Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe joins India's pitch for UN reforms

NEW DELHI: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe today joined India in strongly pitching for UN reforms, saying African nations have been treated as "underdogs" and looked down upon as "dwarfs" by the permanent members of the powerful Security Council of the global body.

In his address to the India Africa Forum Summit, Mugabe thanked India for its development works in the Africa but said there should be a "robust evaluation and follow up mechanism" as some of the projects have been delayed.

"These are gifts highly appreciated by us. These do not come from those who have robbed us of our humanity," the Zimbabwean President, who is also chairperson of the African Union, said.

At the same time, Mugabe said realistic targets should be set for implementing development projects by India and that one should be "courageous enough" to address the lacunae wherever they exist.

Calling for reform of the UN Security Council, he said, "We (Africa) have remained as underdogs at UN whereas we should have been treated as equal to others."

He said reform of the global body should be carried out in such a way that it becomes "United Equal Nations".

"We are saying let us amend charter of UN," he said, adding there should be two seats for African countries in the reformed Security Council and one for India.

Mugabe said though he was against veto power, if the world body decides to keep it for the permanent members of the UNSC, then both African representatives and India should also have it.

Wondering if the UN has managed to unite the countries, Mugabe said "while some are giants, others are dwarfs".

"We have been made dwarfs. Why should we accept it?" he said amid claps from some of the delegates.

He said Africa and India together constitute one-third of global population but "we have been treated as a little kid".

Mugabe said the UN must accept "true, genuine equality". India along with the two African members in the UN Security Council can ensure it becomes equal, he said.