Doctors and other health staff mainly from Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) on Monday protested against the alleged abduction of acting Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Dr Magombeyi was reportedly abducted from his Budiriro home on Saturday night by some unknown men suspected to be state security agents.
Addressing the demonstrators, ZHDA secretary-general Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe said:
We are demanding the immediate release of Dr Magombeya. When he is released, he should be paid an adequate salary. If there is no salary increment after his release, we will continue with the strike.
The government‘s latest attack on our colleague has made it impossible for us to continue reporting for work because we do not have that emotional strength to come to work for a government that does not appreciate our efforts.
Some people are saying we are now being selfish. No, we are not being selfish. Do you know that right now about 23 citizens are being charged for trying to subvert the government?
We do not know whether this is true or not but these are just mere citizens.
So this is an attack not just on doctors but to the general citizens. People have been dying anyway whether coming to work or not. People’s rights are being violated every day. People have been beaten up.