President Barack Obama’s speech drew ire from Zimbabwe’s leader Robert Mugabe who claimed Obama is ‘inciting’ African citizens against their elected leaders.
Part of Obama’s speech about political dissent angered Mugabe, who shouted in his traditional clenched fist.
“How about Snowden! Where is Assange? Double standards!” Shouted Mugabe.
Obama however ignored Mugabe’s rant’s and went ahead to greet leaders without making exceptions. Apart from Kenya’s indicted President, whom Obama shook hands with, the US President also reached out to Cuban leader, Raul Castro.
During his eulogy, Obama had claimed there are leaders who pretend to be inspired by Madiba but cannot allow divergent views in their own countries.
“There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people,” Obama said.
It is this line which angered the Zimbabwean leader, promoting his outbursts about Obama also not allowing dissent as he has vowed to jail WikiLeaks co-authors Juliane Assange and Robert Snowden.
Mugabe later said he will mourn Mandela but not alongside people who were ‘busy protecting Apartheid’ and were ‘defeated’.
“See how the pretenders of Europe were many there. . .all of them defended Apartheid. . .we defeated them”, said Mugabe.