Will ask Obama's hand in marriage 'if it becomes necessary', says Mugabe

Published July 3, 2015
The Zimbabwean dictator and African Union chairperson who was elected president in 1987 has expressed his distaste for homosexuality in the past. ─ Photo: DawnNews.tv
The Zimbabwean dictator and African Union chairperson who was elected president in 1987 has expressed his distaste for homosexuality in the past. ─ Photo: DawnNews.tv

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe joked about proposing to United States President Barack Obama on Saturday during a weekly interview over state radio ZBC, reported IB Times.

The jibe came as President Obama lauded a historic Supreme Court ruling legalising same-sex marriage in all 50 American states last week.

During his interview with ZBC, Mugabe mocked the 5-4 court decision and condemned marriage equality.

“I’ve just concluded since President Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people and enjoys an attractive countenance – thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington DC, get down on my knee and ask his hand,” Mugabe, 91, was quoted as saying by Turkey-based news website AWDnews.

Read more: What US Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling means

The Zimbabwean dictator and African Union chairperson who was elected president in 1987 has expressed his distaste for homosexuality in the past.

"Let Europe keep their homosexual nonsense there and live with it. We will never have it here. The act [of homosexuality] is not humane," Mugabe reportedly said during a July 2013 speech to his ruling Zanu PF party supporters. "Any diplomat who talks about homosexuality will be kicked out. There is no excuse and we won't listen to them."

In a 2013 campaign rally, Mugabe reportedly said, “We have this American president, Obama, born of an African father, who is saying we will not give you aid if you don’t embrace homosexuality. We ask was he born out of homosexuality?”

The US court decision to legalise same-sex marriage nationwide came just before Zimbabwe’s neighbour, Mozambique, decriminalised homosexuality and abortion. Gay rights advocates called the move a “symbolic victory” for the LGBT community in Africa, Newsweek reported.

Read more: US Supreme Court extends same-sex marriage nationwide

Opinion

Editorial

Genocide resumes
Updated 19 Mar, 2025

Genocide resumes

It appears that Palestinian people will again be left defenceless in the face of merciless brutality.
Strength in unity
19 Mar, 2025

Strength in unity

WILL it count as an opportunity lost? Given the sharp escalation in militant violence in recent weeks, some had ...
NFC weightage
19 Mar, 2025

NFC weightage

THE NFC Award has long been in need of an overhaul. The government’s proposal to bring down the weightage of...
A new direction
Updated 18 Mar, 2025

A new direction

While kinetic response may temporarily disable violent actors, it will not address underlying factors providing ideological fuel to insurgencies.
BTK settlement
18 Mar, 2025

BTK settlement

WHEREVER the money goes, controversy follows. The PMLN-led federal government, which recently announced that it will...
Sugar crisis
18 Mar, 2025

Sugar crisis

GREED knows no bounds. But the avarice of those involved in the sugar business — from manufacturers to retailers...