• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Medical Doctor Found Alive But Tortured (Zimbabwe: UA 124.19)

October 23, 2019

On 19 September 2019, Dr Peter Magombeyi, a medical doctor, was found alive and disoriented, dumped about 33 km out of Harare in a placed called Nyabira. Dr Magombeyi was abducted on the night of 14 September 2019. He said he was held in a basement where he was tortured. There are fears that he was injected with an unknown substance by his abductors. The government accused him of faking the abduction and tried to prevent him from seeking medical treatment outside the country. Fears are that he may be arrested and charged for “faking an abduction” upon his return.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 124.19. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa Munhumutapa Building Private Bag 7700 Causeway, Harare Zimbabwe Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Ammon M. Mutembwa Embassy of Zimbabwe 1608 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20009 Phone: 202 332 7100 I Fax: 202 483 9326 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Your Excellency President Mnangagwa, On 19 September 2019 medical doctor Peter Magombeyi was found alive and disoriented, 33 km out of Harare after being abducted on 14 September 2019, from his home in in Harare. He had previously served notice to the Minister of Health and Child Care that doctors across the country would go on strike. There are fears that he may have been poisoned by his abductors, and he is currently seeking further medical treatment in South Africa. The government has also accused him of faking the abduction. I am concerned by the authorities’ statement that Dr. Peter Magombeyi faked his abduction. The authorities have legal obligation to respect and protect Peter’s right to life, liberty and personal security. Dr. Magombeyi has the right to seek and choose adequate medical attention including from outside the country. I therefore urge you to ensure the thorough, impartial and effective investigation of the circumstances of the abduction of Dr. Magombeyi and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice in fair trials; guarantee the safe return of Dr. Magombeyi without fear of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary arrest; take the necessary steps to ensure thorough, impartial and effective investigations of all cases of enforced disappearances in Zimbabwe, and 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, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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