Mugabe's Nigeria utterances undiplomatic, costly

President Robert Mugabe's utterances describing Zimbabwe's corruption as equal to that of Nigeria and its citizens puts the country in awkward position with other countries.

Nigerians found Mugabe's comments distasteful prompting its government to make a formal complaint to the Head of Chancery Stanley Kunjeku a month later.

The Nigerian government summoned one of our top diplomats in Abuja to protest against remarks which depicted Nigerians as corrupt.

The permanent secretary in the Nigerian Foreign Affairs ministry described Mugabe's remarks as "vitriolic and denigrating on Nigeria and Nigerians".

"On the occasion of his 90th birthday, he took off considerable time to vituperate about Nigeria," the permanent secretary, Martin Uhomoibhi said when he summoned Zimbabwe's head of chancery at the Abuja embassy to protest.

Mugabe had told the funny little story about the Nigerian plane not taking off until the captain had collected sufficient funds!

Yes, of course, Nigeria is riddled with corruption, but you don't say that, not in public at least.

And isn't Zimbabwe catching up? Perhaps in 20 years they will say the same thing about us!

"Unkind and dishonourable", was what the Nigerians said! What did he think he was doing?

Analysts say Mugabe tendency to dump diplomacy and shoot from the hip is a reflection of his advanced age and will not only cause national embarrassment but also damage the country's relations.