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

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

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.

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."

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.

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Awais Ali

Jul 03, 2015 03:41pm

Picture portrayed in this article is giving more sense. Hilarious..........

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Shaukat Ali

Jul 03, 2015 03:43pm

Very well said, Mr Mugabe.

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Shaukat Ali

Jul 03, 2015 03:44pm

There should be an open invitation for the ceremony.

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Ali Rizvi

Jul 03, 2015 03:52pm

But Mugabe is not a dictator. He is an elected President.

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Khan

Jul 03, 2015 04:03pm

Mugabe is old but well educated man.

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edwardian

Jul 03, 2015 04:08pm

Homosexuality was a sin and illegal. Then it was acceptable and now legal. Wait it becomes compulsory. There it goes the America and its western allies.

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Aslam Khan Kenya

Jul 03, 2015 04:09pm

Excellent Mogabe and salute you for your courage and braveness.

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anwar siddique

Jul 03, 2015 04:19pm

Zimbabwe was the bread basket of Africa till Mugabe forceably took away productive farms from white farmers and gave them to his cronies. The cronies either didn't have the desire or knowledge and the farms suffered. There are food shortages in Zambabwe. and inflation is very high. Not the "role model" dictator you would want running your country. The US is a very tolerant country and bigots and religious fanatics have a hard time grasping that fact.

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MAlvi

Jul 03, 2015 04:23pm

It is hard for the under developed countries to understand such delicate issues. Their outlook is different because of the difference in cultures. Legalizing the same-sex marriage does not mean that every person must marry the same sex person. I do not approve same sex marriage, but do I have the right to stop other people from doing so - that is the point. Can we declare gay and lesbians criminals?

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kuku

Jul 03, 2015 04:31pm

Mugabe is right but he and others don't understand that it is about equality, not about homosexuality being normal or not. Governments should treat and give equal rights to all its citizens, regardless about a persons view, else it is a slippery slope and people can be and are prosecuted for trivial things. This is reason USA is far ahead of other countries, equality of is enshrined in constitution, this is one more step in that direction.

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AMAZON

Jul 03, 2015 04:39pm

Homosexuality is a natural and biological phenomena of human gene (both male & female) - it cannot be recognized on the basis of any country of geography - its everywhere in China, in Australia , in India , in Pakistan, Afghanistan , Iran Africa , Europe, America. The interesting part is it is also common in Animals , Birds, Insects & micro organisms too exercise homosexuality either for enjoyment or for production purposes.

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Ahmed

Jul 03, 2015 04:39pm

Africans or blacks will always oppose it as they have bigger manhood than others and it is unnatural and will bring bodly harm and trauma. Those with smaller will always support homosexuality as they have smaller egos and lack of confidence.

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sanjeev tyagi

Jul 03, 2015 04:52pm

Even a person like Mugabe seems to make sense on the subject of Gay/homosexuality. Europe and US should keep this nonsense concept within their borders. Recognizing equal rights and dignity to those adults who choose Gay life style is one thing (no issues on that) but recognizing Gays as "normal" behavior is other..... How about pedophiles .....would they be considered "normal/natural" next?

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dawn

Jul 03, 2015 04:56pm

Mr Obama we await your answer to Prez Mugabe, "where you born out of homosexuality?”

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Anwar

Jul 03, 2015 04:57pm

Globalization is being promoted behind the gay row.

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TRUTH

Jul 03, 2015 05:07pm

@anwar siddique Mugabe did an excellent job taking out White farmers. Mugabe knew his country is oppressed by UK and US. These White ppl occupy the lands. Zimbabwe is suffering inflation because of Western Sanctions. Zimbabwe was the richest African country before the Sanctions.

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Haider Farooq

Jul 03, 2015 05:22pm

Well said, President Mugabe.. We all should remember that it was Adam and Eve in the beginning to start the humanity, not Adam and Steve!!!!

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Zak

Jul 03, 2015 05:22pm

Nice Photos.

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alfatmi

Jul 03, 2015 05:28pm

Zimbabwe was once a progressive & a prosperous country, and now it is amongst the most corrupt countries in the African continent.....this just speaks volumes about this court jester.

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Khwaja

Jul 03, 2015 05:32pm

Laughing stock, indeed.

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Abdulla Hussain

Jul 03, 2015 06:01pm

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?” A lion never roar falsely, I am surprised at this discloser. Mugabe you have spoken what is right & just, all good character peoples will back you on your stand.

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Nagesh Bhosale

Jul 03, 2015 06:03pm

Gay Marriages are condemnable. But Rapes are okay. Right?

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SMI

Jul 03, 2015 06:33pm

A Miggarant living in the US posted this: "When I came to America, homosexuality was a crime. Later it became acceptable. Now it's legal. I better leave America before it becomes compulsory."

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azmat

Jul 03, 2015 06:47pm

@MAlvi Equality is good but where does it stop. Next, they will legalise incest. Surely you would approve of that too on the basis of your twisted idea of equality

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Black Sabbath

Jul 03, 2015 08:20pm

Says the bigot & racist who ran his once prosperous country to the ground. Nobody cares what he has to say!

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anonymous

Jul 03, 2015 08:22pm

This comedian Mugabe talks like Idi Amin - is anyone really surprised! No wonder, nobody is paying any attention to what Mugabe says.

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Jehanzeb Idrees

Jul 03, 2015 08:48pm

Wait for Incest to be legalized before 2050 -

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Zak

Jul 03, 2015 10:17pm

One man standing upto the west.

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Razi

Jul 03, 2015 11:50pm

The effort is so deliberate that it looks like a coup against the One who condemned such acts!

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Mohammed

Jul 04, 2015 12:28am

@Jehanzeb Idrees Incest is already de-criminalized in certain European countries.

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Jabbar Pathan

Jul 04, 2015 02:03am

I am so much excited don't have words to express my feelings ...

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I'm always right

Jul 04, 2015 03:42am

@Ali Rizvi You really think presidents in Zimbabwe get "elected"?

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I'm always right

Jul 04, 2015 03:43am

@sanjeev tyagi No because there is no consent involved in pedophilia whereas there is consent involved in a gay relationship.

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I'm always right

Jul 04, 2015 03:46am

@azmat Incest and homosexuality are different things. Incest is being attracted to one person and homosexual is being attracted to an entire gender. Denying homosexuality is denying someone's entire way of being.

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I'm always right

Jul 04, 2015 03:49am

The number of people supporting the ideology of Mugabe just exposes the psyche of Mugabe and further justifies dictatorship of the masses by their leaders.

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mabob

Jul 04, 2015 05:48am

Not a bad gesture.

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khalid peervez qureshi.

Jul 04, 2015 11:38am

same sex marriage is the pleasure without byprodut, hetrosex is with byproduct like baby.therfore wise and business minded will not prefer same sex marriage.mogabe is wise, without byproduct activities American economy will decline.

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