PM Miller says Mugabe’s comments ‘unfortunate, misguided and disrespectful of Jamaican men’

The following is a Statement from the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister on recent comments by the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. It reads:

"The Government can confirm that exhaustive checks by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade indicate that President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at the launch of a 2012 Research and Intellectual Institute Expo, in Harare, made certain uncomplimentary remarks about Jamaican men. 

The remarks, regardless of whether they were spoken "in jest" as was stated in yesterday's edition (Wednesday, September 12) of the New Zimbabwe Newspaper, were grossly unfortunate, misguided and untrue.

We are confident that the remarks of President Mugabe do not represent the sentiments of the people of Zimbabwe, other African countries, and the rest of the world.

Our confidence is predicated on the fact that there are many outstanding and globally accepted examples of the character and contribution of Jamaican men, who have set the benchmark as exceptional achievers.

Any such remarks, therefore, must be dismissed as untrue and disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of Jamaican men who are excellent fathers, professionals and outstanding citizens."

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