Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the appointment of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization is "absolutely unacceptable" and "ridiculous".
AFP
The WHO has asked Mugabe to serve in the role to tackle non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and asthma across Africa.
"When I heard of Robert Mugabe's appointment... quite frankly, I thought it was a bad April Fool's joke," Trudeau said during a press briefing.
"It is absolutely unacceptable and inconceivable this individual would have a role as a goodwill ambassador for any organization, much less the World Health Organization," Trudeau said.
The foreign ministry later called for the appointment to be "rescinded without delay."
"Given the serious human rights abuses under Mugabe's regime, such an appointment is inconceivable and unacceptable," a statement read.
"It goes against the goals of protecting the world's most vulnerable populations."
The decision to appoint Mugabe as goodwill ambassador has triggered confusion and anger among key WHO member states and activists who noted that Zimbabwe's health care system, like many of its public services, has collapsed under Mugabe's regime.
