Critics of the Harare regime are appalled that the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), whose mission statement is “helping to build a world without hunger”, invited Mugabe to address a conference in Rome marking its 63rd anniversary.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called Mugabe’s presence in Rome “obscene”.
“This is the person who has presided over the starvation of his people. This is the person who has used food aid in a politically motivated way,” Smith said.
“So Robert Mugabe turning up to a conference dealing with food security or food issues is, in my view, frankly obscene,” added the Australian minister, who is also to attend the Food and Agriculture Organization summit.
US State department spokesman Sean McCormack, said: “”While Robert Mugabe makes political statements in Rome, his people continue to face empty markets at home.” Since 2002 the US had donated more than US$800 million in food aid to Zimbabwe.
In London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s spokesman said: “We think it’s particularly unfortunate that (Mugabe) has decided to attend this meeting given what he has done in relation to contributing to difficulties on food supply in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe’s transformation from self-sufficiency to dependency coincided with Mugabe’s seizure of white-owned farms.
He blames food shortages on drought. But critics say hunger is the direct and predictable result of his policies.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa also criticised the UN invitation.
“The Zimbabwean nation is angry and hungry because of Mugabe’s autocratic leadership,” Chamisa said.
There were also protests in Italy by activists and leftist politicians against Mugabe.
“It is in no way legitimate for the people of Zimbabwe to be represented by a head of state who has been disowned by the international community and who is unwanted by his own people,” Sergio Marelli said.
Post published in: News