African News and Current Affairs Editor Joseph Warungu, 5th August 2008
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Every so often a big story dominates the news and occupies the minds of our audiences for weeks then we must pause and take stock of developments.
The political and social crisis in Zimbabwe following the country's disputed elections in March and June is one such story. We therefore took the decision to dedicate a special programme to the future of Zimbabwe and we invited key players to explore the political, economic and social prospects for the country.
The special edition of Focus on Africa was broadcast on July 15 throughout the world but the interviewees had still more interesting things to say, more than we could accommodate in the hour long programme. We have therefore collected all the key interviews in full to make them available online.
With the political future of Zimbabwe still to be addressed through talks these interviews give a useful context to the story explaining how we got to where we are and where we might be heading. We hope you find them as fascinating as we did.
The interviews
- With Zimbabwe in Lesotho's neighbourhood, Joseph Warungu asked the tiny kingdom's prime minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, for his view on the elections in Zimbabwe.
- Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma was asked who he blamed for the fallout following Zimbabwe's election.
- Namibia has traditionally sided with the Mugabe government. But not all in Namibia itself are convinced. One such person is Hidipo Hamutenya - leader of the opposition Rally for Democracy Progress party.
- The former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda told us what he believed to be at the roots of Zimbabwe's problems.
- So how does this idea of blaming Britain for much of Zimbabwe's woes go down in Britain itself? Joseph Warungu spoke to Simon Jenkins - a columnist in the daily Guardian newspaper in London.
- Nick Ericsson asked Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phando Skelemani, for his views on the crisis in the run-up to, and aftermath of, Zimbabwe's elections.
- Recently the UN Security Council rejected an attempt to pass a resolution on sanctions backed by the United Kingdom and the United States. Joseph Warungu asked US senator and chairman on the Senate foreign relations sub-committee on African affairs, Russ Feingold for his views.
If you have any comments or suggestions on the programme and extended interviews please send them to [email protected].
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