Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has
condemned British Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to tie some UK
aid to gay rights, calling it “stupid,” state-run daily The
Herald reported.
Cameron's initiative would cut aid to
nations that persecute gay men and lesbians. A majority of the
54-member Commonwealth instituted gay sex bans while part of the
British Empire.
Mugabe, 87, insisted that homosexuality
was inconsistent with African and Christian values and vowed to
“severely” punish gay people.
“It becomes worse and Satanic when
you get a prime minister like Cameron saying countries that want
British aid should accept homosexuality,” Mugabe said during a
community event. “To come with that diabolical suggestion to our
people is a stupid offer.”
“Do not get tempted into that
[homosexuality]. You are young people. We will punish you
severely,” he said.
“It is condemned by nature. It is
condemned by insects and that is why I have said they are worse than
pigs and dogs,” he added.
The British government clarified on
Wednesday that aid money to non-compliant countries would not be cut
but instead diverted to charities.