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‘Silent Treatment’ theatre act provokes discussions about abortion in Zimbabwe

By Maryanne W. WAWERU

Every year on 28 September, the world marks the International Safe Abortion Day - a day set aside to show solidarity and advocate for the right to safe and legal abortion. As part of the celebrations to mark this year’s International Safe Abortion Day, IPPF’s Collaborative Partner in Zimbabwe, My Age Zimbabwe hosted an ‘Open House’ event, where conversations on the need for safe abortion and reproductive justice were held.

The ‘Open House’ event, held in the capital city of Harare, was undertaken in partnership with the She Decides Movement in Zimbabwe. My Age Zimbabwe is the local coordinator of the She Decides Movement, which is made up of 36 feminist organisations in the country. My Age Zimbabwe has been hosting the ‘Open House’ event for the last four years and in this year’s event, the organization staged a sterling performance of the play ‘Silent Treatment’ which underscored the need for unveiling the lid off abortion conversations.

In this article, we talk to Mr. Onward Chironda, the Executive Director of My Age Zimbabwe, who sheds more light about the ‘Open House’ event and the ‘Silent Treatment’ theatre performance. 

Onward-Chironda

What is the rationale behind the ‘Open House’ events?

As a youth-led organization, My Age Zimbabwe uses innovative communication strategies to communicate and spark conversations on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, and bodily autonomy of young people, women, and girls. To achieve this, the organization regularly organizes bold and ambitious convenings to spark collective action for the achievement of gender equality and SRHR. The ‘Open House’ event is one such convening, which brings together government representatives, policy makers and other stakeholders drawn from the public and private sectors to discuss topical and critical issues around SRHR.  

What is the status of abortion in Zimbabwe?

Abortion is restricted in Zimbabwe under the Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Act of 1977, which only permits abortion under certain conditions: when the pregnancy poses a risk to the health of the mother, if the unborn baby is at risk of physical and mental defects that could pose a risk to both mother and child, and if the pregnancy is as a result of incest or rape.

Due to these restrictive laws, a significant number of Zimbabwean women resort to clandestine and unsafe abortions, many of which result in life-threatening complications. According to the Guttmacher Institute, an estimated 65,300 induced abortions occurred in Zimbabwe in 2016. This translates to a rate of 17 abortions for every 1,000 women aged 15–49.

Who attended the ‘Open House’ event?

The event was graced by 20 Members of Parliament (MPs) drawn from the Parliamentary Committee on Health, as well as those from the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. They participated in the discussions on the status of abortion in Zimbabwe, where they lent their helpful insights on the advocacy call for the review of the Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Act in Zimbabwe. Also in attendance were representatives from different civil society organizations (CSOs), Youth Action Movement (YAM) members from My Age Zimbabwe, other SRHR young advocates, media representatives and leading safe abortion champions in Zimbabwe.

My Age Zimbabwe
Hon. Daniel Mololeki (Parliament of Zimbabwe Portfolio Committee on Health) speaking at the event.
My Age Zimbabwe
Hon. Perseverance Zhou (Parliament of Zimbabwe Portfolio Committee on Health) speaking at the event.

Tell us more about ‘Silent Treatment’

‘Silent treatment’ is a powerful and thought-provoking play that delves into the experiences of three women; Maria, Mrs. Moyo, and Gogo Vee -who find themselves the targets of prejudice in a society that views them as an unholy trinity.

The play opens in the dead of night, as the women flee through a dense forest, pursued by dogs, guns, and the shouts of their male captors. Caught in the blinding glare of flashlights, the women are forced to confront the harsh reality of their situation -they are being hunted down because their existence is deemed a threat to the social order.

Through a series of searing monologues, the women reveal the deep-rooted misogyny and patriarchal oppression that have shaped their lives. Maria, a young woman, grapples with the stigma of her pregnancy, while Mrs. Moyo, a middle-aged mother, reflects on the constant policing of her body and autonomy. Gogo Vee, the eldest of the trio, draws on her life experiences to decry the historical persecution of women in the name of morality and religion.

My Age Zimbabwe

 

My Age Zimbabwe

As the play progresses, the women are apprehended and brutally handcuffed, their hands torn away from their bodies, which are viewed as ‘criminal evidence’ by the male authorities. The dogs’ menacing presence serves as a symbolic representation of the toxic masculinity and misogyny that permeate the society they inhabit.

In the final act, the three women are shoved into a cramped, dark jail cell, where they continue to resist and assert their autonomy in the face of dehumanizing treatment. The play's climax is a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of these women, who refuse to be silenced or broken by the oppressive forces that seek to control them.

‘Silent Treatment’ depicts the systemic injustices faced by women, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. It is a play that demands attention, empathy, and a reckoning with the deep-seated attitudes and structures that continue to subjugate and endanger the lives of women worldwide. ‘Silent Treatment’ is an expression of how unsafe abortions have become a practice that no one wants to talk about, yet it is happening clandestinely and with disastrous effects.

The play was performed by five actors who are part of My Age Zimbabwe's theatre for development team.

My Age Zimbabwe

My Age Zimbabwe

What feedback did you receive about ‘Silent Treatment’?

From the plenary discussions that followed the ‘Silent Treatment’ performance, it was clear that there is a need to have open discussions about abortion. The feedback we received from the audience was that the play was captivating, and it showcased the stark realities that are happening in our communities. We plan to stage the play on a tour in different communities.

Why is theatre an important mode of delivery of SRHR messages?

Theatre captivates the audience through storytelling and artistic expression, creates a safe discussion space for sensitive topics, and confronts challenging societal stigma surrounding issues pertaining to SRHR. My Age Zimbabwe, which principally started as a theatre for development organisation, continues to successfully use theatre as a tool for engagement for SRHR advocacy, messaging, and mobilization.

What were the notable successful outcomes of the ‘Open House’ event?

Some assurances arose from the discussions, including commitments from Parliamentarians to push for broadening of the circumstances under which abortion is legally permitted, the need for education of healthcare professionals and the public about the legal provisions for abortion in order to reduce the number of clandestine and unsafe procedures, as well as the need to ensure the availability of postabortion care (PAC) for all who need the services.

My Age Zimbabwe
Ms. Tarisai Maregere from My Age Zimbabwe
My Age Zimbabwe
Hon. Josiah Makombe (Parliament of Zimbabwe Portfolio Committee on Health)
My Age Zimbabwe
Women's rights activist Ms. Tendaishe Changamire speaks at the event.

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when

region

Africa

Subject

Abortion Care

Related Member Association

My Age Zimbabwe Trust