give the people of Zimbabwe the opportunity to express their most fundamental democratic right in a free and fair environment. They called on all parties to refrain from violence during this period and during the aftermath of the elections. The United States affirmed that they shared the same fundamental interests as the Zimbabwean people: a peaceful, democratic, prosperous Zimbabwe that reflects the will of its people and provides opportunities for them to flourish. For that to happen, the Government of Zimbabwe should heed the voices of its citizens and implement the democratic reforms mandated by the country’s new constitution. On 19 August 2013, despite a unanimous endorsement of the elections by Southern African leaders, the United States State Department said it believed that Zimbabwe’s July 31 election was flawed and it did not plan to loosen sanctions against President Robert Mugabe’s government until it saw signs of change in the country. On 12 September 2013, The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs discussed the U.S. and Zimbabwe relations following the disputed July 31 general election. According to a statement from the Congress Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, the committee heard a testimony on how U.S policy had failed to “provoke reforms that would have ensured respect for human rights by the regime of Robert Mugabe.” The hearing examined U.S policy, especially in relation to the effect of existing sanctions imposed on Harare following the 2002 presidential elections, in the aftermath of yet another “problematic election and in light of pressure from the region to remove sanctions against the Mugabe government”. The panelists were Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of African Affairs in the State Department Shannon Smith, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Bureau for Africa USAID, Todd Amani and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum International Advocacy Coordinator Arthur Gwagwa. The U.S targeted sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwean government include President Mugabe, members of his inner circle and selected companies alleging human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. The U.S had promised to remove the sanctions if Zimbabwe held what it would consider free and fair elections. Washington condemned the July elections saying they did not represent the will of the Zimbabwean people. Norway On 6 August 2013, Norway issued the following statement, which we have abridged “Norway is pleased that the elections in Zimbabwe passed off peacefully, in contrast to the previous elections in 2008. This is a step in the right direction. But unfortunately there are clear indications that these elections were marred by so many irregularities that they cannot be called open and fair,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. “After many years of insecurity and poverty, the people of Zimbabwe deserve a better life. Unfortunately, these election flaws make it difficult to view the election results as an expression of the will of the people,” said Minister of International Development Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås.The African election observers have not yet published their final report. The opposition MDC-T will consider whether to take legal action and demand new elections. Both the final report by African election observers and MDC-t’s decision as to whether they would demand new elections or not were unresolved at the time of the Norwegian government’s statement being made: “We are now awaiting the outcome of these processes, which will also affect Norway’s relations with Zimbabwe in the years ahead. It is very important for Norway that countries we cooperate with show a genuine willingness to promote democracy and human rights,” Mr Eide said. Botswana On 5 August 2013, the Government of Botswana issued the following statement on the elections “In its previous statement of the 1st August 2013 on the 2013 harmonised elections held in the Republic 51