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Robert Mugabe asked to be UN 'leader for tourism'

The Zimbabwe president, accused of ethnic cleansing and bankrupting his country, asked to champion tourism

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• David Smith in Johannesburg
  
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 29 May 2012 16.59 BST

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has been asked by the UN to champion tourism. Photograph: Aaron Ufumeli/EPA/Corbis

[Rutashubanyuma]

UN hawana misimamo kabisa...............sasa huyu jambazi naye waona ni kivuno cha utalii.....give me a break............

[MziziMkavu]

Robert Mugabe asked to be UN 'leader for tourism'

The Zimbabwe president, accused of ethnic cleansing and bankrupting his country, asked to champion tourism

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has been asked by the UN to champion tourism. Photograph: Aaron Ufumeli/EPA/Corbis

With a line-up that includes Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, and Ricky Martin, the UN's choice of ambassadors has been known to cause raised eyebrows or the odd smirk.

Seldom, however, has there been such anger, or questioning of the organisation's credibility, as that greeting the appointment of a new international envoy for tourism: Robert Mugabe.

Improbable as it seems, the Zimbabwean president, who is widely accused of ethnic cleansing, rigging elections, terrorising opposition, controlling media and presiding over a collapsed economy, has been endorsed as a champion of efforts to boost global holidaymaking.

Despite that fact Mugabe, 88, is under a travel ban, he has been honoured as a "leader for tourism" by the UN's World Tourism Organisation, along with his political ally, Zambian president Michael Sata, 75. The pair signed an agreement with UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai at their shared border at Victoria Falls on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper quoted Rifai urging tourists from around the world to visit : "I was told about the wonderful experience and the warm hospitality of this country … By coming here, it is recognition, an endorsement on the country that it is a safe destination."

The agreement will also see the two southern African countries co-host the UNWTO general assembly in August next year.
UNWTO said it had not appointed Mugabe to any formal position but acknowledged he would receive an open letter like other heads of state who have joined its leaders for tourism campaign.

The development has stunned human rights campaigners and political opponents, who regard Mugabe as a tyrant.
Kumbi Muchemwa, a spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said: "I can't see any justification for the man being

an 'ambassador'. An ambassador for what? The man has blood on his hands. Do they want tourists to see those bloody hands?"
Meanwhile, British MP Kate Hoey, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Zimbabwe, said: "It is an absolute scandal – and an affront to the people of Zimbabwe, who didn't vote for Mugabe as their president but had him imposed because he used violence and the

armed forces to hang onto power in defiance of the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe.

"For a man who has destroyed his country's infrastructure and cynically engineered hunger to be an 'ambassador' for tourism is disgraceful – particularly as he has been personally responsible for the downward spiral of the economy and destroyed the hotel, travel and tourism industry in the process."

Mugabe and his allies are subject to EU and US sanctions preventing them from travelling to EU countries including Britain, although he does attend the UN general assembly in New York.

Muchemwa added: "Robert Mugabe is under international sanctions, so how do you have an international tourism ambassador who can't travel to other countries?

"The UN is losing credibility in this process. Does it think people should go to a country where the law is not obeyed? An MDC activist was murdered last Saturday. Zimbabwe is doing things which don't encourage the arrival of tourists."

There was also criticism from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, an umbrella organisation of civil society groups. Dewa Mavhinga, its regional information and advocacy officer, said: "It boggles the mind how the UN could appoint Mugabe as an ambassador of any sort. I don't think he's an appropriate person.

"It sends the wrong message to Mugabe that he is now acceptable to the international community. This is the same guy who last week was bashing gays and lesbians, who he says are worse than dogs."

Zimbabwe is rich in tourism potential, boasting attractions such as Victoria Falls, the ruins of Great Zimbabwe and the Hwange wildlife game reserve, and one of the best climates in the world. Its official tourism branding entices with "a world of wonders".

The past decade has hit the industry hard, with the national airline going bust, but there have been recent signs of a gradual recovery.
John Makumbe, a politics professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said of Mugabe's accolade: "I think it's ridiculous because Zimbabwe is one of the countries least used by tourists.

"Tourism is at its lowest level because of the political and economic crises it's gone through. Tourists really wish Victoria Falls was in another country, like South Africa.

"Robert Mugabe will do more damage to international tourism than good. His image is in tatters, his country is an international pariah.
"It undermines the reputation of the UNWTO as being detached from the reality on the ground in terms of human rights violations and political instability."

But after visiting the country last week, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, urged western countries to lift their targeted sanctions, arguing that they are hurting the poor. She also called on Zimbabwe to pass reforms to avoid violence in the next election.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party seized on his UN honour as evidence that opponents and media have exaggerated the country's problems. Spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: "There's no alternative but to accept the reality on the ground. We can theorise about sanctions but

the reality is that the UN is in control of the situation. If you can't defeat them, join them: that is what we are witnessing."
He continued: "The situation on the ground in Zimbabwe is not as bad as portrayed. If we say this ourselves, you say it's propaganda.

"What do you expect from the MDC? They are paid by the US and Europeans and they have nothing else to offer. They keep making noise but the reality on the ground is different."

UNWTO, which has headquarters in Madrid, insisted that it had not awarded Mugabe an official title. Sandra Carvao, its co-ordinator of communications, said: "Correct would be to say UNWTO has presented both presidents with an open letter which calls for them to support tourism as a means to foster sustainable development in their countries to the benefit of their people and consequently ask them
to support the sector in this respect."

She added: "UNWTO does not have an ambassadors programme and the receiving of the UNWTO/WTTC [World Travel and Tourism Council] open letter implies no legal commitment or title attribution to the country or the head of state or government in question."

Robert Mugabe asked to be UN 'leader for tourism' | World news | The Guardian

President Robert Mugabe a Strong leader in Africa

[Kyaiyembe]

UN hawana misimamo kabisa...............sasa huyu jambazi naye waona ni kivuno cha utalii.....give me a break............

Mkuu huyu Bwana ni jembe sema tu anamapungufu yake, lakini hakuna wakumlinganisha naye kwa viongozi wa sasa wa Afrika katika kuipigania Afrika.

[eliakeem]

UN hawana misimamo kabisa...............sasa huyu jambazi naye waona ni kivuno cha utalii.....give me a break............

Mkulu si busara kuwatukana wana wachache wa ukweli wa Afrika waliobakia.
This is a true son of Africa....... Majambazi ni UN pamoja washirika wao nchi za magharibi... hao ndiyo wanoifukarisha afrika wakishirikiana na baadhi ya viongozi wa afrika (vibaraka wao)......

[Kyaiyembe]

"The UN is losing credibility in this process. Does it think people should go to a country where the law is not obeyed? An MDC activist was murdered last Saturday. Zimbabwe is doing things which don't encourage the arrival of tourists."

I disagree with Muchemwa!

Its not only in Zimbabwe,I
I don't say that Zimbabwe is doing fine, No!
In Tanzania activist aren't killed too?, aren't under threat?.
Think about the death of CDM chairman (USA RIVER), the attack on CDM MP in Mwanza. Few to mention you can add more of your own.
Compare Zimbabwe with Tanzania now, The different I think is we obey White men and Zimbabwe don't.
If people doesn't visit Zimbabwe especially White men will not be because of activist killing or law problems it will be because Zimbabwe doesn't obey their order.

[mtotowamjini]

this is so funny...

[Kabaridi]

"The UN is losing credibility in this process. Does it think people should go to a country where the law is not obeyed? An MDC activist was murdered last Saturday. Zimbabwe is doing things which don't encourage the arrival of tourists."

I disagree with Muchemwa!

Its not only in Zimbabwe,I
I don't say that Zimbabwe is doing fine, No!
In Tanzania activist aren't killed too?, aren't under threat?.
Think about the death of CDM chairman (USA RIVER), the attack on CDM MP in Mwanza. Few to mention you can add more of your own.
Compare Zimbabwe with Tanzania now, The different I think is we obey White men and Zimbabwe don't.
If people doesn't visit Zimbabwe especially White men will not be because of activist killing or law problems it will be because Zimbabwe doesn't obey their order.

Kweli kyaiyembe, Term it reverse-phsychology. I guess the UN and other bodies do not take this atrocities of human rights as a key issues while making such desicions.

[Mamzalendo]

this shows high level in hypocrisy of whites, or it's the say if you cannot fight them join them. waswahili wanasema bure haikosi kamba i'm certain the white people have a hidden agenda in this issue.

[Lonestriker]

Which credibility is UN losing...I mean how do you lose something that you don't have?UN has no credibility and therefore has nothing to lose.Talking of bloody hands,it's not even debatable that certain leaders in the west have bloodier hands than Bob yet we have seen them patroling the world as ambassadors...

[Kabaridi]

this shows high level in hypocrisy of whites, or it's the say if you cannot fight them join them. waswahili wanasema bure haikosi kamba i'm certain the white people have a hidden agenda in this issue.

No actually whites are divided and splits into two school of thoughts. But both have long-term agendas for africa

[Kigarama]

Rutashubanyuma hili jambo limenitafakarisha sana. Ni nani anaweka viwango na vigezo vya usafi kwa wanasiasa wa Ulimwengu? Ni kwa nini Marekani si mwanachama wa ICC na Kyoto Protocol?

[Pakawa]

Ulimwengu umepoteza mwelekeo kabisa..Leo Mugabe mzuri hahahha ni vituko na maajabu ya dunia. Wanajaribu kumvalisha mbuzi gauni hahahhah kazi ipo!

[Rutashubanyuma]

Mkuu huyu Bwana ni jembe sema tu anamapungufu yake, lakini hakuna wakumlinganisha naye kwa viongozi wa sasa wa Afrika katika kuipigania Afrika.

Kyaiyembe..................but his time is really up we need young stallions to lead Africa to a promised Land.............

[Rutashubanyuma]

Ulimwengu umepoteza mwelekeo kabisa..Leo Mugabe mzuri hahahha ni vituko na maajabu ya dunia. Wanajaribu kumvalisha mbuzi gauni hahahhah kazi ipo!

Pakawa hawa UN naona wanajikomba kwa huyu bwegebwege...............

[Rutashubanyuma]

Rutashubanyuma hili jambo limenitafakarisha sana. Ni nani anaweka viwango na vigezo vya usafi kwa wanasiasa wa Ulimwengu? Ni kwa nini Marekani si mwanachama wa ICC na Kyoto Protocol?

Kigarama ndiyo hapo basi................kila mtu anajifanyia atakavyo na adui wa jana kesho ni rafiki hata kama hajabadilika.............

[Rutashubanyuma]

No actually whites are divided and splits into two school of thoughts. But both have long-term agendas for africa

Kabaridi which are those agendas? Can you share some of your thoughts?

[Rutashubanyuma]

Which credibility is UN losing...I mean how do you lose something that you don't have?UN has no credibility and therefore has nothing to lose.Talking of bloody hands,it's not even debatable that certain leaders in the west have bloodier hands than Bob yet we have seen them patroling the world as ambassadors...

Lonestriker............we don't know about Western leaders but we do know Mugabe is a big joke he has caused a lot of sufferings to many an African soul...................go to South Africa and see how lowly esteemed a Zimbabwean is treated there you may shed some tears................hopefully not crocodile ones.........................j ust like Mugabe sometimes playing banters with serious issues of life and death...................

[Rutashubanyuma]

this shows high level in hypocrisy of whites, or it's the say if you cannot fight them join them. waswahili wanasema bure haikosi kamba i'm certain the white people have a hidden agenda in this issue.

Mamzalendo...............you have hit a jackpot...............we can begin talking about the scramble for Zim diamonds and Mugabe is a central character in that jigsaw...................I heard he had demanded that title if they want to drain his country of that gem....................and Europeans have wasted no time pleasing the dictator at expense of African souls in dire need of major rehabilitation.............

[Rutashubanyuma]

Kweli kyaiyembe, Term it reverse-phsychology. I guess the UN and other bodies do not take this atrocities of human rights as a key issues while making such desicions.

Kabaridi we are in a political quandary the Un is no longer a refuge for the needy like us..........but a place where stinking deals are made and executed....................