Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has rejected calls from the United Nations
(UN ) to implement gay rights in his country.
(UN ) to implement gay rights in his country.
Speaking on September 28, at the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
meeting, Mugabe said that upholding human rights is the obligation of all
member states, but vehemently rejected the imposition of what he called “new rights”
for gay marriage that have been advocated elsewhere in the world.
meeting, Mugabe said that upholding human rights is the obligation of all
member states, but vehemently rejected the imposition of what he called “new rights”
for gay marriage that have been advocated elsewhere in the world.
Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe
The 91-year-old Zimbabwean strongman said: “We equally reject attempts to
prescribe new rights that are contrary to our norms, values, traditions and beliefs.
We are not gays. Cooperation and respect for each other will advance the cause
of human rights worldwide. Confrontation, vilification and double standards will not,”
he told members of the General Assembly.
Mugabe has previously called homosexuals “worse than pigs and dogs.”
A spokesman for his ruling party, Zanu-PF, has said same-sex marriage had no place in Africa.
Currently chairman of the African Union, Mugabe urged nations to invest in economic
development on the African continent, saying a stronger Africa would be beneficial to the world.
development on the African continent, saying a stronger Africa would be beneficial to the world.
“Africa is not looking for handouts. Rather it is looking for partners in massive
infrastructure development. In creating and exploiting the value chains from the
God given natural resources and in improving the quality of life of the continent’s citizens.
The entire world stands to benefit from an economically empowered African continent than
from one emasculated by deprivation and with an over dependence on others,” Mugabe said.
infrastructure development. In creating and exploiting the value chains from the
God given natural resources and in improving the quality of life of the continent’s citizens.
The entire world stands to benefit from an economically empowered African continent than
from one emasculated by deprivation and with an over dependence on others,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe also called for UN reform and has long criticized that there is no African
country with a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
country with a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
“While the world has drastically changed since 1945, the United Nations and
indeed the global governance architecture remains mired in a long bygone era.
This archaic hierarchy among nations threatens to erode the confidence and
support that the United Nations commands among the majority, but disadvantaged
of its membership.
indeed the global governance architecture remains mired in a long bygone era.
This archaic hierarchy among nations threatens to erode the confidence and
support that the United Nations commands among the majority, but disadvantaged
of its membership.
“We are disappointed that we have lost the opportunity of this anniversary to address
this burning issue of the reform of the United Nations Security Council in a manner
that satisfies the just demands and expectations among us. I wish to reiterate our strong
attachment to Africa’s common position of the reform of the Security Council,” he said.
this burning issue of the reform of the United Nations Security Council in a manner
that satisfies the just demands and expectations among us. I wish to reiterate our strong
attachment to Africa’s common position of the reform of the Security Council,” he said.
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