We continue to believe that the Government of Zimbabwe can promote conditions for a credible electoral process.

Even if Mr. Mugabe somehow loses, ZANU-PF will not allow Morgan Tsvangirai to become President.

The upcoming elections offer Zimbabweans a critical chance to show their commitment to their new constitution.

These groups and international groups together can make a difference in moving Zimbabwe toward making the right decisions.

What more can we or should we do moving forward?

The constitution that was adopted was adopted as a result of compromise between the two major political parties and with the support generally of civil society.

The United States shares the same fundamental interest as the people of Zimbabwe: a stable, peaceful, democratic Zimbabwe that reflects the will of her people and provides for their needs.

Do expanding Chinese interests in Zimbabwe lessen incentives for the government to improve respect for human rights?

If the outcome is already decided, then it cannot by definition be a competitive election.

On the other hand, I will just assert that it is possible that there are alternative actions we might take if these elections fall significantly short of the SADC criteria.

Relations between the United States and Zimbabwe are guided by our shared aspiration for democratic and humanitarian values.

Zimbabwe should be driving growth and prosperity in southern Africa, but today instead, in the 33 years since independence, Zimbabweans' prospects have become increasingly bleak.

Are you concerned that even if there are relatively peaceful elections, there may not be a smooth transition to an appropriately elected future government?

Zimbabwe does not want to remain a pariah state, a fact that we should be able to leverage.

We should not endorse an election whose outcome is already known nor should we prematurely lower our guard on sanctions or aid.

The crucial issue is what happens before and after and ensuring respect for the outcome, particularly if it is an opposition outcome.

Is it possible for there to be credible elections on this short of a timeline with that modest of a budget, with the restrictions on observers, and with the limitations on engagement?

Positive engagements with Mugabe and his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party should be conditioned on tangible progress in improving respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.