CHIEFS DISCUSS DEATHS IN BACKYARD ABORTIONS

TRADITIONAL leaders in Hwedza recently convened a Dare RaMambo to address the growing number of women and girls dying from unsafe backyard abortions. The dialogue was facilitated by Shamwari Yemwanasikana (SYS) under its #Asingade campaign. The meeting brought together chiefs, headmen and community stakeholders to discuss the realities driving young women toward unsafe abortion practices and to examine the provisions of the Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Organisers, SYS said the interface aimed to bridge the gap between legal frameworks and community-level understanding, particularly among traditional leaders who influence social norms. “During the dialogue, participants highlighted that lack of information about the law, combined with stigma surrounding unwanted pregnancies, often pushes girls and young women to seek unsafe procedures from unqualified providers. “Participants emphasised that improving awareness of the legal provisions governing pregnancy termination could help community leaders direct affected individuals towards safer and lawful medical options where applicable.

“The meeting also focused on the role of communities in addressing stigma, which forces many young women to handle pregnancies in secrecy, increasing the risk of unsafe abortion methods,” said SYS director Ekenia Chifamba. SYS hailed the response from chiefs and headmen whose influence shapes community attitudes and responses to issues affecting women and girls. “We applaud the Hwedza traditional leaders for expressing their willingness to continue engaging on the matter, acknowledging the need for collaborative approaches between community structures, civil society organisations and health stakeholders to prevent avoidable deaths linked to unsafe abortions,” she said.