About the Author: Jean Phillipson serves as a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.

On Thursday, April 25, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto will hold a Facebook chat to discuss U.S. foreign policy and Africa. Support for democracy and the strengthening of democratic institutions — including free, fair, and transparent elections — are among the pillars that serve as the foundation of U.S. policy toward Africa.

Zimbabwe held a referendum on its new constitution on Saturday, March 16, paving the way for presidential elections later this year. Zimbabwe’s last elections in 2008 were marred by political violence and this referendum vote was the unity government’s first opportunity to signal whether Zimbabwe’s people will have the opportunity…more »

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr., responds to questions during a live Facebook chat at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner responds to your questions live in a Facebook chat on May 25, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]