Malawi Churches back abortion bill

Cleric in Malawi under the the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) has expressed their support for an amendment of the abortion law that permits the termination of  unwanted pregnancies under certain circumstances as a result of the high records of rape cases in the country.

The yet to be enacted Termination of Pregnancy Bill which is still under review was triggered after a high number of women got pregnant from being raped and died while attempting to terminate pregnancies through unsafe procedures. 

The bill will afford expectant mothers in the country the opportunity to seek abortion in certain circumstances, without having to use backstreet procedures that have led to the death of several women.

The bill also makes provision for abortion in cases of rape, incest or defilement, foetal deformation and cases where the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the mother.

In a statement released by the chairperson of the MCC, Reverend Alex Benson Maulana, he explained that the church will continue to preach against abortion but will appreciate the government to consider the circumstances of a rape victim who wishes not to keep the pregnancy.

‘We will continue to preach that abortion is a sin but we appreciate government efforts to address maternal mortality caused by unwanted pregnancy. Most women who are raped or impregnated will have a choice whether to keep the pregnancy or not'.

We appreciate that abortion is still illegal in Malawi as law commission has informed us, she added.

Chairperson of the Special Law Commission, Justice Esmie Chombo, said that the bill will seek the protection of women through the addition of more grounds as opposed to the legalisation of abortion across the country.

According to statistics from Malawi's health ministry, more than 70 000 women seek abortions annually, with at least 31 000 of those resulting in complications and sometimes death.

Abortion is currently illegal in Malawi and is a punishable offense which carries a term of up to 14 years in jail.