Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care, Ruth Labode (Proportional Representation), said 14-year-olds are indulging in s_xual intercourse, therefore, the Marriages Bill should have a provision that allows them to access family planning products.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Labode also commended efforts to raise the age of consent to s_x to 18. She said:
I want to bring to the attention of Honourable Members that once we move the age of consent for s_x to 18, which is good, but then we need to also have a provision that allows 14. 15, 16 and 17-year-olds who are s_xually active to assess health services so that they can access family planning.
Otherwise, we are opening a pandora’s box for teenage pregnancies because the fact is they are having s_x but we want to console ourselves as their mothers and fathers and say they are not having s_x. They are having s_x, so let us protect them.
In Zimbabwe, teenagers require consent from guardians and parents for them to buy or access family planning products and services. The products include family planning pills, condoms and Depo-Provera.