Zimbabwean doctors protest as colleague goes missing

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Senior Zimbabwean doctors on Monday withdrew their services with immediate effect after one of their colleagues went missing.

“Dr. Peter Magombeyi’s whereabouts remains unknown and we are seriously concerned about his welfare,” said a statement by Senior Doctors in Government Institutions.

“We therefore demand his unconditional return to his family.”

The statement said that the senior doctors have withdrawn their services as medical practitioners from both public and private services.

The decision by the senior doctors came following some protests in the capital Harare on Monday morning by junior doctors, who demanded the return of their colleague.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), of which Magombeyi is the leader, accused security forces of abducting the doctor from his house on Saturday due to his role in holding strikes to press for higher wages.

Zimbabwean doctors earn approximately $200 per month, the lowest in the region.

For its part, the government said an investigation has been launched over the disappearance of Magombeyi.

“Security Services have launched a joint operation to expeditiously investigate the alleged disappearance of Dr Peter Magombeyi,” a government statement said.