Staff Writer
A – STRIKING public installation of graves that appeared overnight in Epworth is sparking widespread curiosity, public speculation, and viral social media debate has been revealed as a deliberate national intervention to spotlight Zimbabwe’s escalating public health crisis of unsafe abortion.
The installation marks the launch of “In the Shadows of Epworth,” a hard-hitting investigative documentary seeking to expose the hidden human cost of unsafe abortion and to catalyse urgent national dialogue grounded in public health, human rights, and lived realities.
Positioned as both a visual provocation and a call to conscience, the graves symbolically represent the silent and preventable loss of women’s lives occurring across the country.
Health advocates estimate that thousands of women and girls are affected annually by unsafe procedures, many resulting in severe complications or death, outcomes widely acknowledged as preventable through timely access to safe, legal, and dignified care.
While the installation initially generated confusion and speculation, campaign organizers have confirmed that it was designed to disrupt public complacency and draw attention to what they describe as a “buried challenge.”
The documentary filmmakers emphasize that, the intervention is rooted in a public health approach, drawing attention to the consequences of silence, stigma, and systemic inaction.
“This campaign is not about provocation at all—it is about confronting a reality that has been hidden in plain sight,” said Unique Zimuto, creator of the film.
He said, every grave represents a life that could have been saved and he urged communities to move from silence to informed, evidence-based conversation if we are to prevent further loss.
Health professionals and advocates said, unsafe abortion is not an isolated issue but one deeply linked to broader systemic challenges, including limited access to healthcare, legal ambiguities, socio-economic inequality, and persistent stigma.
“What we are witnessing is not just a social issue—it is a public health emergency,” said Mrs Rumbidzai Zimudzi, a local midwife.
“The situation calls for policy makers to look deeply in the issue and the consequences are predictable and devastating. Addressing this crisis requires courage, compassion, and policy grounded in reality,” she added.
The documentary “In the Shadows of Epworth” will premiere digitally on Facebook and YouTube, ensuring broad public access. This will be followed by a curated in-person screening and dialogue session bringing together policymakers, healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, and community leaders to foster evidence-based engagement and policy reflection.
Organizers are urging the public, media, and decision-makers to shift the narrative from stigma to solutions, emphasizing that meaningful change requires open dialogue, accurate information, and a commitment to safeguarding the health and rights of women and girls.