Shock as Zimbabwe's Mugabe named WHO 'goodwill ambassador' (Report)

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, during his meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma, in Pretoria, South Africa Oct. 3.

 (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

GENEVA –  Shock and condemnation continued Saturday after Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was named a “goodwill ambassador” for the World Health Organization by the agency’s first African leader.

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

“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…