Zimbabwe's Madman Leader Mugabe Named WHO 'Goodwill Ambassador'

Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, has been named the World Health Organization's "goodwill ambassador."

 He is the first African to be named a WHO leader.

Mugabe through his crony dictatorship has ruined the country. It was once a prosperous country, especially when it was a self-governing British colony known as Southern Rhodesia.

 It has been something of a shock to the world community that Mugabe (93) was named the WHO ambassador.

Two dozen organizations — including the World Heart Federation and Cancer Research U.K. — released a
statement slamming the appointment, saying health officials were "shocked and deeply concerned" and citing his "long track record of human rights violations."

"The decision to appoint Robert Mugabe as a WHO goodwill ambassador is deeply disappointing and wrong," said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, a major British charitable foundation. "Robert Mugabe fails in every way to represent the values WHO should stand for."

 ''Mugabe corruption decimates Zimbabwe health care," tweeted the head of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth.

Mugabe has long been criticized at home for going overseas for medical treatment.

Following the global reaction,  the head of the World Health Organization says he is "rethinking" his appointment.

In a new tweet, WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus said that "I'm listening. I hear your concerns. Rethinking the approach in light of WHO values. I will issue a statement as soon as possible."

 -RW

(via San Francisco Chronicle)

UPDATE

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus, a native of Ethiopia, has revoked his appointment of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a "goodwill ambassador."

Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi told state broadcaster ZBC that the U.N. health agency "benefited tremendously" from the original decision to name Mugabe to the post because of the global attention that resulted.

"On a name-recognition scale this name beats them all, but it is our business to protect its brand equity from unnecessary besmirching," Mzembi said. "So on the balance, it is wiser to let go."