World Health Organization names anti-gay Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe as ‘goodwill ambassador’

The World Health Organization’s director general just appointed Zimbabwe’s fiercely anti-gay leader Robert Mugabe as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador.’

In a move shocking the United Nations, Tedros Adhanom made the announcement on Wednesday (18 October).

Adhanom said in a speech: ‘Today I am honoured to announce that President Mugabe has agreed to serve as a goodwill ambassador on NCDs [non-communicable diseases] for Africa to influence his peers in his region to prioritize NCDs.’

The WHO clarified in a tweet the next day: ‘Zimbabwe established a levy fund for NCDs, an innovative domestic resource mobilization approach that other countries can learn from.’

But many were left ‘dumbfounded’ at the announcement, citing various human rights violations from the leader in the past.

Robert Mugabe: ‘Filthy gays destroy nations’

Robert Mugabe has been the President of Zimbabwe since 1987 and has presided over a regime many call corrupt.

During this time, he said some awful things about LGBTI people. In 2013, he promised hell for gay and lesbians if he was re-elected. In the same speech, he said gay people should also ‘rot in jail.’

He also previously threatened to cut gay people’s heads off, as well as ‘filthy gays destroy nations.’

Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe

As a result of the WHO’s announcement, WHO Maternal’s Anthony Costello tweeted: ‘Senior WHO staff dumbfounded.

‘Greatly concerned about the effects this decision will have on our credibility and funding,’ he warned.

Similarly, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted: ‘You appointed Robert Mugabe a WHO goodwill ambassador? What aged dictator is next on the list?’

Human rights activist Hillel Neuer tweeted: ‘UN sick joke of the week: WHO names tyrant Mugabe as global health ambassador. He destroyed Zimbabwe’s health, gets his treatment abroad.’

In 2015, Mugabe actually gave a bizarre speech to the UN, stating: ‘We are not gays.’

Watch the video:

Read more from Source: World Health Organization names anti-gay Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe as ‘goodwill ambassador’

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today