WHO cancels Robert Mugabe's appointment as a ‘goodwill ambassador’

In a statement released by the organisation on Sunday morning, the Director General of the organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said that he had “listened carefully to all who have expressed their concerns” before making his decision.

Opposition to Mugabe’s appointment has stemmed largely from the Zimbabweans’ track record of human-rights abuses, including violent crackdowns on political dissent, which had earned Zimbabwe international sanctions.

Mugabe was appointed last Thursday as a WHO goodwill ambassador for Noncommunicable Disease for Africa.

But the wisdom in appointing Mugabe was immediately was questioned by a lot of people including The Noncommunicable Diseases Alliance who immediately condemned the move.

NCD members were “shocked and deeply concerned to hear of this appointment, given President Mugabe’s long track record of human-rights violations and undermining the dignity of human beings,” the alliance said in a statement. “ . . . While we support WHO and Dr. Tedros in their ambition to drive the NCD agenda forward, we are unable to recognise President Mugabe as a champion for NCDs.”

The appointment “embarrasses” WHO and its director, said Iain Levine, program director for Human Rights Watch.

In a statement to the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department said “this appointment clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity.”