The march was the second consecutive day of protest action organised by the doctors
HARARE, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Hundreds of doctors have marched through the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, to condemn the alleged abduction of their union leader.
Peter Magombeyi had organised a series of strikes over poor pay and working conditions in recent weeks.
On Saturday, he sent a WhatsApp message alleging he had been kidnapped by three men. He has not been seen since.
The doctors, many of them wearing white lab coats, waved placards and chanted slogans during Monday’s march.
They said they would not return to work until Magombeyi, the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), was found.
It marked the second consecutive day that doctors had staged a walkout.
Some chanted “no Peter, no work” and “bring back Peter” as they made their way through the streets of the capital.
The protesters had planned to march to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office, but they were prevented from doing so by a line of riot police.
A few of the group’s leaders were allowed through the barricade so they could present a petition to the president demanding action to find Magombeyi and improve working conditions.
The doctors believe Magombeyi was abducted by the security forces because of his role in organising recent strike action.
A government spokesman, Nick Mangwana, denied this was the case and said the administration had “no reason” to abduct Zimbabweans.
“Acts of terror are ultimately threats to the security of the state,” he wrote on Twitter. “There is no rhyme nor reason for the state to undermine itself.”
Shortly before he disappeared, Magombeyi told the media he had received threatening calls and messages on his phone.
Police say they are investigating the case. They also said, without evidence, that there is a possibility Magombeyi’s disappearance was an attempt to tarnish the country’s reputation. — NNN-AGENCIES
