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Trudeau condemns appoint of Mugabe as WHO ambassador

October 21 2017 06:20 AM

Original Publication Date: October 21, 2017 6:20AM

Publication Updated: April 24, 2025 11:13PM

EDMONTON – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joining widespread condemnation of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's appointment as a good will ambassador for the World Health Organization.

Trudeau told reporters in Edmonton on Saturday when he first heard of the appointment he thought it was a "bad April Fool's joke."

Trudeau says the appointment is unacceptable and Canadian officials are making Canada's dismay known to the international community.

Mugabe has been long criticized for human rights violations.

He has also come under fire for going overseas for medical treatment, costing the impoverished African nation millions of dollars.

Trudeau joins the United States and a host of other countries, health and human rights leaders in condemning the appointment.

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus tweeted on Saturday that he is rethinking the decision.

The 93-year-old Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

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Taylor Rae

Before university, Taylor spent a year abroad living in Thailand which encouraged her to finish her degree studying in Turkey, both experiences have made her an avid traveller. Taylor graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. Although born on the coast, Taylor has lived the majority of her life in Kamloops and enjoys what the region has to offer. In her spare time, you can find Taylor volunteering in the community or out on an adventure with her friends and her dogs.