Court orders fresh hearing on abortion law

The Constitutional Court set aside a High Court ruling that struck down part of Zimbabwe's abortion law, ordering a fresh hearing. The court found that the government and Parliament failed to properly participate in the case, which had far-reaching public consequences, and the matter will now be heard afresh with all parties required to participate fully. The High Court had declared that women could terminate pregnancies under certain conditions, but the ConCourt ruled that the lower court's decision was made without full adversarial input. The respondents, including the Attorney General, had chosen to abide by the ruling, which the ConCourt deemed insufficient for such a sensitive matter. The core vulnerability lies in the state's failure to meaningfully engage in a case that could reshape reproductive rights, leaving the law's future uncertain and women's access to safe abortion in limbo until a new decision is reached.