MWE Correspondent
Tanzania’s government has restated its firm position on abortion, asserting that both procuring and assisting in the termination of a pregnancy are criminal offenses punishable by law.
This statement was made on May 26, 2025, during a parliamentary session in Dodoma, by Deputy Minister of Lands, Geofrey Pinda, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Constitution and Legal Affairs.
Pinda made it clear that the laws of Tanzania permit abortion only when the life of the pregnant woman is at serious risk. Outside of this narrow exemption, any act of terminating a pregnancy is treated as a violation of the Penal Code.
“The law is very clear. Assisting or performing an abortion is a criminal offense, and the justice system will take its course,” he said firmly during the session.
Under Tanzania’s Penal Code, individuals who perform an abortion can face up to 14 years in prison, while those who help facilitate one may be jailed for up to seven years. The woman undergoing the procedure herself risks up to three years’ imprisonment.
Despite the law’s clarity, reproductive health experts argue that the current legal stance has created significant public health consequences. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania.
Many women, particularly in rural areas or from impoverished backgrounds, often seek unsafe, clandestine procedures due to fear of legal repercussions or lack of access to trained medical professionals. These circumstances have led to preventable complications, including severe infections, infertility, and even death.
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Dr. Amina Mwakyoma, a Dar es Salaam-based gynecologist and reproductive rights advocate, stressed that, “Criminalizing abortion doesn’t stop it. It simply drives it underground, making it more dangerous.”
Her call echoes broader demands by civil society groups, medical professionals, and gender rights activists who are urging Tanzania to review its laws in alignment with international human rights agreements such as the Maputo Protocol. The Protocol, to which Tanzania is a signatory, promotes the rights of women, including access to safe abortion services in cases of rape, incest, or threats to physical or mental health.
Personal stories illustrate the tragic reality behind the law. Fatuma (name changed), now 22, shared that when she became pregnant at 17 after a sexual assault, she was turned away from a hospital. Desperate, she sought help from an untrained provider operating illegally in her village. The unsafe procedure nearly cost her life.
“I was bleeding for days. No one wanted to help me because they feared being arrested. I was just a child,” she said.
As Parliament continues to debate legal reform across various sectors, pressure is building for a more nuanced approach to reproductive rights. While the government remains resolute on its stance, health experts insist that reforms would not legalize abortion broadly but would simply allow safe medical procedures under extreme circumstances.
