By Nobleman Runyanga
Government is worried about the safety of the hospitalized president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi amid reports on an attempt to forcibly remove him from hospital by yet to be identified people, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa has said in a statement today.
Minister Mutsvangwa’s statement comes on the background of unsubstantiated reports from some sections of the media that the police was barring Magombeyi from travelling to South Africa to seek treatment.
“On the 24th of September 2019, 15 unidentified individuals tried to take out Dr Magombeyi from his hospital bed but the police were concerned for his safety. They stopped the individual awake to the fact that he was a victim of an alleged previous abduction. They called for reinforcements,” said Mutsvangwa.
The Minister also rebutted claims in the media reports to the effect that Government was attempting to prevent Magombeyi from travelling to South Africa fearing that further medical examinations would prove that it was responsible for his alleged abduction on 14 September 2019 in Harare’s Budiriro suburb and subsequent release five days later at Nyabira.
“The police are keen to apprehend the alleged abductors so as to bring them to justice and protect the public. They therefore sought the court’s assistance in delaying Dr Magombeyi’s departure to South Africa before giving the vital leads they needed to advance their investigation.
“It is a duty of the police to protect and guarantee the safety of all its citizens. The Police will not ask for this delay beyond a sensible few more hours. By that time the other information they are waiting for is expected to have been availed,” Mutsvangwa said.
The minister poked holes in the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and other individuals’ attempt to create a non-existent emergency situation around the need for Magombeyi to travel to South Africa to prevent the police from obtaining necessary leads from him.
She recounted how the medical doctor behaved very normally since he announced to his friends by mobile phone on Thursday last week that he was at Nyabira, 34 kilometres northwest of Harare. This contradicts ZLHR’s claims of possible “physical and psychological harm” to push for urgent travel before the police are done with questioning him.
“They (his friends) found him jovially speaking on the phone. He was lucid and coherent and gladly came with them. He was well kempt and groomed indicating very good self care.
“It is also important to note that by this point Dr Magombeyi had lucidly granted interviews in three languages interchangeably. Part of his version was that he was unharmed and had “generalized body pain”. During his journey to the police station he remained on his phone throughout talking to different people,” Mutsvangwa said.
Magombeyi was examined by doctors of his choice and others from Government.
Minister Mutsvangwa explained that Government had delayed Magombeyi’s departure for South Africa in the interest of his safety.
“The Government assures the nation that Dr Magombeyi is not being held against his will. Satisfied that his personal security is guaranteed, Government will ensure that Dr Magombeyi is free to travel to a place of his choice without hindrance,” the Minister said.
