GENEVA: Shock and condemnation continued on Saturday after Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was named a “goodwill ambassador” for the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the agency’s first African leader, with the United States calling it “disappointing”.

The 93-year-old Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, has long been criticised at home for going overseas for medical treatment as Zimbabwe’s once-prosperous economy falls apart. Mugabe also faces US sanctions over his government’s human rights abuses.

“This appointment clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity,” the US State Department said.

“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.”

Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, called the appointment “offensive, bizarre.”

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2017