Reform abortion law—clergy

Religious leaders in the Northern Region have asked government to reform the law, which allows procurement of abortion only when it is done for the preservation of a mother’s life.

The clergy, drawn from various denominations, expressed their views on the matter last week in Mzuzu at a mobilisation meeting organised by Ipas.

However, they observed that the reformed law should outline conditions and guidelines under which a woman should procure abortion.

“Much as we agree that the law on abortion should be reformed, we propose that it should provide clear guidelines under which abortion should be provided. There should also be stipulations that it should be done by medical practitioners only,” said Prophet Amos Tchumah of Faith of God Ministries International.

He said the reformed law will help reduce unnecessary deaths of women who opt for unsafe abortion because of the current law.

“But our role as religious leaders remains to advise people against taking abortion as a priority; it should act as a last resort,” he said.

Ipas policy associate Luke Tembo said the mobilisation meeting was aimed at orienting religious leaders on issues of reproductive health and rights.

He said their approach does not focus on debating on whether abortion is a sin or not because “this pushes women and girls to seek for unsafe abortion”.

A 2011 study indicates that 70 000 women procure an abortion every year, and that government loses about K300 million in treating those who suffer from unsafe abortion complications.