Residents of Epworth were confronted this week by a disturbing sight — rows of freshly marked graves that appeared overnight, sparking confusion, speculation, and heated debate across social media.
For hours, questions swirled about who had placed them and what they represented. The mystery has now been clarified: the installation was a deliberate public awareness intervention designed to draw attention to Zimbabwe’s growing crisis of unsafe abortion.
The striking display marks the launch of In the Shadows of Epworth, an investigative documentary aimed at exposing the hidden human cost of unsafe abortion while prompting national reflection on public health, human rights, and lived experiences.
Presented as both visual provocation and social commentary, the graves symbolise women who lose their lives silently and preventably due to unsafe abortion procedures.
Health advocates estimate that thousands of women and girls in Zimbabwe are affected by unsafe abortions each year, with many suffering severe complications and some dying from conditions that are largely preventable through access to safe, legal, and dignified healthcare.
What initially unsettled residents was, according to organisers, a carefully planned effort to disrupt public indifference toward what they describe as a “buried crisis”.
Documentary creator Unique Zimuto said the campaign is intended to shift the conversation from silence to accountability.
“This campaign is not about provocation; it is about confronting a reality that has been hidden in plain sight,” said Zimuto.
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“Every grave represents a life that could have been saved. We must move from silence to informed, evidence-based conversation if we are to prevent further loss.”
Health professionals involved in the project say unsafe abortion is not merely a social issue, but a public health emergency rooted in structural challenges, including limited access to healthcare, legal restrictions, socio-economic inequality, and persistent stigma.
Midwife Rumbidzai Zimudzi said restricted access to safe reproductive healthcare continues to place women’s lives at risk.
“What we are witnessing is not just a social issue — it is a public health emergency,” she said.
“When access to safe care is delayed or denied, the consequences are predictable and devastating. Addressing this crisis requires courage, compassion, and policies grounded in reality.”
In the Shadows of Epworth will premiere digitally on Facebook and YouTube to ensure wide public access.
Organisers also plan an in-person screening and dialogue session bringing together policymakers, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, and community leaders to encourage evidence-based engagement and policy reflection.
They say the aim is to shift the national conversation away from stigma and silence toward practical solutions that protect the health and rights of women and girls.
“We urge the public, media and decision-makers to engage openly with this issue,” organisers said, adding that meaningful change will require honest dialogue, accurate information, and stronger commitment to safeguarding women’s health.
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