American and European diplomats say they were summoned to Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry and asked to apologise for walking out of a speech in which President Robert Mugabe attacked the West.
United States Ambassador Charles Ray said on Tuesday he refused to apologise for walking out of a state funeral on Sunday after Mugabe told Western nations to “go to hell” after alleging that they interfered in Zimbabwean affairs. The US is Zimbabwe’s biggest aid donor.
Ray said he followed normal diplomatic protocols in attending the funeral of Mugabe’s sister Sabina, who died aged 80. But he said that when Mugabe began his invective, “we walked away as we were very disappointed in his conduct, so we have nothing to
apologise for”.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he was “heartbroken” over the situation in Zimbabwe, and that Mugabe was not “serving his people well”.
Obama challenged young leaders from Africa to bring change to their countries by standing up for freedom, openness and peaceful disagreement.
In a White House forum with civil society leaders from more than 40 African countries, Obama asked audience members to demonstrate
good habits within their own groups. He prodded the men to ensure that women have an equal voice, and said all the participants could be national leaders one day.
Obama is the son of a white mother from the US state of Kansas and a black father from Kenya.
He said problems such as corruption remain entrenched in some African countries. But he said the continent was on the move, with inspiring young people whose creativity is needed at home and around the world. – Sapa-AP, AFP