Portia Simpson Call Mugabe's Comments Misguided & Untrue

Jamaican Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller has responded to last week's unfavourable remarks made by Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe.

According to Ms. Simpson Miller, "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."

Zimbabwe's media reported that Mugabe told academics, dignitaries, business people, and government officials from across the country and the region that Jamaica was "a country of marijuana smokers, where women are now taking charge since men are always sloshed".