“My personal secret”: Accessing family planning beyond religious boundaries in Zimbabwe

At 15, Catherine*, a member of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Sect (JMAC), one of an estimated 160 Apostolic sects in Zimbabwe, got married to her husband of the same faith.

Three years later, she welcomed her first child, beginning a pattern of almost yearly pregnancies.  Catherine, now 37 years old, refrained from seeking medical advice due to the gendered inequalities embedded in the doctrines of the JMAC regarding contraception.

The central tenet of the JMAC is encapsulated within their Apostolic text, known as “Umboo Utsva hwa Vapostori” (The New Revelation of the Apostles). The book is revered as a canonical addition to the Bible. According to their Apostolic book, the JMAC maintains a religious culture against the idea of contraception.

“As a person who grew up in church, we only knew that we access antenatal and postnatal care from our church midwives and prophets,” Catherine says.

Members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect staunchly reject any form of medical treatment, even in the most critical instances of injury or illness. They firmly hold the belief that divine intervention, rooted in their unwavering faith, is the sole path to healing.

Three of Catherine’s children died before the age of five and she experienced three miscarriages. Some of the children passed away from measles because they were not vaccinated since the church does not allow them to visit health institutions. 

Catherine also believes she did not have enough time to nurse and take care of her babies who would need more attention since she had to focus on the newborn.

“My first six children have an age difference of one year and six months,” Catherine says. She never used contraceptives until recently in 2017 when she became weary of labour every two years.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that worldwide, the utilisation of birth control methods is preventing 2.7 million infant fatalities, 215,000 maternal fatalities, 187 million unplanned pregnancies, and 105 million abortions annually.

To curb the dilemma and protect these apostolic women, local health workers and clinics are offering back-door services to them.

Edith*, a nurse-in-charge at one of the clinics says the demand for contraceptives from apostolic women is increasing as they assure privacy for them.

“We attend to them early in the morning before we open the clinic and at times meet them on their way to gardens and give them secretly so as to protect them from their church,” she tells Minority Africa. “Most of them prefer long-term methods so as to avoid frequent visits to the clinic.”

Some of the methods available are implants like Implanon which lasts for three years,  Jadelle, which is effective up to five years and intrauterine device which lasts up to 12 years.

As for Catherine, she opted for pills, which she says are manageable, unlike implants which leave a mark that will raise questions from her husband and other congregants.

“I pluck my family planning pills from the sachet, enfold them in a paper and put [them] in a container which l hide underground outside the yard,” she explains.

Data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) shows that in 2022, Manicaland Province had the highest rate of mortality deaths, with under 5 and infant mortality at 50.9 and 23.6 respectively.  

“At first l wouldn’t listen to the advice from one of my sisters who is also a member of our church,” Catherine says. “But when other relatives who are from  different Christian denominations talked to me about seeking medical advice after these tragic events, I decided to give [contraceptives] a try.” 

The JMAC is one of the African Initiated Churches in  Zimbabwe. It was founded by Muchabaya Momberume (later renamed Johanne Marange) in 1932 in Bocha, Manicaland Province. 

Pregnant women are supposed to seek health assistance from female prophetesses who are within the church. So in most cases a pregnant woman can go and stay at the prophetess’s house for some time until she gives birth or when the ‘holy spirit’ instructs her to leave. They call it “chitsidzo.” It also applies to any member of the church; when they fall sick, they seek assistance from church prophets only.

“If my husband discovers that l am [using contraceptives], l will be forced to confess the sin before the priests and the congregation,” Catherine says. 

A 2011 UNICEF report indicates that the Johanne Marange sect uses strict disciplinary measures, including public shaming, to control those who veer from the approved practices of prayer and healing rituals.

“It’s my personal secret that I never tell anyone from my church, because it is a sin according to my church doctrine,” Catherine continues.

UNICEF also recommends an ideal child spacing interval of 2 to 3 years between births.

“Ever since I started using contraceptives, l can see that my children are growing healthy and are no longer dying because l am breastfeeding adequately,” says Catherine.

Tendayi Gudo, the National Director of Apostolic Women Empowerment Trust (AWET) calls for women to be given free rein in family planning issues since they are the ones who bear the brunt of pregnancy and take care of children.

“Women should be able to decide when it comes to the family as they are more involved in raising a child than men, therefore, communication is paramount on how many children a family would want to have,” she says.

However, this is not the case. Catherine insists that due to lack of exposure, some JMAC  female congregants, especially those in rural areas, are deprived of this right under the guise of culture and tradition, thereby giving men the power to dominate every decision about the vision of the family.

“Taking contraceptives opened a way for me to sneak off to health institutions for maternal issues especially during and after pregnancy,” says Catherine.

The church’s unwavering stance against contraception is firmly rooted in their interpretation of the Bible verse Genesis 1:28.

The Johane Marange community interprets the phrase “be fruitful and multiply” to mean that women are expected to have as many children as possible and should refrain from any measures to prevent childbirth.

Chaka Ruzvidzo, National Director for Equality 4 Men Trust criticised patrilineal churches for misinterpreting scriptures to suppress women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.

“They put their thoughts which oblige women to provide conjugal rights anytime husbands need them, as if it is an instruction from God,” he says. “Scripture of replenishment is used by men who have selfish ambitions, and it is disobedience if women exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.” 

It has been six years since Catherine started using contraceptives. Since then, she has had two children who have an age difference of two and a half years.

“I am also relieved from miscarriages, my body has had enough time to prepare for the next pregnancy, although l am not looking forward to having another child,” the mother of five says.  “It is high time to take full responsibility for my children without hassles of unmet needs of family planning.”

Edited/Reviewed by PK Cross, Uzoma Ihejirika, and Caleb Okereke