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

I would agree with your assertion that we should not be lifting sanctions simply in response to a peaceful election, but should instead insist on the whole menu of respect for private property, for human rights, for open civil society, for…

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.

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?

We are absolutely correct to continually review and reduce or take people off the sanctions list when they are no longer becoming a problem.

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

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

We should not simply wait, we should not simply accept peaceful elections; we should be using all the levers available to us.

A key concern is security sector reform, the politicization of the police and the military and the lack of confidence that they will remain neutral in the election.

I am increasingly concerned our government may be sleepwalking down the wrong path.

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.