is already allowed under the law and to make sure the statutes align with the Constitution.

Currently, abortion in Zimbabwe is legal if the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life, could cause permanent physical harm, has a high chance of severe fetal defects, or results from unlawful intercourse such as rape or incest.

- Health Times