US Embassy in Zimbabwe removes tweet praising Mugabe after death

[left-of-center2012]

The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, has removed a tweet praising the country's late leader Robert Mugabe. The Trump administration had issued a tweet early Friday marking the death of Mugabe, a Zimbabwean revolutionary who later spent years ruling the country as a strongman leader. Mugabe died this week in Singapore at the age of 95.

“The United States extends its condolences to the Mugabe family and the people of Zimbabwe as they mourn the passing of former President Robert Mugabe,” the embassy said in the now-deleted tweet. “We join the world in reflecting on his legacy in securing Zimbabwe’s independence.”

The tweet quickly sparked backlash online.
Mugabe overthrew the majority-white ruling party in 1980. He was regarded as a serial violator of human rights during his 37-year tenure. Mugabe was repeatedly accused of unleashing death squads on supporters of the opposition, rigging presidential elections and overseeing a falling economy that sparked poverty and hyperinflation.

He was sanctioned by the United Nations in 2003 over the human rights abuses and was ultimately removed from power in 2017 by a military coup after he appeared set to appoint his second wife as the next president. Neither the State Department nor White House responded to a request for a comment regarding the deleted tweet praising the former dictator.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/africa/460372-us-embassy-in-zimbabwe-deletes-tweet-praising-mugabe-after-death

[elleng]

1. GOOD, at least SOME in the State Department have kept their wits about them.

[hlthe2b]

2. Damn, the State Dept has to clean house in 2020 and bring back people who actually know something

of the world, of diplomacy, and in general, something other than merely what MAGA stands for.

This is cringe-inducing.