First UA: 124/19 Index: AFR 46/1059/2019 Zimbabwe
Date: 18 September 2019
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On 30 August 2019, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) served a notice to the Minister of
Health and Child Care as well as the Permanent Secretary for Health that doctors across the country would not
report for work starting from 3 September. They cited salary insufficiencies as well as lack of success in
engaging employer. The letter was signed by Dr Peter Magombeyi, as the Acting President of ZHDA. As a
result, he received threats from suspected members of the Central Intelligence Organisation including a warning
that they would abduct him if he continued to organise the strike. One of the phone screenshots with a locally
registered number said (loosely translated) ‘do not say I don’t warn you. Keep on being stubborn. You will be
taken by a whirlwind. We are getting close now.”
Zimbabwe doctors, who earn the equivalent of about US$40 per month, are on strike to press for better wages,
equipment and medication in state hospitals. The public health system has deteriorated over recent years due
to economic mismanagement. Doctors have consistently raised concerns about the lack of medical supplies,
lack of funds for the health sector as well as poor working conditions. Dr Peter Magombeyi is being persecuted
for demanding better wages.
On 14 September Dr Peter Magombeyi was abducted from his home in Harare’s Budiriro suburb around 10pm
in the evening by three unidentified and armed men. To date his fate and whereabouts remain unknown.
Following his abduction, the human rights organisation Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed a habeas
corpus with the High Court. The High Court ordered the Minister of Home Affairs and 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 Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of State for National Security were also ordered
to advertise details of the missing ZHDA President.
Currently all doctors have downed tools and joined the protest calling for the release of Dr Peter Magombeyi.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 30 October 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.
NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Dr Peter Magombeyi (He/Him)