Second UA: 124/19 Index: AFR 46/1086/2019 Zimbabwe
Date: 23 October 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 poor salary as well as lack of success by the association in reaching a
settlement with the 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 screenshots with a locally registered number
said (loosely translated) ‘do not say I didn’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 (against a regional average of US$1500), 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.
On 14 September Peter was abducted from his home in Harare’s Budiriro suburb around 10 pm in the evening by
three unidentified and armed men. He was later found alive in the evening of 19 September in Nyabira, 33km out of
Harare where he appeared disoriented. The Zimbabwe government has been quick to dismiss his abduction as fake.
The government spokesperson who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana
called Dr Peter Magombeyi a ‘retrograde liar’ on Twitter.
On Monday 23 September, doctors recommended he seek medical assistance in South Africa. He was detained at
the airport until the plane departed. On 24 September his father took the matter to court, where the High Court rule
that he was entitled to leave the country since he is not under arrest. On the same day the police prevented him
from leaving hospital, in defiance of the High Court order. On 24 September the police filed an urgent chamber
application challenging the High Court order which was heard on 25 September. They stated that he is not fit to
travel, therefore he cannot leave the country and that they need to prepare adequate travel security for him if he is to
seek medical treatment in South Africa. The police had detained him at a local hospital in Harare. The High Court
dismissed the application brought by the police and immediately ordered he be released and allowed to travel. Fears
remain that Peter might be arrested upon his return as the state accuses him of faking his abduction.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English, Shona
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 5 November 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)
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr46/1059/2019/en/