The temptation of turning political power to personal advantage is a test of democratic leadership the world over. In this article for South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper, Ntibinyane Ntibinyane (whose internship was funded by OSISA) looks at the record of three Presidents of Botswana – often held up as beacons of good governance.

President Ian Khama (2008-present)

The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV and AIDS (BONELA) is on a mission to create an enabling and just environment for those infected with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS.

BONELA’s activities are aimed at ensuring that ethics, the law and human rights are made an essential part of the national response to fighting this pandemic in Botswana, which has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV prevalence.

Recent years have seen a powerful backlash against the hard-fought gains of the women's movement in many parts of the world, but particularly in southern Africa. A concerted campaign by politicians and spiritual leaders - powered by deeply sexist religious and cultural beliefs - has slowed the progress towards genuine equality and threatened to undermine many of the key achievements of the last few decades. The dreadful Traditional Courts Bill in South Africa is just one of the many ways that women's rights are currently being trampled on by powerful men playing the cultural card.

Komku Trust is a San based Non Governmental Organisation that seeks to support an enabling environment that creates strong, equitable, healthy, stable and empowered communities in the settlements of Ghanzi District. Komku is one of the 8 members of the Kuru Family of Organisations whose aim is for the indigenous people of Southern Africa (namely the San) to be in control of their lives and destiny.