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Trump Blast "Witch Hunt And Media; Russia Makes Actor Seagal Special Representative To U.S.; President Maduro Survives Drone Assassination Attempt; Investigations Underway Following Drone Incident; Election Standoff Continues In Zimbabwe; Protesters March For Safer Roads After Deadly Crash. Aired 11a-12n ET
Aired August 05, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta filling in for Becky Anderson. Good to
have you with us. We begin as President Trump is beginning the week with an avalanche of tweets attacking the Russia investigation and the media for
covering that investigation. He's blasting the probe or rigged witch-hunt as he likes to call it as well as the media, what he calls state news. He
went on to accuse news organizations of causing division and distrust and says they are very dangerous and sick. While it calls the investigation a
hoax, the President acknowledges that nations are meddling in U.S. affairs. Listen to what he said while campaigning for congressional candidate in
Ohio on Saturday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And we got to stop it. We got to stop meddling, we got to stop everybody from attacking us but there
are a lot. Russia is there, China is there, hey, we're doing well with North Korea but they're probably there. We got to stop everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: So as you can hear it, a busy morning for the President coming at a potentially critical time the Special Counsel's investigation. Well, for
a closer look, CNN Political Analyst Julian Zelizer joins us now from New York. And Julian, I want to start with the Mueller investigation because
President Trump seems to be quite worried that his own family might be implicated in the Russia probe. We have some sources from the White House
telling CNN and The Washington Post that he is concerned although he's tweeting this morning that he's not at all worried because that meeting in
2016 with the Russians was legal. What's your take?
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think we can probably put his tweets aside. He doesn't often say things that are necessarily true
and they're also usually for political effect. I think there's many sources now reporting which is logical that he's worried, that his oldest
son might get caught up in this investigation and he might have said things that weren't true in front of the Senate about the meeting and who knew
what about the meeting. So it's very plausible that those are concerns that are running through the President's head.
KINKADE: Yes, they certainly seem to be concerned. There's another big story that we're looking at, a rift in the Trump family over you as
possible LeBron James -- LeBron James. Let's just listen to a bit of that exclusive scene and interview that sparked all of this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whenever there's something like he's in trouble, he can't wiggle his way out of something he'll bring up the national anthem
thing and kneeling or standing. Do you think he uses black athletes as a scapegoat?
LEBRON JAMES, BASKETBALL PLAYER, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: At times, at times, and more often than not. I believe he uses anything that's popular to try
to negate people from thinking about the positive things that they can actually be doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, afterwards President Trump tweeted in insultingly about James and Lemon. He said basically you know, you can see there that Don
Lemon is the dumbest man on television. He made LeBron look smart which isn't easy to do. Well, Melania Trump is defending LeBron James. Her
spokeswoman praising James that he's worked with children adding the First Lady was open to visiting the school which James opened up in Ohio. This
isn't the only thing we've seen this week Melania Trump certainly at odds with President Trump, her husband, we also saw Ivanka Trump come out being
very much at odds with him. She said the immigration separation policy taking children away from their parents at the border was a low point for
the administration and she said she does not believe the media is the enemy of the people. What do you make of this certainly far from United Front
within the Trump family?
ZELIZER: Finally there's silence over some of his most controversial and provocative statements has started to crack just a little bit. We have to
remember, this is the end of a long list the statements where both of them have remained pretty silent. Some of this is them seeking to separate
themselves from some of the President's controversies and some of it is probably to send a message to her father, to her husband, in terms of
Melania through television which is a story we keep hearing. This is often how advisors and people close to the President communicate. They push back
on the airwaves in order to get his attention. But clearly his comments on race have really angered many Americans and this is the first time we've
seen that inner world of the Trump family actually step up and say something about what the President does.
KINKADE: Yes, I wonder if we will continue to see this going forward. I also want to point out. One of the tweets that I mentioned earlier that
Trump issued today talking about the media as being dangerous and sick. Now, this comes as obviously, the Washington Post keeps this tally of
President Trump's misleading statements. It says so far this year he's made -- so far since being elected, he's made more than 4,000 misleading
claims as more than seven false statements a day. He seems to really hate that the media holds him accountable.
[11:05:35] ZELIZER: Yes, I think there's three things going on. One is he hates that the media reports on what's going on and holds him accountable
to what he says. The second is the media has been a foil to this president. It is an enemy, it is a way to rally his supporters, it is
something and someone who he can always tell his supporters to rail against. And finally, by attacking the media he basically tries to control
the storyline that the country understands about what's going on in Washington. He tries to delegitimize an entire institution so that if you
want to know what the news is, you should listen to him and that's not a good pattern and not a good precedent for the country.
KINKADE: No, it's certainly a dangerous precedent. Julian's Zelizer, good to have you with us and thanks so much for your perspective.
ZELIZER: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, rallies between a far-right group and counter-protesters turned violent Saturday in Portland Oregon. Police formed a barrier to
keep the two groups apart. They began to throw rocks and bottles at each other and at police. Officers responded with flash grenades. There were a
handful injuries and a few arrests. Well, in the meantime, with all the focus on Russia, the Kremlin has appointed a new envoy to work on relations
with the U.S. with all this going on right now. That job could call for an action hero. CNN's Matthew Chance tells us how Moscow is getting one.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It may be his controlled application of extreme violence that endears Steven Seagal so
much to the Russian authorities. His direct-to-video movies like this one Driven To Kill by the Russian mobster certainly popular. The actor's
latest role though as a diplomat seems strangely out of character. For the friendship between Seagal and Russia's real-life, tough-guy President
Vladimir Putin has been long-standing. The Russian leader himself a judo black belt awarding the U.S. martial artist a passport in 2016 after Seagal
had relentlessly asked according to Russian official.
Seagal has also been an outspoken supporter of Russian policy like its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine even taking to the stage there in 2014 in
a charity concert which he hinted that is possible diplomatic role.
STEVEN SEAGAL, ACTOR: My greatest desire is to bring Russia and America together and always has been. And music is the language of the gods. It's
the one language that all people understand. This is one language to bring all people together.
CHANCE: Bringing himself together with authoritarian leaders in the former Soviet Union seems to have become something of a pastime. This year Seagal
has been pictured eating carrots with President Lukashenko of Belarus dubbed the last day dictator in Europe with (INAUDIBLE). And hanging out
with Ramzan Kadyrov, the pro-Kremlin leader of Chechnya accused by human rights groups of committing appalling abuses. Seagal has been involved in
facilitating U.S.-Russian contacts too back in 2013. He says he played a role in bringing a U.S. congressional delegation to Russia in the aftermath
of the Boston Marathon bombing carried out by Chechen brothers.
SEAGAL: And I asked him for that meeting and I knew about that before they did. That's the truth.
CHANCE: The Russian Foreign Ministry likens Seagal's new role to that of a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador adding that the martial artist turned actor,
turned diplomat will receive no salary for his contribution. Matthew Chance, CNN Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, Venezuela's president says his unharmed after what he calls an attempt on his life. Bizarre attack happened on Saturday while Nicolas
Maduro was speaking on live television at an event for the Venezuelan National Guard. Have a look at the dramatic moment President Maduro was
mid-speech when officials say a drone exploded right in front of him, then a second explosion causing dozens of soldiers to run for cover. Well no
one was killed, seven members of the National Guard are reportedly wounded. I want to bring in CNN's Patrick Oppmann who's been following is quite the
surreal story.
And Patrick, just hours after the alleged attack, the president emerged on national T.V. again to say who he thought was behind it. Just take a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:19] NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT, VENEZUELA (through translator): There has been an attempt to assassinate me. I have no doubt that this all
points to the extreme right in Venezuela, in alliance with the right in Colombia and that Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attempt. I have no
doubt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: He has no doubts but Patrick, certainly, Colombian officials are denying it.
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh there's plenty of doubt. Colombian officials have denied it. Maduro also pointed the finger at Venezuelan
expats and the U.S. officials have come out today to say that there's no information or evidence at all that this attack was plotted in the U.S.
And this is really following something of an old script to blame Colombia which is a key U.S. ally in the region and Venezuela expats who have been
forced from their country now living in the U.S. And Venezuela is no stranger to bizarre plots but to have a plot like this where apparently
drones according to Venezuelan officials packed with explosives were flown this close to the Venezuelan President. That is something that really has
never been seen before in any country today so people are scratching their heads. They don't know what to make of.
There lots of questions, more questions than answers and people are calling on Venezuelan government to either show video of these drones, show the
down drones that reportedly were shot down by some of Nicolas Maduro's bodyguards and really tell what they know. They say there have been
arrests but we don't have much more information than that. Will this just sort of dissipate as other alleged plots have in years past or will the
Venezuelan government come for now, Linda, with some actual proof.
KINKADE: Yes, tell about the questions, Patrick. Just how unpopular is Maduro right now and what should we make of those reports that this was a
staged attack for him to give him the right to purge disloyal officials?
OPPMANN: We should point out there have been apparently real taxes passed. Just a year ago there was a rogue police officer that flew over the Supreme
Court in downtown Caracas and threw grenades and he was a later killed in a shootout so that attack appears to be real but at the time people said
there was probably a fake attack. We don't know about yesterday's attack. It would certainly give Nicolas Maduro a more room to purge officers to
make sure that the people around him are loyal, that comes out again and again as sometimes he claims that he's been the target of these plots.
That never really seem to materialize but certainly the fear and paranoia that surround Nicolas Maduro the president of a country that has one of the
most severe economic crises in the world is only going to increase so expect there being more security around him and expect them to point more
fingers at other countries in the region for allegedly trying to assassinate him.
KINKADE: All right, we will stay on this story. Patrick Oppmann for us in Havana, thanks so much. We are going to get getting back to the story
again later in the show. We have live reports from Caracas and an interview with Professor Jennifer McCoy who's written extensively on
politics in Venezuela. She will be joining me live on set here in the studio. Well, still to come, all eyes are on two major oil shipping routes
while tensions are rising at two critical passageways. How that stir after the break. Plus, Israel's minority through his community take the stand
against the controversial nation-state law. Why they say it makes them feel like second-class citizens.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00] KINKADE: You're watching CNN and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade filling in for Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Well, all
eyes are on two major oil shipping routes. Saudi Arabia has resumed shipments through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after a 10-day suspension
following an attack on two tankers which Riyadh blames on Yemeni rebels. And in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran says it held a "successful military
exercise last week." Tehran called the naval drills in the straight routine, U.S. officials felt otherwise. CNN's Nic Robertson shows us why
the passageway is so important.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: At anchor, tankers waiting to help slag the world's unquenchable thirst for oil. Between them
and their vital cargo, the Strait of Hormuz a strategic choke point in the path of 20 percent of global oil supplies and a massive military exercise
by Iranian forces. U.S. defense officials say that dozens of small Iranian vessels are involved in these military drills that normally happen much
later in the year. The timing now is so close to the real imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran and Iranian threats to close the Straits is raising
concerns.
Typically in the past, Iran publicizes its naval training exercises. This was similar maneuvers a couple of years ago, not so this time.
KHALIL EBRAHIM CFO, FUJAIRAH PORT: Giving their ongoing saga of the Geo- political risk at the Arabian Gulf, UAE and many other countries has taken certain measures to ensure the supply of this oil export.
ROBERTSON: Iran's threats aren't new. During the 1980s the so-called tanker war saw U.S. Naval Ships escorting oil tankers through the Strait of
Hormuz. Since then regional oil producers here like the UAE have been making contingency plans. The port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman is at
the end of a massive pipeline begun a decade ago to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
EBRAHIM: Fujairah historically has been always considered as kind of natural hedge at any geo-political risk take place at the Arabian Gulf.
ROBERTSON: So it's a backup?
EBRAHIM: Yes, it is a backup.
ROBERTSON: In recent weeks, a war of words has been escalating between Washington and Tehran. Iran's president warning of war with Iran would be
the mother of all wars. President Trump firing back and all caps tweet demanding an end to threats or else face serious consequences. Then
changing to this tactic.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much. I believe in meeting. I would certainly meet with Iran if they wanted to
meet. I don't know that they're ready yet. They're having a hard time right now. No preconditions, no. If they want to meet, I'll meet anytime
they want.
ROBERTSON: The Iranians not taking up the offer. No one here knows how long the current tensions in the Straits of Hormuz are going to last and
that's what makes this oil pier here so valuable to the port they're developing it so another 11 large oil tankers can dock here, their future
proofing, their security. Nic Robertson, CNN the Port of Fujairah near the Straits of Hormuz.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKAID: Our NIC Robertson as you heard near the Strait of Hormuz. And renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran also said to add tensions between the two
countries. The penalties were reimposed when Washington exited the nuclear pact between Iran and major world powers. But ahead of their
implementation, Iran has received five new aircraft. The delivery of the ATR planes comes just one day before the American sanctions go into effect.
[11:20:30] Let's get up to speed on some other stories on our radar right now. The Indonesian Red Cross says earthquake assessment teams are on the
ground on the Island of Lombok following a powerful tremor a magnitude six point nine quake struck the popular tourist island hours ago. It was
followed by several aftershocks. A Tsunami warning was issued but that has since been lifted.
The White House has approved a disaster declaration for an area in California ravaged by a massive wildfire. The Car Fire as it's known
claimed a seventh victim on Saturday. The utilities company says one of his employees suffered a fatal accident while working to restore power.
The World Health Organization says an Ebola Outbreak has killed 33 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials there say there are dozens
of suspected cases. The outbreak is standard in two provinces that rely on trade a movement across the borders between Rwanda and Uganda.
Well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to calm the fears of the Druze minority after they led tens of thousands in protests of the
controversial new nation state law. The law declares Israel as the home of the Jewish people. Druze's leaders say it makes them feel like second-
class citizens because it makes no mention of equality or minority right.
Oren Liebermann joins me now from Jerusalem. And Oren, the Druze community may be a minority group but they certainly packed that square in Tel Aviv.
Just tell us what this is all about.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That many people in that square tens of thousands give you a sense of how many people that is. It takes about
40,000 people to fill Tel Aviv's Rabin Square which is what you're looking at. All of that gives you a sense of the anger not only from the Druze but
from other groups pointed at the nation-state law. What angers the Druze, in particular, is not that the nation-state law enshrines in law that
Israel's D is the nation-state of the Jewish people. That's fine with the Druze. What they'd like to see is some guarantee of equality or minority
rights and that's where they say this law makes them out to be second-class citizens as well as other minorities in Israel.
It's worth noting here that the Druze are fairly small minority, less than 150,000 people. But the reason the Druze protest is so important is
because they participate in every aspect of Israeli society. From politics they have members of Israel's parliament numerous parties and they're loyal
to Israel and perhaps crucially or most crucially theirs -- they serve in the military. And that's why their anger is something that has sent
shockwaves across the Israeli political spectrum and it doesn't look like from that protest that anger is dissipating anytime soon, Lynda.
KINKADE: It's probably thousands. So how is Prime Minister Netanyahu and lawmakers responding there? Are they likely to either scrap this law or
amend it?
LIEBERMANN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with a number of Druze leaders in recent days to try to find some sort of compromise and
there was what he called a historic outline. But then those talks broke down over disagreements between Druze leaders and Netanyahu. Netanyahu
himself has steadfastly refused to change the law or amend it in any way. He wants to introduce some kind of special law to address the Druze which
hasn't quite mollified the anger here. Others have said the law should be amended while there are a number of other solutions that try to work this
around.
Here-here for Netanyahu is remember the nation-state law doesn't actually do that much. It's largely symbolic and has little practical value but
we're already seeing Netanyahu use it as a political weapon against the opposition as rumors of elections become louder and louder. So unchanged
that's why Netanyahu wants its value. To change it is to acknowledge that it was flawed from the very beginning. But the question is what other
solution can he come up with to assuage the Druze anger over the nation- state law.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly it sounds like it's pretty hard to defend that law. One critic warned that the nation-state law would turn Israel into an
apartheid state. Given the amount of anger there, are we likely to see more protests in the coming days and weeks?
LIEBERMANN: It's very possible. And it's worth pointing out that the critic who warned that laws like this would leave Israel to an apartheid
state was a Druze Brigadier General in the reserves. He and a Facebook post that said its laws like this that could lead Israel to become an
apartheid state and he said in an interview of Israel's Ynetnews that it's for that reason that post that Netanyahu called off the meetings between
him and Druze leaders. The question is what happens now. The Knesset itself is in recess for a couple of months so any legislative fix is
already on hold. During that time, during that hold, does the anger only grow with more protests? We're about to find out.
[11:25:07] KINKADE: All right, we certainly are. Oren Liebermann, staying across that story for us, thanks so much. Well, still ahead, Venezuela's
president says he's alive and victorious following what he says was an attack -- an assassination attempt by drones. But as his country sparse
further into economic collapse, how long did his presidency survive? We'll discuss that with an expert in Venezuelan politics when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN and this is CONNECTED THE WORLD. I'm Linda Kincaid in Atlanta filling in for Becky Anderson. Welcome back. I want to
get back to one of our top story. Investigations underway in Venezuela after a strange attack that the country's president says was a bid to kill
him. President Maduro was mid-speech when officials say low-flying drawings exploded right in front of him. Maduro was quickly evacuated from
the stage and then a few hours later it came back on T.V. to say he was unharmed following the alleged assassination attempt.
Well, Stefan (INAUDIBLE) is in Venezuela not too far from the capital and he joins us now on the phone. Stefan, it is a few stories going around
about what may have caused the explosion. The government saying drones, some other sources saying a gas explosion in a nearby building. Some event
adding conspiracy theories that this was a staged event by the government. What can you tell us?
[11:30:11] STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST (via telephone): Yes, exactly, Lynda, there are (INAUDIBLE) of unanswered questions why did such a close
tight military event, for example, take place in Caracas most central avenue. Normally these type of events happens in the military
headquarters.
How many drones were in the air (INAUDIBLE) the anomaly people have already been arrested in relation with the case? Because late last night,
President Maduro, said that the investigation was clean and fast and some people have already been arrested.
And as you said, Lynda, Venezuela is not new to conspiracy theories. Though even unclear fact of those President Maduro and his predecessor Hugo
Chavez, claimed many times to be the target of assassination plan. And the tension is never too far away from Caracas.
But, today also, Lynda is the day where the diplomatico here in Caracas will gather hear from Foreign Minister Jose Arias. Because late last
night, President Maduro accused his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, and ultra-right groups in Caracas, Bogota, and Miami to be behind
in the attack.
So, these attacking that already reaching international states, and President Maduro also called on U.S. President Trump, to join the fight
against what he called terrorist groups committing international attacks. We have already reached the diplomatic international stage for the
consequences of these unclear incidents in the center of Caracas, Lynda.
KINKADE: And Stefano, Colombia was quick to dismiss that blame. When they -- what did they say?
POZZEBON: Yes, exactly. The Colombian foreign ministry was very fast to reject any sort of accusation or allegation coming out of Caracas. We've
heard that President Petro -- President Santos, Lynda, yesterday was celebrating the baptism of his grandchild, and the Columbian minister and
the Colombian government has rejected any sort of interference, and a sort of intervention within Venezuela in state affairs, Lynda.
KINKADE: All right, Stefano Pozzebon, for us. Not too far from the capital. Good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
Well, for more on this, I'm joining Jennifer McCoy is a professor of political science at Georgia State University who bring the extensively on
Venezuelan politics and the ongoing economic crisis. Good to have you with us today.
JENNIFER MCCOY, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: Thank you, Lynda.
KINKADE: First, let's start with the fallout from this because we know that the government has already started purging some military officials,
some arrests have taken place. Can we expect more of that?
MCCOY: Certainly, I think the most dangerous outcome of this is that the government will use it as further excuse or justification to crack down
even more on this event's critics within the military, within the opposition. And it could increase its repressive stance that it's been
taking to achieve its primary goal, which is to stay in power.
KINKADE: What' the likelihood that this was an assassination attempt by a foreign government or foreigners in another country? Or what's the chance
it was a state event by the Venezuelan government?
MCCOY: Well, I think it's the least likely is that it was staged by a foreign government. The accusation against Colombia or against the United
States is a familiar refrain from this government drumming up foreign conspiracy theories. But I think that's unlikely because they know that it
would also create a great deal of chaos in Venezuela.
Whether it was staged, that's a possibility. It could have just been an accident that the government then used to rally support -- rally around the
flag type of support by blaming others for it. But whatever it was, whether it was real, from within Venezuela, possible, or staged, or an
accident the government was using, it shows the vulnerability of this government.
KINKADE: And I want just to remind our viewers of an incident in June 2017. A rogue pilot flew a helicopter into the Supreme Court of Venezuela
and dropped grenades on that building. The pilot in caught on Venezuelans to rise up against President Maduro's government. What parallels do you
stay between that and this?
MCCOY: Well, certainly, that was an attempt that person and his group later engage in a firefight with the government and was killed. So, it
seemed that -- you know, he really was trying to drum up a rebellion, and uprising against the government.
So, that's why it is possible that this was an inside attempt against the president because there's a great deal of dissatisfaction, not only among
the population but I think within the military. We're seeing desertions within the military, as well as the purge, the arrests that you mentioned.
KINKADE: I want to also touch on the economic crisis which you have covered a lot. Venezuela clearly is in a great economic crisis. The
international monetary fund shows that Venezuela's inflation is expected to hit 1 million percent by the end of this year.
A third of the population is unemployed. The millions of people are in need of food and medicine. Economists, of course, many of them are blaming
President Maduro. Some have blamed his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, for decades of mismanagement. How long can Maduro lose in his presidency given
the situation?
[11:35:26] MCCOY: Certainly, people have been predicting his fall for a long time as they predicted Chavez's fall. And the opposition has very
frequently thought that they had an advantage and could, but major protests strikes and this kind of thing in the past oust these leaders and they
failed.
So, I hesitate to say that he has a limited amount of time. Many people look to Zimbabwe as a parallel to say look how long Robert Mugabe stayed in
power. Also with millions or billions of percent of inflation. So with repression, and by cowing the population with intimidation and jailing's,
and simply making them put all their time in finding food. You know, it's possible that the government could stay in power for some time.
KINKADE: Incredible on. And just as you were speaking, understand a majority has just tweeted, saying that, "I thank the people and governments
of the world who have spoken out against the attack. That was intended to end my life. Venezuela will continue to travel the democratic independent
socialist path. So, clearly, he's trying to come out stronger from this, right?
MCCOY: Yes, although, I think he probably looks weaker from it.
KINKADE: Great to get your perspective. Jennifer McCoy, thanks so much for coming in today.
MCCOY: Thank you, Lynda.
KINKADE: Appreciate it. Well, live from Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, a standoff in Zimbabwe. We look at what's next for the
country after last week's vote, and the unrest, and disputes that have followed it. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade, filling in for Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
Well, the inauguration of Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa could come as early as next weekend. That's despite outcry from the opposition
over the election results.
Six people lost their lives in post-election violence and almost 30 members of the opposition party could face time behind bars overcharges of public
violence. Our David McKenzie has more.
[11:39:36] DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The election standoff continues here in Zimbabwe with the opposition refusing to concede
defeat and saying they will present evidence of rigging. Something that they haven't done so yes. And this weekend, there were funerals of those
killed in the violence that broke out mid last week after this disputed poll.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president-elect said, he welcomed the opposition taking their dispute to the courts here in Zimbabwe. But there are growing
calls in the region and in the continent for the opposition and Nelson Chamisa leader to concede defeat.
But so far, this dispute continues leaving this country in a potentially difficult limbo as it tries to move beyond years of economic stagnation.
David McKenzie, CNN, Harare.
KINKADE: Our thanks to David. Well, let's dig in through all of this with Knox Chitiyo, who is a fellow at Chatham House Africa Program. He joins me
now live from London. Good to have you with us.
KNOX CHITIYO, ASSOCIATE FELLOW, CHATHAM HOUSE AFRICA PROGRAM: Thank you very much.
KINKADE: Firstly, the opposition continues to call this election illegal and complain about rigging despite showing no evidence of it. What options
does the opposition have going forward?
CHITIYO: I think the options are fairly limited. There is, of course, the legal route. And certainly, they will take it to the court. They may also
appeal to the wider global international community. But beyond that, It's -- I think, it's pretty difficult because the public moods in Zimbabwe, I
think, people really want to get on with the economic revival.
So, the amount of national public support they will get for protracted political conflict, I think, is limited.
KINKADE: All right. I'd like to just reference a Guardian piece that you wrote when Emmerson Mnangagwa first came to power late last year.
Basically making the point that while many nervous about his history with Mugabe as his right-hand man. You wrote, "He is an astute political
survivor, and has been pro-business and supportive of Zimbabwe's ongoing reengagement with the global community."
How could you rate Mnangagwa's time in office, and could it ties to the former leader Mugabe hurt him?
CHITIYO: I think, I was forgot to bear the Mugabe here, I think, Zimbabwe now is moving on to a post-Mugabe-era. In terms of his -- how he has
managed himself since coming to power, I think there have been some achievements and some failures.
I think in term -- in economic terms, the cash crisis people have been disappointed he's not been able to come to grips a bit with the cash
crisis. But we have seen the stream of investors coming in.
I think, the verdict on the election still needs to be written whether this has been an asset or a liability for investment. I think, there's still a
lot of issues around this that the elections we have just had. But going forward, I think we will see as -- you know, a growing stream of investors
probably wanting to have discussions with Mnangagwa.
KINKADE: He keeps saying that he wants to call for calm and unity. What is it going to take for him to unite the country?
CHITIYO: You know, I think we may need a situation similar to what happened in Kenya. And most of big way ultimately, I think we might need
to have some sort of dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa and while, of course, the election materials are being -- post-election materials are
being prepared.
And ultimately, some sort of -- sort of public reconciliation going forward. I know, that's very difficult to say now within such a heated
environment. But, you know, in Kenya we saw that with Odinga and Kenyatta, was a big resort of president that you see and the late upon (INAUDIBLE) of
the opposition.
And going forward, we need -- we need to have -- you know a real reconciliation in Zimbabwe to take things forward.
KINKADE: And what won't help that reconciliation is the fact that almost 30 members of the opposition of the MDC, that is the Movement for
Democratic Change could face up to 10 years behind bars for these protests, for the violence we have seen in the wake of the election. What impact is
that going to have on the future of the opposition there?
CHITIYO: I mean, obviously, these are very, very unfortunate things -- you know, that we had people killed on the streets of Harare, we've seen people
being beaten we saw the people being arrest. And so, that I think needs to be an investigator and not a cosmetic investigation, there are real issues
here.
So, I again I think, really, Mnangagwa should see this as an opportunity to have a genuine investigation, a genuine publication of what happened and
that dialogue as well going forward -- you know, between the military and the opposition if need be. Because this needs to be taken forward.
We need to have all hands on deck, including opposition civil society and just the general population going forward, because the economic crisis
needs everybody to come together.
KINKADE: Yes.
CHITIYO: In fact, and that involves an honest assessment of what has happened.
[11:45:00] KINKADE: The opposition leader is pretty young, he's only 40. And it was a pretty close election. What would be your advice to him going
forward so that he does have a good chance next time around?
CHITIYO: Well, I would say to him -- you know, obviously, it's very, very disappointing that there were high expectations of the opposition. They
did better than 2013. 2013, they got, I think 44 seats. This time around they've got 64 post. Plus, possibly actually even more because there's a
woman's quota.
If also, they actually technically have done better than the last time. But I'll say -- you know, don't give up. You know, continue with the
Democratic agenda, but also have to be realistic and pragmatic. Sooner or later you will need to have a dialogue with Mnangagwa, I think for the
national interest.
Because this is beyond personalities. We need to come together to save the economy. We are in a national economic crisis.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly are. All right, Knox Chitiyo, a great to get your perspective. Thanks so much for your time today. We appreciate that.
We'll have much more on Zimbabwe's current and future later. We have it online. You can head just over to cnn.com for a profile piece exploring
the political longevity and survival of the man known as the crocodile. Again, all of that is at cnn.com.
Well, live from Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, Bangladeshi students say, "Enough is enough with fatal traffic accidents." Why they've
been flooding a street the darker for days to demand better road safety.
And schoolyards have always had their voice. But one charity is tackling the problem with the help of a tiny, gentle, teacher.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Afterwake of deadly protests over a crash, police in Bangladesh now launching a crackdown on dangerous driving. We're to say the prime
minister made the announcement Sunday. Our Cyril Vanier looks back on the sometimes violent protests.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CYRIL VANIER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Traffic brought to a halt. Hundreds of cars set on fire and dozens of people injured. A student
protests that began peacefully seven days ago in the Bangladeshi capital is spreading violently across the densely populated country. Triggered by the
death of two teenagers run down by a speeding bus.
"We have been protesting on the roads for a few days with some of our demands. We are demanding justice to those students killed by a bus, and
we want safe roads."
[11:50:02] VANIER: It was a privately run bus that mowed down the two students on Sunday, after plowing through a crowd of college students. The
country's state-run news agency reported that the driver had been arrested Wednesday.
But tens of thousands of students are now demanding a crackdown on traffic safety in a country where more than 4,000 people die in road accidents each
year. One of the world's highest rates according to the World Bank.
Blocking intersections in Bangladesh's largest city, videos show uniformed school kids sitting in a circle chanting for justice. Some simply hold up
placards, one reading, "Our transport system equals serial killer."
Other demonstrators crowd around the vehicles, demanding to see the driver's certification. Unlicensed bus drivers are reportedly a common
problem in Bangladesh. Anger towards them became more heated as the protesting continued.
"We continued to stop our buses running as students attacked and damaged our vehicles. We cannot go on the roads, students hit our drivers and our
things, so no vehicles could move."
According to Bangladeshi state-run news agency, the country's education minister told protesters Saturday that their demands were accepted. And
the government would be working to bring discipline to the country's transportation.
But the outraged students show little sign of stopping. Paralyzing swaths of the congested capital, a city of more than 10 million. Cyril Vanier,
CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Thanks to nice parting shots. We're going to Britain where some schools are trying to teach children to be kinder to each other. Experts
say bullying is a public health problem. So, to prevent it, one charity is enlisting the help of an unusual teacher, a baby. Our Selma Abdelaziz,
reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRITISH STUDENTS: Good afternoon, Levy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good afternoon, Evelyn.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL FIELD PRODUCER: Students greet their tiny teacher.
STUDENTS: Hello, baby Evelyn, and how are you? How are you? How are you?
ABDELAZIZ: 10-month-old, Evelyn is full of lessons for this class.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you are feeling upset or a bit frustrated, how do you regulate yourself? What do you do to make yourself feel a bit
calmer?
Is that Billy goat runs away?
ABDELAZIZ: Emotional literacy, social skills, and most importantly empathy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was quite excited. I was a bit weird it out that they're going to bring a new book to children that don't even know how to
hand one.
ABDELAZIZ: Empathy is seen by many child psychologists as the antidote to bullying. And baby Evelyn, with a little help from her mom and the
teacher, is here to administer the cure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To like teach us how we have to feel to other people, which is empathy.
ABDELAZIZ: The year-long Roots of Empathy program reduces fighting by about 50 percent, according to independent research. The key to its
success, sharing with students the relationship between a loving mother and a dependent vulnerable baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They interacting with us, like, they not just showing us that, they talking with us.
ABDELAZIZ: 10-year-old Mohammed, says he already sees changes in his fifth-grade class.
MOHAMMED: Before it was rough, and no one is showing, and no one listened. But once Evelyn came, it started to get calm.
ABDELAZIZ: Mary Gordon, the program's founder tells us as empathy goes up, aggression goes down. Students feel happier, healthier.
MARY GORDON, ROOTS OF EMPATHY: I think the attitudes of bullying are changing and that it's not suck it up anymore. It's that it's not right,
it's not just, it's not fair, it's debilitating.
ABDELAZIZ: Among some 10,000 young people surveyed in the U.K., about half said they had experienced bullying. Nearly, a quarter of those victims
turned to self-harm to cope. And now with the rise of cyberbullying, children face harassment even at home. Mary Gordon, says their capacity to
care is their best defense.
GORDON: It's our job to teach them how to read, to compute, to write, but if we fail to teach them how to relate and you need empathy to relate, we
will have a doomed society.
ABDELAZIZ: At just aged 10, Ibrahim says he's a new man. More sensitive and understanding than ever before.
IBRAHIM: Before Evelyn, I would -- I would be like, to be honest, I was -- I was a bit mean to some people, but now I've changed a lot and I'm a lot
kinder to my friends and stuff.
ABDELAZIZ: Schoolyards have always had their bullies, but soothing the cruelty of children with a tiny dose of innocence is a radical new idea.
And it might just be working. Sam Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
STUDENTS: See you soon next time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:55:12] KINKADE: What a sweet little baby. What a wonderful idea. Well, you can always follow the stories. Our team is working on throughout
the day by going to our Facebook page that is Facebook.com/cnnconnect.
And of the top of the Facebook feed are fade not normally were stored upon luxury vehicles. The Philippines bulldozing more than $5 million worth of
them as part of their crackdown on smuggling. Well, I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD from the team in Atlanta, in Abu Dhabi, and in
London. Thanks so much for watching.
I'll be back tomorrow. And meanwhile, the news continues right here on CNN. We'll have "WORLD SPORT" up next after a quick check of the
headlines.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
