First UA: 124/19 Index: AFR 46/1059/2019 Zimbabwe
Date: 18 September 2019
URGENT ACTION
MEDICAL DOCTOR ABDUCTED FROM HIS HOME
Dr Peter Magombeyi, a medical doctor and Acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors
Association (ZHDA), was abducted on the night of 14 September. He had been receiving threats from
suspected members of the Central Intelligence Organisation warning him to stop his involvement in a
doctor’s strike and, failure to do so, would result in his enforced disappearance. Following a habeas
corpus application, the High Court has ordered an investigation into his disappearance. However, to
date, no action has been taken and Dr Peter Magombeyi’s whereabouts remain unknown.
TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER
His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Munhumutapa Building
Private Bag 7700
Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
Email: info@opc.gov
Your Excellency President Mnangagwa,
I write to you to express my deep concern for the fate and whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi, a medical
doctor and Acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) who was abducted by three
unidentified armed men on 14 September from his home in Budiriro, Harare. No information about his
whereabouts has been provided and I fear that he is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
The High Court ordered the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of State for National Security to determine
the whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi and to set up a team of investigators to search for him. The two
Ministers were also ordered to advertise details of the missing ZHDA President.
Dr Peter Magombeyi’s abduction adds to the number of other unresolved enforced disappearances in
Zimbabwe. In some cases, victims of abductions have often later been found in state custody, despite denials
of involvement in their enforced disappearance by the authorities. It is critical that you and your Government
take concrete and meaningful steps to locate and reveal information about his fate and whereabouts.
Therefore, I urge you as Head of State to:
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Direct the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of State for National Security and all state security
agents to take all necessary action to establish the circumstance of the disappearance and to reveal
the fate and whereabouts of Peter Magombeyi; and to comply with the High Court Order;
Ensure the release of Dr Peter Magombeyi;
Take steps to ensure thorough and effective investigations of all cases of enforced disappearances
in Zimbabwe, ensure that those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice and that the
victims and their families have access to justice and effective remedies which include restitution,
compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.
Yours sincerely,