Zimbabwe: Doctor said to claim torture, abduction

HARARE, Zimbabwe

After missing for several days, a leading doctor in Zimbabwe has been found alive but reportedly tortured after an alleged abduction, according to relatives.

Dr. Peter Magombeyi, head of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, missing since Saturday night, has now been hospitalized after briefly speaking to police in the capital Harare, his relatives told Anadolu Agency early Friday.

“He said he was tortured during five days of captivity,” Elizabeth Magombeyi, the physician’s sister, told Anadolu Agency.

“He was dumped on Thursday night at some place called Nyabira, 33 kilometers west of Harare, and his friends went to pick him up,” she added.

Allegations that he got death threats on his cellphone a few weeks before he went missing led to doctors in the country walking out, calling for his return or release.

“No Peter, No Work,” doctors demanded in protests starting Monday.

The government denied any involvement in the high-profile disappearance, claiming there is a “third force” committing abductions in order to tarnish the country's image.

On Twitter, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group issued a statement saying they had been denied access to Magombeyi since his return.