Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Implements Controversial Law Governing Civil Groups, Stirring International Concern Over Rights Restrictions

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Harare, Zimbabwe – President Emmerson Mnangagwa enacted a contentious piece of legislation on Friday that has stirred local and international concern over restrictions on freedoms within Zimbabwe. Officially titled the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act 2025, this law redefines the operational landscape for non-governmental organizations, potentially stifling dissent and civic engagement in the southern African nation. The act introduces a new governing body, the Private Voluntary Organisations Board, along with the Office of the Registrar of PVOs, tasked with the registration and oversight of such entities. Notably, the law broadens the definition of private … Read more

Zimbabwe High Court Rules Denial of Abortion Services to Rape Victims and Minors Unconstitutional, Addressing Long-standing Issues of Unsafe Procedures

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HARARE, Zimbabwe — In a landmark decision, the High Court of Zimbabwe has ruled that preventing pregnant minors and women impregnated through marital rape from accessing abortion services is unconstitutional. The court’s judgment, issued on November 22 and disclosed this week by Judge Maxwell Takuva, marks an essential shift toward aligning the country’s abortion laws with its criminal statutes that outlaw marital rape and sexual relations with minors. The court ruling could significantly impact Zimbabwe’s stringent abortion regulations, which have pushed numerous women and girls towards hazardous illegal abortions – frequently with fatal outcomes. In … Read more