Dr Peter Magombeyi

On 16 September 2019, after his sister filed papers with the High Court to compel the police and security forces to find Magomeyi, High Court Judge Justice Edith Mushore ordered people holding Magombeyi to immediately release him or bring him to court within 48 hours. She also ordered Home Affairs and State Security Ministers to determine his whereabouts and set up a team of investigators to search for him.

Missing Persons poster for Dr Peter Magombeyi

On the evening of 19 September Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director said that Dr. Magombeyi had been located:

Someone called to say they have just spoken to Peter who says that he is disoriented and trying to get lifts to Harare. Please motorists be on the lookout. I tried his number which rang but was not answered then now switched off^[1]

It later emerged that he was in Nyabira where he had apparently been dumped by his abductors.

In an interview on the night he was found, Magombeyi said he had lost his memory and only remember being taken by his abductors to a basement where he was electrocuted.^[2]

He was briefly detained by the police after and then later released to his family.

Response To His Abduction

There was a significantly large from colleagues in the health profession who went on a march on 16, 17 and 18 September 2019 to protest his abduction. Over 200 medical doctors delivered a petition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanding the release of Magombeyi.

A prayer vigil was held at Parirenyatwa Hospital on the night of 16 September 2019 in solidarity with 1 Magombeyi.

• On 15 September MDC President Nelson Chamisa released a statement condemning the abduction and calling for his release
• On 16 September:
  • The Zimbabwe Government Radiographers Association (ZiGRA) called upon the government to guarantee the same return of Dr. Magombeyi. ^[3]
  • The Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union, called for the "immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Peter Magombeyi". ^[4]
• On 17 September the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union called for the immediate release of Dr Magombeyi.
• On 18 September:
  • a statement from the Coalition of the African National Medical Associations (CANMA) coordinator in Nigeria strongly condemned the abduction of Dr Magombeyi and called on the "President and Government of Zimbabwe to take urgent and further steps to secure the safe and quick release of Dr Peter Magombeyi." ^[5]
  • The European Union called on the government "to act swiftly as per court order and do all it can to find him, to bring him home safe and the perpetrators to justice."^[6]
  • The ZHDA secretary-general Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe said the doctors would protesting until Dr Magombeyi was returned: "Every day. We meet. By day we march and protest to seek the attention of those in offices of Power. Evening we pray that he returns alive and safe. Resuming work will only occur after Dr Magombeyi returns and doctors are paid well."^[7]
  • A Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, Andrew Stephenson, said he was deeply concerned and called on the government to intensify efforts to find him and hold those responsible to account.
• On 19 September 2019:
  • the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe said his country was deeply troubled by the continued missing of Dr Magombeyi.

Government Response To Abduction

On 17 September 2019, government-controlled daily newspaper, The Herald, reported that information at Harare Hospital showed that contrary to reports that Magombeyi had been abducted at his home, he had actually left home voluntarily to go for an all-night prayer. The article also said that the abductions were "either staged for publicity purposes or directed by some agents to besmirch the image of Zimbabwean Government ahead of regional and international forums such as Sadc summit and the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting to be held in New York, United States."^[8]

A few hours before his location was found, Deputy Minister of Infromation, Energy Mutodi had tweeted: Energy Mutodi (PhD) @energymutodi

Doctors are meant to save lives & never to be active politicians. Participating in stage-managed abductions meant to tarnish the government image is a serious abomination by our doctors. We hope Dr Peter Magombeyi will sober up & find his way home.^[9]

Related

• Political Abductions and Forced Disappearances in Zimbabwe

References