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| Jean Ping talks to Sir David from Sharm el Sheikh |
The second round of the presidential election in Zimbabwe now has only one candidate, Robert Mugabe. His opponent Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the poll saying a free and fair election would be impossible.
The UN said it regretted Zimbabwe's decision to go ahead with the vote, as conditions for a free and fair election did not exist. Observers say that only action by fellow African leaders can now make a difference.
Sir David speaks to African Union (AU) commission chairman Jean Ping from Sharm el Sheikh where the AU summit is being held.
He calls on all parties involved to stop the violence immediately. He says the AU is monitoring the situation closely and that he expects South African President Thabo Mbeki's initiative to be conclusive.
Mo Ibrahim & Yvonne Mahlunge
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| Yvonne Mahlunge is a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change |
Sir David also discusses the crisis in Zimbabwe with Yvonne Mahlunge, a human rights lawyer and founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change, and Mo Ibrahim, a businessman and philanthropist.
Mahlunge says there are probably many cases of human rights abuses, particularly in rural areas, that have not been reported. She says the presidential poll is illegitimate and that Robert Mugabe must remain isolated.
Mo says the opposition shown to Robert Mugabe is evidence that African civil society is increasingly vibrant. He says an end game is now being played out and Mugabe is effectively gone. Mo calls it a victory for democracy.
Watch the interviews with Jean Ping, Yvonne Mahlunge and Mo Ibrahim
Joan Jara
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Joan Jara is the widow of Chilean folk singer
Victor Jara |
It has been nearly 35 years since a military coup led by Augustine Pinochet ousted the Chilean president Salvador Allende. It was the start of a 17-year rule by General Pinochet, a period of history that saw the death or disappearance of at least 3,000 people.
In 2006 Pinochet died without ever having been tried. But hopes still exist for his victims and their families because earlier this month a Chilean judge decided to reopen an investigation into the death of folk singer Victor Jara, whose murder become a national symbol in the fight against human rights abuses.
Joan Jara, Victor's widow, joins Sir David. She says it is important for Chilean society that justice is done. Jara says it will help the country look towards the future.
Watch the interview with Joan Jara
Sergio Mendes
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Sergio Mendes discusses Brazil's two greatest
passions - music and football |
2008 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 'Bossa Nova' – Portuguese for new wave. It is the one style of music that people everywhere associate with Brazil. The Bossa nova movement was born in the late 1950s. It evolved from samba and has much in common with jazz.
Sergio Mendes is one of the genre's best-know contributors. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Brazilian musician sold huge numbers of records. In 2006 Mendes made a comeback with the album Timeless. His latest album, Encanto, was released earlier this year.
Mendes joins Sir David to discuss Bossa nova and Brazil's two greatest passions – music and football. He says the late 1950s and early 1960s were a beautiful period for Brazilian music.
Watch the interview with Sergio Mendes
Bill Emmott
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The former editor of The Economist
discusses the G8 |
The G8 comprises seven of the world's leading industrialised countries, and Russia.
The meetings undertaken by the group aim to tackle global issues through discussion and action. Critics of the group say that it is merely a talking a shop for the world's richest nations.
This year's summit is taking place on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Topics high on the agenda are likely to include the state of the world economy and global warming.
Bill Emmott, the former editor of The Economist, joins Sir David. He says the summit is largely pointless but it makes people feel better that world leaders are meeting to discuss global issues. Emmott says that developing countries like China and India should be formally represented in the G8.
Andrew Bearpark & Dr. Paul Cornish
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Andrew Bearpack discusses the role of
private security firms |
In March 2004, Zimbabwean authorities impounded an aircraft and 64 alleged mercenaries. It transpired that the group were on their way to overthrow the government of the small oil-rich state of Equatorial Guinea. The failed coup attempt revealed the darker side of private security operations.
Sir David is joined by Andrew Bearpark, the director-general of the British Association of Private Security Companies, and by Dr. Paul Cornish, the head of the International Security Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Bearpark says it is cheaper to use private armies in certain situations but says the laws regulating the industry need more clarification. Cornish says that as government defence budgets are cut, private security companies are becoming increasingly important.
Watch the interviews with Bill Emmott, Andrew Bearpark and Paul Cornish
This episode of Frost over the World aired from Friday, June 27, 2008
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