Advertisement

Robert Mugabe stripped of World Health Organisation appointment

Robert Mugabe has been removed as a World Health Organisation (WHO) goodwill ambassador after the body faced outrage over its decision to appoints the Zimbabwean President.

WHO Director-General Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus named Mr Mugabe to the largely ceremonial post on Wednesday at a high-level WHO meeting on chronic diseases, attended by both men, in Uruguay.

At the time, Dr Tedros praised Zimbabwe as “a country that places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies to provide health care to all”.

But Dr Tedros said in a statement late Sunday that he had listened to those expressing concerns and heard the “different issues” raised.

After reflection he decided to rescind the appointment, saying it was in the best interests of the WHO.

Several former and current WHO staff had said privately they were appalled at the “poor judgement” and “miscalculation” by Dr Tedros, elected the first African head of WHO in May.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, MDC, described the appointment as “laughable”.

“The Zimbabwe health delivery system is in a shambolic state. It is an insult,” MDC spokesman Obert Gutu said.

“Mugabe trashed our health delivery system. He and his family go outside of the country for treatment in Singapore after he allowed our public hospitals to collapse.”

The Zimbabwe government said it respected Dr Tedros’ decision to withdraw Mugabe’s appointment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi told state broadcaster ZBC that the UN 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,” Mr Mzembi said. “So on the balance, it is wiser to let go.”

Mr Mugabe was head of the African Union (AU) when the bloc endorsed Dr Tedros – a former health and foreign minister of Ethiopia – over other African candidates.

Mr Mugabe, 93, is blamed in the West for destroying Zimbabwe’s economy and numerous human rights abuses during his 37 years leading the country as either president or prime minister.

Britain said Mugabe’s appointment as a goodwill ambassador for non-communicable diseases in Africa was “surprising and disappointing” and that it risked overshadowing the WHO’s global work.

The United States, which has imposed sanctions on Mr Mugabe for alleged human rights violations, said it was “disappointed”.

The US administration of President Donald Trump, which is already questioning financial support for some programmes of United Nations agencies, is WHO’s largest single donor.

The controversy came as WHO struggles to recover its reputation tarnished by its slowness in tackling the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa from 2014-2015 under Mr Tedros’ predecessor Margaret Chan.

– With AAP

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.