Dress code, what dress code? No one tells Robert Mugabe what to wear, or do, or say

What better way to welcome delegates from foreign countries to India than by giving them a taste of Indian traditions? This is probably what inspired the ‘Indian mela’ (carnival) for the third India-Africa Forum Summit, bringing together food, music and artifacts from all the states in the country for the African Heads of Governments and States during the reception hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dinner was hosted at Crafts Museum in Pragati Maidan which also provided a traditional ambiance for the event. And the African leaders were dressed in the traditional attire to boot, complete with bright and colourful kurtas, pyjamas, bandis, and safas sewn specially sewn for them. The MEA had requested the ‘measurements’  of all 54 African heads of state, so that the ensemble could be stitched for them in time and according to a ministry official, the photo-op in kurtas was supposed to be “one of the highlights of the summit and (would) help demonstrate the solidarity and age-old partnership India has with the African countries.” The photo certainly was a highlight. Just have a look at how vibrant the visiting dignitaries looked.   However, one African leader was conspicuous by his lack of Indian attire. The grey-suited man is none other than Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, infamous for his long and often controversial ‘rule’. Standing next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 91-year old was seen wearing a grey suit with a tie and consequently stood out in the photo-op, proving once again that ‘Mugabe does what he wants’. This is not the first time that Mugabe has ‘stood out’ for his unusual choices, in fact he has a history of doing or saying things that most world leaders would shy from. Sample this: Mugabe once ‘proposed to marry’ Barack Obama and joked about sanctions with Vladimir Putin. Here’s a list of all the times Robert Mugabe stood apart from the rest When he travelled to Europe, a continent that had banned him Back in 2013, Mugabe went to Rome for the installation of Pope Francis. But here ’s the catch — he was actually banned from travelling to the European Union. The  long-ruling President was banned  amid allegations of human rights abuses and election rigging. While Vatican City is not part of the EU, he travelled through Italy to reach Vatican City, which is encircled by Italy and has no airport of its own. When he wanted to get down on his knee and propose to Barack Obama Yeah, he actually said that. After US Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in 2015, a vociferous anti-LGBT rights advocate Mugabe mocked it saying, “I’ve just concluded — since President (Barack) 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,” according to a report by Daily Mail . When he told the United Nations that ‘we are not gays’ Continuing his hardline stance on homosexuality, Mugabe criticised Western countries for trying to impose ’new rights’ on other countries at the UN General Assembly and reportedly blurted out ,  “We are not gays.” When he praised Vladimir Putin for standing up to the West While a large part of the world thinks that some of Putin’s policies in Russia are too drastic, Mugabe, who went to Moscow to take part in celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the World War Two victory over Nazi Germany in 2014, thanked Russia for standing up to the West. He also cracked a ‘sanctioned’ joke saying, “So you have sanctions, we have sanctions,” as per this report . When he mistakenly booed his own political party in front of them The Opposition in Zimbabwe has often slammed Mugabe for being ‘old’ and ’not of a sound mind’ and some of his gaffes actually prove his age. In 2014, he shocked delegates at the Zanu PF 6th national people’s congress by unwittingly booing his own party through saying “Pasi neZanu PF” (Down with Zanu PF) Apparently, when the gaffe was pointed, he immediately corrected himself and took his seat next to a visibly flustered First Lady, says this report by The Standard. When he read the same speech twice in Parliament and nobody interrupted him A similar goof up happened at the Zimbabwe Parliament in September this year when Mugabe r ead out the wrong speech at the opening. In fact, it was the same speech that he read out less than a month back and he finished the speech without interruption. His spokesman blamed officials, adding the president would read the correct speech at a later date. How long will this continue, you ask? Well, according to the man himself, he will rule till he goes insane. “For as long as I am still sane and fully bright in my mind, I will be available to lead you. I think I still have the willpower and have a good memory and a good catchment area,” Mugabe was quoted as saying by News Zimbabwe.