Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has
been named the recipient of this year's Confucius Peace Prize.
The New York Times described the
award as “the Chinese answer to the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Finalists for the award included United
Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President Park Geun-Hyde of
South Korea and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The award comes with an $80,000 reward.
“The 21st-century
interpretation of Confucianism is 'universal harmony in the world,'”
Qiao Wei, president of the award's judging committee, told
the Times.
“Mugabe is the founding leader of Zimbabwe and has been trying to
stabilize the country's political and economic order ever since the
country was first founded. He brought benefit to the people of
Zimbabwe.”
There have been widespread reports of
human rights violations in Zimbabwe under Mugabe's rule.
Mugabe is also a vocal opponent of gay
rights. In 2013, he threatened to “chop off” the heads of gay
men who fail to reproduce.
After President Barack Obama lauded the
Supreme Court's ruling that led to nationwide marriage equality,
Mugabe sarcastically asked for Obama's hand in marriage.
“I've just concluded since President
Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people and
enjoys an attractive countenance thus if it becomes necessary, I
shall travel to Washington DC, get down on my knee, and ask his
hand,” Mugabe is quoted by Newsweek
as saying during his weekly radio interview.