Mugabe: WHO can't take back what it never gave me...

President Robert Mugabe.
(Themba Hadebe, AP)

Harare – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabehas reportedly said that he was never "formally informed of his appointment as the World Health Organisation goodwill ambassador in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba said the nonagenarian would have "rejected the invitation to take up the post as it is not in Zimbabwe's national interest to do so".

Mugabe, 93, was in Uruguay last week where the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesushe reportedly announced his goodwill ambassador role.

The nonagenarian's appointment was, however, met with shock and condemnation by health officials and countries, including the United States, which sanctioned Mugabe more than a decade ago over his government's human rights abuses. 

Full story at News24.