Mugabe removed as WHO goodwill ambassador less than a week after he was appointed to the post following public outrage

Yesterday, we brought you report that Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe has been appointed as a "goodwill ambassador to World Health Organization, (WHO), but that will no longer be the case, as he has now been removed from the post in less than a week, announced the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday following an outrage among Western donors and rights groups against his appointment. 

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

At the meeting, 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 in a new turn, Tedros in a statement on Sunday, said he had listened to those expressing concerns and heard the “different issues” raised.

Over the last few days, I have reflected on my appointment of H.E. President Robert Mugabe as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for NCDs in Africa. As a result I have decided to rescind the appointment, Tedros said.

I have also consulted with the Government of Zimbabwe and we have concluded that this decision is in the best interests of the World Health Organization, he added.

Several former and current WHO staff had voiced their dismay by the “poor judgement” and “miscalculation” by Tedros, who was elected the first African head of WHO in May.

Mugabe was head of the African Union (AU) when the bloc endorsed Tedros – an Ethiopian former health and foreign minister – over other African candidates for the top post, without any real regional contest or debate, they said.

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.