WHO “rethinks” Mugabe’s goodwill ambassador role amid growing criticism

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the UN health agency, is rethinking his decision to name Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe a goodwill ambassador amid growing criticism.

Reports say confusion and anger among key WHO member states and opposition figures in Zimbabwe is forcing Ghebreyesus to reconsider his decision after asking the 93-year-old leader to serve in the role to help tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart attacks, strokes and asthma across Africa.

Read also: ZIMBABWE: Grace Mugabe warns of likely coup amid growing tension for her husband’s successor

“I’m listening. I hear your concerns. Rethinking the approach in light of WHO values. I will issue a statement as soon as possible”, Tedros, a former Ethiopian health minister, said on Twitter.

Opposition figures and critics in Zimbabwe are against the decision to appoint Mugabe as an ambassador with many noting that that the country’s healthcare system, like many of its public services, has been rife with problems under the presidents decades-long leadership.

 

 

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