In a landmark decision, the High Court has ordered prison officials to allow pregnant inmates to choose their own maternal healthcare providers.
The ruling came after a pregnant inmate, Melissa Messe Chiyangwa, filed an urgent application protesting the poor maternal health conditions at Chikurubi female prison.
Chiyangwa, who was arrested on theft charges in June, was denied access to her private gynaecologist despite having a high-risk pregnancy.
Her lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) argued that prison authorities forced her to go to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where the maternal health facilities were inadequate and her patient history was unavailable.
The lawyers noted that Chiyangwa’s rights to health, dignity, and life were at risk.
On August 6, Justice Neville Wamambo issued a directive allowing Chiyangwa to see her private doctor, a ruling that sets a precedent for all pregnant inmates to access proper maternal healthcare of their choice.
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