While the international spotlight is focused on Zimbabwe, most of the world is oblivious to the fact that, just next door in Botswana, a quiet handover of power has successfully taken place. Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama is the new president of one of Africa's most stable nations.

On 1 April 2008, thousands of people, dressed in the national colours of black, blue and white, attended the short ceremony where Festus Mogae stepped down after serving two five-year terms, because in Botswana, the tenure of any president is limited to a total of ten years.

During the ceremony, the crowds joked about how the smooth transition of power bucked recent African history and was in marked contrast to the current dramas in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Did you know that in 2007, The World Bank Institute once more rated Botswana as being among the top ten per cent of nations in the world in terms of political stability.

It is sad to see that most of the international media usually only focuses on the dark side of Africa.

Below are extracts from a recent article from the Independent Foreign Service:

Botswana first to condemn pre-election terror in Zimbabwe

Botswana has broken ranks with Zimbabwe's lethargic neighbours and issued the strongest condemnation yet by any serving African Government against President Robert Mugabe's reign of terror.

It has also become the first African country to ever summon Zimbabwe's high commissioner in protest.

Botswana's stance has created the possibility that some African governments will withhold recognition of Mugabe as leader of Zimbabwe if he rigs the June 27 run off.

Zimbabwe's high commissioner to Gaborone, Thomas Mandigora, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation last week. He received Botswana's official protest over the continued arrests & detentions of senior MDC officials, including party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai & secretary general, Tendai Biti.

Botswana charged that Zimbabwe was in violation of a Southern African Development Community protocol on the holding of free & fair elections.

President Ian Khama's government said it was "alarmed by these arrests & detentions as they disrupt electoral activities of key players & intimidate the electorate, thus undermining the process of holding a free, fair & democratic election".

"We therefore call upon the government of Zimbabwe to fully assume its responsibilities by putting an end to these acts of political harassment and intimidation to avoid a further deterioration of the situation in that country" said the statement.

For now, though, Botswana remains alone.