DƆNÙESÈ Data Center / Women’s Rights Laws by Country / Zimbabwe
Southern Africa · Country law profile
Zimbabwe: women’s rights and civic space laws
Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution contains strong equality provisions and a reserved 60-seat women’s quota in the National Assembly until 2038, and women held 30.1% of seats in 2024. The Marriages Act [Chapter 5:15] of 2022 set 18 as the minimum age for every form of marriage and criminalised facilitating child marriage, yet 34% of girls are still married before 18. Customary marriages may still be polygamous, abortion is restricted, and the CEDAW Committee has called for sexual harassment legislation and decriminalisation of abortion. Civic space is rated repressed by the CIVICUS Monitor after the 2025 PVO Amendment Act and the July 2026 constitutional amendment extending terms of office, which according to CIVICUS also abolishes the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
At a glance
| Capital | Harare |
|---|---|
| Legal system | Mixed: Roman-Dutch common law and statute, with customary law applying in family and succession matters |
| Official languages | 16 official languages under the 2013 Constitution, including English, Shona and Ndebele |
Key indicators
30.1% (84 of 279)Women in National Assembly (2026)
18Minimum legal age for all marriages, no exceptions (2022)
34%Girls married before 18
5%Girls married before 15
86.9World Bank Women, Business and the Law (2024)
Regional and international treaties
| Treaty | Status | Reservations or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol | signed 18/11/2003 / ratified 15/04/2008 / deposited 05/09/2008 | |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | No signature or ratification listed in the AU status table as of 8 July 2024 |
Constitution
| Constitution | Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013, as amended (including Amendment No. 2 of 2021 and Amendment No. 3 passed 7 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Quotas or parity | 60 of the 280 National Assembly seats are reserved for women elected by party-list proportional representation for the 2023, 2028, 2033 and 2038 elections (extended by the 2021 amendment); lists must include young women and women with disabilities |
National laws
Gender-based and domestic violence
Domestic Violence Act (2006)
Provides protection against domestic violence; victim-friendly police units and shelters exist.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee (2020) recommended broadening the definition of perpetrators beyond household members and more resources for shelters.
Source: intersexrights.org, ohchr.org
Sexual harassment
No comprehensive law
No law clearly defining and prohibiting all forms of sexual harassment was identified by the CEDAW Committee.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee (2020, para. 38(e)) recommended legislation clearly defining and prohibiting all forms of sexual harassment.
Source: intersexrights.org
Child marriage and age of marriage
Marriages Act [Chapter 5:15], Act No. 1 of 2022, section 3
No person under 18 may contract any marriage, unregistered customary union or civil partnership; facilitating, promoting or coercing child marriage carries a fine and up to 5 years’ imprisonment, with heavier penalties for parents and guardians. Builds on the 2016 Constitutional Court ruling outlawing child marriage.
Gaps: WLSA and Equality Now (2025) identified gaps in survivor support, property and birth registration, and noted the National Action Plan on child marriage lapsed in 2021.
Family and personal status
Marriages Act [Chapter 5:15], 2022
Recognises civil marriages (strictly monogamous), registered and unregistered customary marriages (which may be polygamous under section 5), and civil partnerships (section 41) that give cohabiting partners property claims on separation.
Gaps: Polygamy remains lawful in customary marriages; unregistered customary unions must be registered within three months but non-registration carries no penalty.
Political participation and quotas
Constitution (as amended in 2021) and Electoral Amendment Act (in force July 2023)
Reserves 60 National Assembly seats for women through party-list proportional representation until 2038, with quotas for young women and women with disabilities.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee called for equal representation; the July 2026 amendment moves election of the president to Parliament.
Trafficking
Trafficking in Persons Act
Criminalises trafficking; Cabinet approved principles in April 2022 to amend the Act and align its definition of exploitation with the Palermo Protocol.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee called for State shelters for victims in all 10 provinces.
Source: digitallibrary.un.org, intersexrights.org
Online violence and cybercrime
Cyber and Data Protection Act, 2021 (amending sections 163 to 168 of the Criminal Law Code)
Criminalises cyber harassment, threatening communications and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, with penalties up to 10 years.
Gaps: Provisions on false data messages raise concerns for free expression.
Source: allafrica.com
Human rights defenders
No specific law
No dedicated protection law for human rights defenders identified.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee (2020, para. 28(c)) raised politically motivated violence against women human rights defenders.
Source: intersexrights.org
Rape and sexual offences
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], 2004
Codifies rape and other sexual offences and the narrow grounds on which abortion is lawful.
Gaps: A UN Women review found the marital rape provisions inadequate and recommended major amendments.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Rape and sexual offences
Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, 2024
Raises the age of consent from 16 to 18 and criminalises sexual intercourse and indecent acts involving minors. Solicitation of minors is also criminalised. These offences carry up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Source: marufumisilawchambers.co.zw
Family and personal status
Matrimonial Causes Act [Chapter 5:13], 1985
Governs divorce and the division of matrimonial property. It also governs maintenance between spouses.
Gaps: UN Women recommended amendments to strengthen women’s protection in property division on divorce.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Family and personal status
Guardianship of Minors Act [Chapter 5:08], 1961
Regulates guardianship and custody of children.
Gaps: UN Women found that the Act retains a paternal preference in guardianship.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Inheritance and succession
Administration of Estates Act [Chapter 6:01] and Deceased Estates Succession Act [Chapter 6:02]
Govern the administration of deceased estates and intestate succession, including estates of persons married under customary law.
Gaps: Human Rights Watch documented widespread property grabbing from widows, and UN Women found widows’ entitlements remain unclear in estate distribution.
Source: hrw.org
Land and property
Communal Land Act [Chapter 20:04], 1982
Regulates occupation and use of communal land, where most rural women live and farm.
Gaps: UN Women found women’s tenure on communal land insecure and their participation in land decisions limited.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Land and property
Married Persons Property Act [Chapter 5:12], 1928
Sets the matrimonial property regime for civil marriages.
Gaps: UN Women recommended amendments to the marital property regime to secure married women’s property rights.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Abortion and sexual and reproductive health
Termination of Pregnancy Act [Chapter 15:10], 1977
Permits abortion only on narrow grounds and requires authorisation by a magistrate or hospital superintendent in some cases.
Gaps: UN Women cites an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 unsafe abortions each year and recommends repeal.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Abortion and sexual and reproductive health
Public Health Act [Chapter 15:17], 2018
Frames public health services, including maternal and reproductive health care.
Gaps: UN Women found its reproductive health and maternal care provisions insufficient.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Girls’ education
Education Act [Chapter 25:04], as amended in 2020
Prohibits excluding pregnant girls from school and bans exclusion for unpaid fees. It also prohibits corporal punishment.
Source: hrw.org
Political participation and quotas
Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], 2004
Regulates elections, including candidate nomination and party lists.
Gaps: UN Women found the Act lacks gender parity provisions to support women’s equal participation.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Labour and maternity
Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], 1985
Regulates employment conditions including maternity leave and unfair labour practices.
Gaps: UN Women found maternity protection and workplace harassment provisions inadequate.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Nationality
Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 4:01], 1984
Regulates acquisition and loss of Zimbabwean citizenship.
Gaps: The Act has not been aligned with the 2013 Constitution’s provisions on citizenship conferred through mothers and on dual citizenship.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Access to justice and legal aid
Legal Aid Act [Chapter 7:16], 1996
Provides state legal aid to indigent persons through the Legal Aid Directorate.
Gaps: UN Women found coverage and funding insufficient for gender-based violence cases.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Access to justice and legal aid
Customary Law and Local Courts Act [Chapter 7:05], 1990
Governs the application of customary law and the jurisdiction of local courts.
Gaps: UN Women found it allows customary rules that conflict with constitutional equality to be applied.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Older persons
Older Persons Act [Chapter 17:11], Act No. 1 of 2012
Provides for the welfare and support of older persons through a dedicated board and fund.
Source: zimlii.org
Women and girls with disabilities
Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01], 1992
Provides for the welfare of persons with disabilities and for accessibility orders.
Gaps: UN Women recommended repeal because the Act does not address intersecting discrimination faced by women with disabilities.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Human rights defenders
Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act, 2025
Signed on 11 April 2025, it places all NGOs and community groups under registration and oversight by a Registrar under executive control.
Gaps: FIDH reports it gives the Registrar wide discretionary powers and restricts funding sources. It also imposes criminal penalties on civil society leaders.
Source: fidh.org
Vulnerable Groups
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], section 73
Criminalises sodomy, defined as consensual sexual conduct between men.
Gaps: UN Women identified section 73 among provisions requiring amendment.
Source: africa.unwomen.org
Civic space
| CIVICUS Monitor rating | Repressed (score 28/100) |
|---|---|
| NGO and association law | Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act, signed 11 April 2025: allows deregistration and asset seizure of groups deemed ‘politically partisan’, with criminal penalties |
| Cybercrime law | Cyber and Data Protection Act, 2021 (amending the Criminal Law Code) |
| Public order and counter-terrorism | Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11:23], 2019 (notification of gatherings, police prohibition powers); Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Act No. 10 of 2023 (‘Patriotic Act’), section 22A(3) struck down by the High Court on 11 June 2025 while section 22A(2) remains |
| Notes | Critics of Constitution Amendment No. 3 were arrested under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act in March 2026 (CIVICUS). |
Data protection
Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07], Act No. 5 of 2021
Gazetted on 11 March 2022. Covers data protection and cybercrime.
Source: zimlii.org
Social protection
National Social Security Authority Act [Chapter 17:04]
Sets up the National Social Security Authority.
Source: zimlii.org
Recent developments
- 7 July 2026. Parliament passed Constitution Amendment No. 3, extending terms from 5 to 7 years, moving election of the president to Parliament and, according to CIVICUS, abolishing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
- March 2026. Members of a forum opposing the constitutional amendment arrested under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
- 11 June 2025. High Court struck down section 22A(3) of the ‘Patriotic Act’.
- 3 June 2025. WLSA and Equality Now called for dedicated legal reform to support child marriage survivors.
- 11 April 2025. PVO Amendment Act restricting NGOs signed into law.
Reforms recommended
Reforms recommended by the African Commission, UN treaty bodies or national organisations, as reported in the sources below.
- Ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW (CEDAW Committee 2020, para. 52).
- Adopt a law clearly defining and prohibiting all forms of sexual harassment (para. 38(e)).
- Decriminalise abortion and ensure access to safe abortion services, in line with Maputo Protocol Article 14 (para. 40(d)).
- Adopt dedicated child marriage legislation with survivor support, aligned with the SADC Model Law, and reinstate the national action plan (WLSA and Equality Now).
- Retain an independent gender equality institution and repeal restrictive provisions of the PVO Amendment Act and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (CIVICUS).
Being verified. RFLD is checking the laws on the following topics against official texts and will add them to this page: female genital mutilation, harmful practices. Corrections and documents are welcome at programs@rflgd.org.
African Union treaties
Status of 29 African Union treaties as recorded in the official AU status lists published by the African Union Commission. The date of each list is shown: a ratification deposited after that date may not appear yet. 10 of the 13 human rights and governance treaties below are ratified.
Other AU treaties (16)
Sources (23)
- data.ipu.org · data on women
- veritaszim.net · MARRIAGES ACT No. 1 of 2022
- girlsnotbrides.org · zimbabwe
- wbl.worldbank.org · WBL2024 Economy Scores
- au.int · 37077 sl PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEO…
- law.uct.ac.za · dgru journal
- ohchr.org · committee elimination discrimination against women urges …
- intersexrights.org · N2006184
- equalitynow.org · women and law in southern africa and equality now call fo…
- mmmlawfirm.co.zw · new marriages law in zimbabwe marriages act chapter 515
- iywd.org · our unions our property our rights why zimbabwes new marr…
- monitor.civicus.org · controversial law estending presidential term passed as i…
- digitallibrary.un.org · CEDAW C ZWE FCO 6 EN
- allafrica.com · 202601260142
- monitor.civicus.org · zimbabwe
- monitor.civicus.org · partial win as court strikes out parts of the patriotic act
- allafrica.com · 202504170349
- africa.unwomen.org · UN Women analysis of Zimbabwe’s laws with a gender-based discriminatory effect 2023
- marufumisilawchambers.co.zw · A look at the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, 2024
- hrw.org · You Will Get Nothing: Violations of Property and Inheritance Rights of Widows in Zimbabwe
- hrw.org · Zimbabwe Removes Barriers to Education
- zimlii.org · Older Persons Act, ZimLII
- fidh.org · Zimbabwe: Detrimental PVO Amendment Bill enacted
Other countries in Southern Africa
AngolaCountry law profileBotswanaCountry law profileEswatiniCountry law profileLesothoCountry law profileMalawiCountry law profileMozambiqueCountry law profileNamibiaCountry law profileSouth AfricaCountry law profileZambiaCountry law profile
Information verified as of October 2026. This page is for information and advocacy and is not legal advice. Laws change: check the official text before relying on it. Part of the DƆNÙESÈ Data Center of the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD). See also the Maputo Protocol Hub and the Maputo Barometer.
For funders and partnersPour les bailleurs et les partenaires
Fund the women who defend rights in Africa, nowFinancez maintenant les femmes qui défendent les droits en Afrique
Aid to women’s organisations is falling. RFLD moves funding fast to women-led organisations and defenders, in French and English, through a network of 1,143 member organisations in more than 35 African countries.L’aide aux organisations de femmes recule. Le RFLD achemine vite les financements vers les organisations de femmes et les défenseures, en français et en anglais, grâce à un réseau de 1 143 organisations membres dans plus de 35 pays africains.
RFLD currently serves as Co-Chair of the SEA-T Programme Advisory Council, mandated to ensure the programme’s direction, priorities, and resources are meaningfully aligned with the visions of African women-led civil society. The SEA-T Programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.Le RFLD assure actuellement la coprésidence du Conseil consultatif du programme SEA-T, chargé de veiller à ce que l’orientation, les priorités et les ressources du programme soient réellement alignées sur les visions de la société civile africaine portée par les femmes. Le programme SEA-T est financé par le ministère fédéral allemand de la Coopération économique et du Développement (BMZ) et mis en œuvre par la Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. See the partnershipVoir le partenariat
- 1,143member organisationsorganisations membres
- 35+African countriespays africains
- N°553ACHPR observer statusstatut d’observateur CADHP
- CandidSeal of Transparency 2025Sceau de transparence 2025
DonateFaire un don Partner with RFLDDevenir partenaire See our financialsVoir nos états financiers