The Government has begun a process to review Zimbabwe’s legal framework on intersex persons following a court challenge, with senior ministers acknowledging ga...
The Government has begun a process to review Zimbabwe’s legal framework on intersex persons following a court challenge, with senior ministers acknowledging gaps in existing laws and considering possible legal and policy reforms.
The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs convened a high-level breakfast meeting in Harare on Wednesday to discuss the legal recognition and protection of intersex persons. The meeting brought together Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo, and Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, along with other stakeholders.
Officials said the discussions were intended to strengthen Zimbabwe’s approach to protecting intersex persons while addressing shortcomings in existing legislation and administrative systems.
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During the meeting, participants emphasised the importance of public understanding of intersex variations, describing intersex as a natural biological variation involving chromosomes, hormones, gonads or reproductive anatomy that may not fit typical definitions of male or female. Officials said intersex is not a disease or a matter of personal choice.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Justice Minister Ziyambi said the Government’s review followed a court challenge relating to intersex rights.
“Basically what we have done is we have received a court challenge regarding this issue (intersex) and we referred it to the Attorney General,” Ziyambi said.
He said the Ministry later resolved to conduct research through the Law Development Commission, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), before convening the stakeholder meeting.
Ziyambi said that while Zimbabwe’s Constitution recognises two sexes, Government had identified the need to examine how the country’s legal and administrative systems respond to people whose biological characteristics do not fit neatly within existing classifications.
“The research and this meeting are part of work in progress. We have presentations and testimonies and lived experiences, and we believe that out of the meeting, we will be able to come up with concrete measures,” he said.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said the consultations had highlighted gaps in Zimbabwe’s laws and the challenges experienced by intersex persons.
“There is a real gap in our statutes to address those issues. Because we are basically classified as male and female and then there are people falling in between,” Moyo said.
He said cultural beliefs and stigma had contributed to intersex issues remaining hidden, with some families reluctant to discuss them openly. He also noted that some intersex persons experience difficulties when identity documents do not correspond with their biological characteristics, creating barriers in accessing public services.
Participants identified several challenges affecting intersex persons, including difficulties obtaining birth certificates and national identity documents, as well as challenges in accessing education, healthcare, employment, banking services and voter registration where documentation does not align with their biological characteristics.
The Ministry said it will validate the research findings before preparing legal and policy recommendations for Cabinet consideration. It also pledged to continue engaging intersex persons and civil society organisations throughout the consultation process, saying future reforms would be informed by expert advice and the lived experiences shared during the consultations.
