● Magombeyi moves to South Africa
● Other doctors claim he had lost touch with reality and nolonger represented their interests
● Magombeyi’s rise to prominence
● Abduction controversy
PETER Magombeyi’s colleagues say his departure will create a void in the association.
Others maintain he had lost touch with the issues facing doctors after he relocated to South Africa in September.
Yet, some insist he was no longer representing the concerns and interests of junior doctors, saying he was now more of a politician than a trade unionist
Magombeyi who was at one time abducted for a week in September 2019, on Monday stepped down as the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA).
In a letter written to the secretary-general of the association, Magombeyi said he was resigning with immediate effect for personal reasons.
“I regret to inform you that I am immediately resigning from my position as the acting president of ZHDA for personal reasons,” Magombeyi said.
Speaking to Zim Morning Post, acting vice president Masimba Ndoro said Magombeyi had always wanted to resign.
“He has always wanted to resign for personal reasons, but could not because he felt obliged to finish the great work that he had started,” Ndoro said.
The acting vice president of ZHDA said Magombeyi had done great work for the association and his departure would create a void in the association.
Magombeyi had lost touch say sources
However, another source within the ZHDA said Magombeyi had lost touch with the issues facing doctors after he relocated to South Africa in September following his alleged abduction.
“He has been away for a long time as he was attending to his own health. As you might have noticed, for most part of the strike, he was in South Africa. That’s why he felt resignation might be appropriate,” said the source.
Another source said Magombeyi was no longer representing the concerns and interests of junior doctors, saying he was now more of a politician than a trade unionist.
He also said other committee members were likely to leave the association owing to various reasons, among them differences in how to handle the salaries issue.
“Some members want to continue with the offensive approach and force government to adjust to their demands, whereas some believe there should be negotiations with the Hospital Services Board while at work in order to save lives,” added the source.
Reached for comment at his South African base, Magombeyi said he did not want to talk to the media.
But who is Magombeyi?
Magombeyi is a Zimbabwe trained doctor who studied medicine at the National University of Science and Technology and was supposed to graduate in 2019.
He rose to prominence in October 2018, at the time Zimbabwe’s economy had started crumbling, with the bond note losing its value.
Magombeyi, together with other doctors’ representatives, started demonstrating against poor salaries.
This led to junior and middle level doctors’ seasonally downing tools since 2018.
Abduction controversy
As the junior doctors’ industrial action escalated – with government losing the war – Magombeyi was “abducted” by security agents.
September 2019 saw government being attacked on social media and in international community circles, with many calling for the immediate release of the junior doctor.
State security minister Owen Ncube and other senior government officials, however, dismissed the abduction claims, saying there was a third force behind the “disappearance” claims.
Zanu PF activists and some pro-government civic groups accused the opposition MDC of stage-managing abductions in order to instigate rebellion in the country.
Zanu PF youth leader Lewis Matutu claimed the United States embassy had played a part in Magombeyi’s “abduction” story, threatening to storm the embassy and expose them.
On September 16, more than two thousand healthcare practitioners and civic leaders participated in a demonstration against general poor working conditions which brought activities in hospitals countrywide to a standstill.
The disappearance of Magombeyi forced hospitals to close shop for a week, as doctors demanded his immediate release.
Some civic rights activists likened Magombeyi’s “disappearance” to that of journalist Itai Dzamara who has been missing since 2015.
As international and local pressure intensified on government, Magombeyi resurfaced on September 19, some 35 kilometers from Harare in Nyabira.
When he resurfaced, he had no physical marks to show torture and was cleanly shaven and dressed.
This raised more questions and suspicion, with skeptics suggesting he had faked the abduction and at the same time exonerated government of any wrongdoing.
However, Magombeyi and his fellow doctors maintained he was tortured and needed medical attention in South Africa.
