hello and welcome to dateline london, the programme in which some of the uk's leading columnists debate with foreign correspondents, who file their stories under the dateline "london". this week. zimbabwe holds its first post—mugabe election, but does the smile of the crocodile suggest itjust can't shake off the legacy of "uncle bob"? donald trump demands the special investigation into claims of russian meddling should stop. is he rattled orjust reckless? and theresa may is wined and dined by president macron, butjust who is seducing who? with me, vincent magombe, of africa inform international, a global network of the continents journalists, john fisher burns, formerly chief foreign correspondent for the new york times, agnes poirier of the french magazine marianne, and from here in the uk, the conservative political commentator alex deane. robert mugabe may have lost power last november, after 37 years in charge of zimbabwe, but he hasn t lost his political timing. on sunday, after the candidates had ended their campaigns and hours before the polls opened, he called a news conference, denounced zanu—pf, his party,

and suggested he might vote for nelson chamisa, leader of the opposition mdc, instead. embarassing for emmerson mnangagwa, seeking a mandate of his own after deposing mr mugabe. known as the crocodile for his patience and cunning, mr mnangagwa has been posing as agent of change even though he was robert mugabe 5 close ally for more than 50 years. despite mr mugabe's eleventh hour denunciation, emmerson mnangagwa emerged victorious — and bloodshed returned to the streets of harare. do you think he has convinced enough zimbabweans that he can be the agent to check? if zanu pf was to wind it would not be for mnangagwa, it would

be for the dynamics of zimbabwe, where they historical party cares about the land issues and so on, whereas the opposition... but i don't think we can really know who has won, but my problem is that mdc, probably made a very graphic mistake, they should not have gone into these elections just because mugabe has gone, it did not take away issues to do with the independent electoral commission. we saw what the police did, shooting people and so on. so, this should have insisted that if we are to take pa rt have insisted that if we are to take part in these elections, these are theissues part in these elections, these are the issues that must be determined, if not... so they should set

conditions in advance rather than complain about results? we have are similar situation where there is a very big democracy problem. the bottom line thing that we're seeing for democracy is that once our president goes, there must be a negotiation between different parties, including the ruling party. to make sure we agree that pathway for it. perhaps in a transition period. so they should have discussed with mnangagwa the issue. zanu—pf just said we discussed with mnangagwa the issue. zanu—pfjust said we have won! mnangagwa... zanu—pfjust said we have won! mnangagwa. .. if that zanu—pfjust said we have won! mnangagwa... if that had happened there is no way it would have gone forward for mugabe. use the

continuity mugabe, isn't he? key is. ijust continuity mugabe, isn't he? key is. i just feel that right continuity mugabe, isn't he? key is. ijust feel that right note, going forward , ijust feel that right note, going forward, what is needed is for them to sit down and talk, and i don't think they can resolve anything because the court system has not changed, it is not very independent just like the electoral commission. i think they need to sit down, mnangagwa has signalled he is ready to talk. because if he doesn't there will be bloodshed. so there isn't enough said to say there has only, underlined, oi’ to say there has only, underlined, or only been six deaths. if the result is accepted it is hard for the international community if there is such a thing to imply anything

significant. that is the thing. everyone seems to be quite unsettled, so this is the first election to be taking place after mugabe, and it all started quite peacefully, and i heard that the turnout was huge, 80%. encouraging start. green a good thing, then suddenly we have the troops firing live ammunition on protesters, and of course the scale of six killed is terrible, but we used to have in the hundreds before. but then mdc and chamisa claimed effectively so fast and the electoral commission was so slow in getting the results, and you have international observers saying, something slightly dodgy happened, but perhaps not so much. and can i just add, we also had parliamentary election. at the same thing. and the opposition are not disputing the

results, and it is two thirds for zanu pf, so something is happening ina good zanu pf, so something is happening in a good fashion, and there are still some dodgy things happening. but this remains a regime with the military who appear to call the shots? i have very personal reasons for thinking this is tragic. i met my now late wife there are a0 plus yea rs my now late wife there are a0 plus years ago, and the country has such potential, economic, and it is one of the most beautiful places i have ever been to. once again all that potential appears to being frustrated and denied, but i take pa rt frustrated and denied, but i take part from the fact we have seen this sort of process elsewhere in west africa, and time is running out for mnangagwa, iam africa, and time is running out for mnangagwa, i am sorry if it —— if i do not pronounce it correctly, but there will be change, and probably something that will speed the changes the new governance of south

africa, i think he's going to be a lot less patient. and maybe jacob zuma was with robert mugabe. what about the new president—elect, he was already the president effectively as a result of the coup last november, which they said was not a coup, but everyone else does. they have applied to return to the commonwealth. is that potential leverage that could be used? that sort of thing can always be used as leverage but i really question whether we should enter into such discussions with someone who was not just a parliamentary colleague or cabinet colleague of robert mugabe, he was his right—hand man, he was his hard man for a good chunk of time in the office, especially as a minority. i also think mdc has also asked genuine objective questions that even if they get ruled against in court, people on the electoral roll aged more than 140, in court, people on the electoral rollaged more than 140, i in court, people on the electoral roll aged more than 140, i know in a country where president can get his

90s, country where president can get his 905, it country where president can get his 90s, it still seems unlikely. the fa ct 90s, it still seems unlikely. the fact that the electoral commission said mnangagwa got 50.8%. the figure itself is very suspicious to avoid a run—off. itself is very suspicious to avoid a run-off. it was something like 36,a6a votes out of 68 million cast. it does look a bit suspicious. we need to understand that there is a very big problem that remains unresolved. and that problem i am sorry to say, but when you say commonwealth and all sorts of things, it is not going to be dissolved outside. 0utside pressure is important. but as someone who ta kes is important. but as someone who takes part in pro—democracy activism on the continent, uganda for example, it is going to be the

people's pressure, that is why it is tragic that mnangagwa is not stopping the army and police. if he's really saying that he is a changed man, let him give orders to the army and police to make sure they do not shoot people because u nless they do not shoot people because unless that pressure from within continues mounting in terms of people demonstrating and doing whatever. .. people demonstrating and doing whatever... he wanted because he needs it. he thrives on it. the country needs racial conciliation. what we shouldn't forget is mnangagwa is nothing without the army. and by the way, we know that if mnangagwa is at the next election, we will see the general putting himself forward. it is not going to be easy. we need negotiations but also a lot of pressure in terms of mass popular

process. we're not seeing it yet. you can set your watch by donald trump's tweets. some journalists charged with reporting the us president dojust that. on wednesday morning, right on schedule, mr trump let rip against robert mueller, the special prosecutor charged with investigating claims that the russians tried to influence the election which elevated him to the white house. with the trial of his former campaign manager under way, and charges laid against a dozen russians, donald trump used his twitter account to tell his attorney generaljeff sessions that the inquiry should stop . john, given that robert mueller is already looking at whether president trump amounts to obstruction of justice, it was a bit of a risk? we can see how this is going to progress, avoiding impeachment seems to be less and less likely if indeed indictment of the sitting president proves to be ruled unconstitutional. and i think it may not be too soon to look beyond president trump.

america has these deep, deep social divisions, social, racial and otherwise, and i don't think the end of trump, which to me is foreseeable is going to buy itself too much to alleviate those, but there still will be major problems to address and we don't yet see, at least i don't see anyone on the political horizon who looks like a candidate to do that. in a sense we are almost getting to debate where part of the population of america will disregard a lot of the stories because, as the president describes them, they will see them as fake news, and telling the difference between truth and opinion gets harder and harder, particularly in the run—up to the mid—term elections. particularly in the run—up to the mid-term elections. that is the thing. before we look at beyond trump, like john says will happen, i am very interested at the moment at

the 2018 mid—term elections because i know —— a couple of days ago you had briefings about what russia's vladimir putin is doing. and hacking political organisations, hacked and —— hacking active officials, and this massive misinformation on social media and to escalate divisive issues, triggering social unrest, and that is deeply worrying. itook unrest, and that is deeply worrying. i took a flicker of hope when i heard at the congress there is this bipartisan initiative, and the aim is to wrestle back some authority over who decides on policy, but i'm not sure it is the solution, but more crushing sanctions on russia,

because in the end, it really takes the leadership of the american president to face russia and say, we're not going to tolerate meddling into our elections. but are we going to get this from trump? that is another question. do you think we are? i think the president will probably weather the storm, but history shows us that leaning on law offices when you are investigating yourself is a bad idea. but i tell yourself is a bad idea. but i tell you one thing, he does not have a good profile in this country —— huge profile in this country, butjeff sessions is well able to stand up for himself. and he survived,... he's one of the darlings of the late. trump has done a lot to transform the political landscape in the us, but the charm on the right

end is that rare thing, a lawyer doing illegal things in a legal environment, and doing rather well. i think environment, and doing rather well. ithink trump environment, and doing rather well. i think trump is very ill—advised being pushed into doing anything because in the end he can overcome the politics of it. that are not enough americans who care whether there is interference, but they do ca re there is interference, but they do care if his role to uphold the law of the great estates is distorted to his own benefit. i think, as an african looking into america and all of that, i am completely amazed that this trump man who has done so much damaged and also who has made so many enemies, notjust against his own people, and everyone who stood for him and broughton near, but up till now, the american in place, whether it isjudiciary, till now, the american in place, whether it is judiciary, the political establishment and so on, have failed to dislodge this character. i dare to suggest that the people on this panel are not the

target audience for donald trump! his base is holding up. i think the constitutional processes will prevail, and those who doubt it should cast their minds back if they are old enough, and i think you have to be 60 or older to remember the saturday night massacre, when richard nixon attempted to save his presidency by dismissals. richard nixon attempted to save his presidency by dismissalslj richard nixon attempted to save his presidency by dismissals. i think eventually he will be dealt with. presidency by dismissals. i think eventually he will be dealt withfi took a long time with robert nixon, and in the end he wasn't impeached. ifi and in the end he wasn't impeached. if i recall rightly, richard nixon resigned in august 197a, 197a, was that even a year passed a second election? so i think the process... but he got in for a second term. election? so i think the process... but he got in for a second termm might well be that they could not muster a majority or a two thirds

majority, but i wouldn't be surprised if trump goes before that. if that is the scenario you're aiming for, the question is do we prepare president pence, someone who does not tweak things but who gets into congress and grinds out a result. —— he does not tweet things. american politics have a problem, but i'm not saying that all those people who voted trump are racist, but is this whole thing of america, not just but is this whole thing of america, notjust america, but in europe, things swinging to the right now. . robert nixon for his resignation, i a lwa ys

robert nixon for his resignation, i always remembered this as someone who has been a huge beneficiary as i believe we all are, of american goodwill and power throughout my lifetime, he said america is a great enough country to be able to survive a period of bad government. in the 1960s, after president de gaulle of france blocked britain's attempt to join europe's political institutions, one cabinet minister so disdained the continent that whenever he travelled to paris he took his own sandwiches. this week, there's been a british cabinet minister in the france practically every day — the foreign secretary, the business secretary and the brexit secretary. i'd lay a pound to a euro that they ve gone out of their way to praise the cuisine. theresa may, the prime minister, topped them all by securing an invitation for dinner with president emmanuel macron at his summer retreat, on a small island on the cote d'azur. the present president is a lot warmer than general de gaulle, but is he as likely to say non ? in some ways people find it surprising all this charm offensive

for the french because in some ways barack 0bama for the french because in some ways ba rack 0bama honours for the french because in some ways barack 0bama honours regarded as super enthusiasts are all things eu. in all situation... that is what is being sought here. i believe it is good that these leaders get some personal thing together and seem to get on the same page. nobody around this table is of this school, but i can't really understand the what did you have for breakfast, mr president, school ofjournalism. given barnier's mandate comes from the latest dates, it is nothing wrong with meeting ahead of state. it is peculiar that you will start with the most enthusiastic europhile, but isn't that great place to start? a newspaper has

given a lengthy list of what they ate, but i won't bore you with that. but we didn't get much more information. we know how long it was, one hours a5 minutes. we had diplomats on the side, but what is very interesting is the semantics used. they talked about the future relationship between paris and london and i'm sure there was a lot of talk about security. and financial services, probably. of talk about security. and financial services, probablym of talk about security. and financial services, probably. it is the first time a french president received any world leaders in his hideaway in the french riviera. but it is not the first time, remember the day before the meeting at

chequers, theresa may met angela merkel. so she does what is expected ofa merkel. so she does what is expected of a serious leader, she meets her european counterparts, she also knows too well, despite the british media who think either barack 0bama on our media who think either barack 0bama on our angela merkel will solve the problem now it is taking place in brussels, the eu are 27 states and will not pay back their colleagues. if you're going to exclude financial services from any agreement, it was said that we will remove access to trade in london, and immediately michel barnier said we should be more robust for... we will still not get reciprocity that we were looking for. 85% of our gdp is based on

services. this is a real problem. he backed off, we're still in a negotiation. most of these deals get donein negotiation. most of these deals get done in the last minute. let us take the long view. i think they will remind me of something that was said about south africa during the worst of the apartheid years when i was correspondent there, there will be a resolution of this, i remember —— the alternative is unacceptable, and in this case the absence of an agreement over brexit is unacceptable, not just to agreement over brexit is unacceptable, notjust to the united kingdom but to europe. it seems to me that this will be settled by the presidents of france and the chancellor of germany, and mrs may recognises that. we still are quite a long way from a crunch point and i

think they will override the technocrats, the barniers, and i think they will look back and say why did we get... speaking as if everything is normal, theresa may is doing a very wonderfuljob and she is talking to these people, i see something different, total desperation. complete desperation of someone desperation. complete desperation of someone who is so frightened of things that she is ready now to commit political suicide. she's good at playing political suicide games, remembershe at playing political suicide games, remember she took the gamble with the election and almost lost. she's trying to break the rules. they have told her, barnier and trying to break the rules. they have told her, barnierand others, trying to break the rules. they have told her, barnier and others, told her to not go behind our backs to talk to these guys, and she knows. so it is notjust going to drop,

have a talk about the future of this and this, she's trying to sabotage the process. is barnier said... for me it is political suicide that will end up as a catastrophic thing. the fio end up as a catastrophic thing. the no deal scenario, the majority of british people do not like. green the prime minister has said, rightly in my view, that no deal is better thana in my view, that no deal is better than a bad deal. no deal cannot be a fallback option that you make real, it has to be part of the negotiations. the other side has to believe that. and 100 saying they are prepared to walk away but on the other preparing a compromise eve ryo ne other preparing a compromise everyone is unhappy with and you will have to compromise further, you will have to compromise further, you will simply antagonise the public when you finally settle for a compromise they don't like having said we will leave. the time will come when people will be thankful theresa may was there to try to find, difficult as it is, a middle

way through all of this. the question i would put to the brexiteers and ramon is is what realistically at her options that would unite? it seems that what she's trying to do... the fact she's trying to sell a product that is already rejected, she's trying to sell, what is the place cold? the chequers deal? the obligation it seems to me years to come up with a former lover of the road map might pass through parliament and win support at the british election. barnier said we agree on 80%. voila! and on the panel we had 380%. —— we agree on 80%. that's it for dateline

london for this week — we're back next week at the same time. goodbye. hello, there. we're going to start off the weather looking at spain and portugal where we have an extreme heatwave. the peak of the heatwave will be today, and we expect temperatures to reach a7 celsius and portugal, and a reminder that the national portuguese temperature record star games at a7.3 degrees. so, that looks vulnerable and we will get close to the spanish and european all—time wreckers. it will come down to a tenth of a degree. we have hot sunshine here, not that hot, sneaking into the low 30s. across the northern parts we have

thicker cloud, and that is how we started the day earlier across the midlands. 0n the satellite picture, we can see here that we have got that area of cloud working in from the north and west, so further north of england and wales and northern ireland there will be bright spells, and in most areas it will be slightly dry —— it will be mainly dry. in the south of england and east anglia, we will have the best of the sunshine and highest temperatures reaching their mid to high 20s or the low 30s in the south—east england. the sunshine is hazy today, and as we push across northern england into scotland and northern ireland, it stays cloudy here through the rest of the day. indeed the cloud will thicken further today to bring rain across the western mails and into the highlands as well. there will be some rain around, but not much. 0vernight it will continue for a time across the north west of

scotland, for the rest of us we're looking at a dry mate, and although it isa looking at a dry mate, and although it is a warm night with integers easing to about 16 degrees in london, now near as long as it —— warm as it was last night, so more co mforta ble warm as it was last night, so more comfortable for sweeping. plenty of sunshine across england and where is, hazy with high cloud around. further north and west the same story, quite a bit of cloud and indeed the clouds with —— could thicken to bring general outbreaks of rain later, turning out to be heavy rain. further south integers in the high 20s to 30s. mnangagwa this is bbc news. two—thirds of plastic food containers still can't be recycled. councils are calling for action. manufacturers could do much more to make sure that these plastics are easily recyclable, reducing the cost for council tax payers. detectives investigating the disappearance of the midwife samantha eastwood are carrying out searches in a rural

area of stoke—on—trent. north korea's foreign minister criticises the united states for urging other countries to maintain sanctions against pyongyang over its nuclear programme. spain and portugal could see record temperatures this weekend, as the heatwave continues across parts of the continent. here in cordoba at around midnight last night it was still 37 degrees, so very uncomfortable conditions and we expect this hot weather to continue for at least a few days yet.