In India, Mugabe lashes out at United Nations

New Delhi: India on Thursday got a major shot in the arm regarding reform of the UN Security Council after chairperson of the African Union and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lashed out at the UN, saying the permanent members of the council have to listen India and Africa.

Mugabe sought two permanent positions for Africa in UNSC and supported a permanent place for India in the elite club. “We seek equality. Hear us, you who call yourselves permanent members of the UNSC,” Mugabe said.

Prime Minister Modi too spoke forcefully on UN reform, saying India and Africa must speak in “one voice” in pushing for reform of UN Security Council and cautioning that the UN ran the risk of becoming irrelevant. On terrorism, he pointed to the need of having a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Calling India, Africa’s geological twin, President Mugabe said Africa would not accept being treated as a “dwarf” by the UNSC. “We are saying let us amend the charter of UN,” he said, adding, “We (Africa) have remained as underdogs at UN whereas we should have been treated as equal to others.”

He also referred to nations which had earlier plundered Africa’s wealth, saying that Africans were not even respected despite this. He thanked India for its development works in Africa but said there should be a “robust evaluation and follow up mechanism” as some of the projects have been delayed.

“These are gifts highly appreciated. These do not come from those who have robbed us of our humanity,” Mugabe said.”