Millions of people around southern Africa and beyond witnessed the inauguration of South African President, Jacob Zuma.

He was the fourth democratically elected leader after the end of apartheid only 15 years ago in 1994.

The country emerged from apartheid when Botswana's democracy was 28-years-old and dubbed the shining example of democracy in Africa.

In fact, events leading to the election of President Zuma were spectacular and interesting. The political, economic, civil and democratic institutions in South Africa are strong, active and advanced.

When former President, Thabo Mbeki, learned that his deputy, Zuma, had been implicated in corruption, he immediately relieved him of his duties. Two years later, Mbeki, who began to loom over every aspect of state activity, was shown the door by his own party.

The civil organisations made their voices heard in each and every decision that had a direct impact on the lives of the citizens. This is a sign of a nation that is not only aware of its rights, but it is also actively involved in the affairs of their country.

"We intend to start a new chapter in relations between government and the opposition.

We reiterate that it should be possible to work with the opposition on issues that are of national interest.

"While appreciating a robust opposition, we trust we'll move slightly away from the dogmatic approach, which turns every issue into a contentious one.

"On the side of the executive, we will also need to try and avoid being over- defensive, and not view all criticism from the opposition in a negative light," Zuma said, during his recent inauguration.

Zuma also assured the nation that his government will ensure that freedom of the press is guaranteed.

In Botswana, after 43 years of democracy, we have quite a different government that recently introduced laws such as the Media Practitioners Act that will make it difficult for the press to operate freely in Botswana.

We have a ruling party that abuses its majority in Parliament, passing insensitive laws to please a leader who apparently overwhelms them. In addition, the government views the opposition with contempt and disdain.

Power is concentrated on a few individuals in both Parliament and the highest echelons of the civil service who are eager and willing to polish the President's boots at every turn, sometimes going to extents that would embarrass even the most vicious of dictators.

Indeed, the current political administration, and its beneficiaries in senior levels of the government bureaucracy, is working hard to reverse the gains that this nation made in the past 42 years.