Union activists and rights campaigners on Sunday accused Zimbabwe’s security forces of kidnapping the leader of a doctors’ union, who disappeared during a strike he had helped organise.
The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) said Peter Magombeyi had not been heard from since he sent a WhatsApp message on Saturday night saying he had been “kidnapped by three men”.
Doctors gathering at Parirenyatwa Hospital to demonstrate against the alleged abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi @ZHDAofficial President. Injure one Injure All!! @dewamavhinga pic.twitter.com/YVPMN3m74p
— Norman Matara (@nomara007) September 15, 2019
1).@ZLHRLawyers received information on abduction of President of Zim Hospital Docs Association – Dr Peter Magombeyi – by 3 men ahead of UN Day of Democracy, 15 Sept.
We call on abductors to release him forthwith.
Abduction = Enforced Disapearance it is an international crime.— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) September 15, 2019
The ZHDA accused the security forces of abducting him because of his role in organising the work stoppages.
A few dozen doctors and nurses, who are paid less than $200 a month, marched on Sunday in Harare to protest his disappearance.
Slogans on the improvised placards included “Free Dr Magombeyi unharmed now” and “No Dr Peter, no work: simple”.
Police said in a statement that they were was investigating the matter, but also cautioned against making kidnap allegations to damage the country’s image.
“The possibility of a third force being involved in the alleged abductions for political expedience and to sustain the human rights abuse narrative ahead of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly cannot be ruled out.”
The UN General Assembly meets in New York this week.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association day their Acting President, Dr Peter Magombeyi has been abducted by 3 men they suspect to be state security agents.
Medics in the Country have been on strike over poor wages since the beginning of the month pic.twitter.com/YWwOdqxM6F— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) September 15, 2019
Striking doctors are demanding pay rises in a country still struggling with high inflation and fuel and food shortages after decades of economic crisis under former president Robert Mugabe, who died a week ago.
“Efforts to reach him after he had sent the alarming message have been fruitless,” the ZHDA said in a statement, calling for his release and for medics to protest.
Before he disappeared, Magombeyi had said he had received threatening calls and messages on his phone.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyers association called for his release.
“Expressing their concerns on poor working conditions is a right not a privilege,” it said.
Zimbabwe’s once-vaunted public health system has deteriorated after years of neglect under the Mugabe regime, and doctors complain about lack of supplies and poor conditions.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was elected to replace Mugabe after he was ousted in 2017, has been under pressure to deliver on promises of more investment and jobs.
A measure to double fuel prices this year sparked nationwide protests, prompting a crackdown on the opposition and clashes in which 17 people were killed when soldiers opened fire.
© Agence France-Presse