The Botswana Independence Day celebrations should be used to reflect on the strides made over years, acknowledge the foresight and great work of the country�s fore bearers and use the foundation they laid as a springboard towards greatness. This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when delivering the Independence Day message to the nation on Saturday. The President said the celebrations symbolised hope and tenacity that had bonded the nation even at the lowest of times. He added that the independence celebrations also availed a fresh opportunity to start again and amend the past shortcomings in pursuit of a better tomorrow. He thus reminded Batswana that the social and economic progress depended on their collective mindset. �I recently launched the Mindset Change Campaign in Zutshwa in the Kgalagadi North district, regarding which I, once again, call upon all Batswana and non-Batswana living within our shores to embrace. We ought to rethink our priorities for the future we wish to create,� President Masisi said. He reaffirmed government�s commitment to support Batswana to reach their full potential through various policies, programmes and projects in different sectors, citing the agricultural sector as an avenue with unlimited possibilities that needed to be explored with a heightened mindset. Other opportunities, he said, lied in the track and field events and the performing arts, sector noting that many of the country�s youth continued to fly the national flag high at various international competitions. Furthermore, the President implored Batswana not to forget the difficult times they just emerged from as well as the challenges that still lay ahead. �The COVID-19 pandemic which brought the world to its knees not so long ago, has taught us some valuable lessons that we should all carry forward. Let us use those experiences, albeit painful, to find new and better ways of dealing with future challenges,� he said. A true independence celebration, he said, was that of a sound and healthy mindset that was able to plan ahead and maneuver around the challenges with ease. President Masisi said it was disheartening that gender-based violence, perpetrated largely by males against females and children, continued to rise. He said GBV was an abhorrent behavioural trend of national concern that should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. �Our women continue to lose their lives through the most tragic manner when they are supposed to be protected by the very hands that commit these atrocities against them. These senseless and gruesome killings of women must stop,� he said. To that effect, the President assured the nation that government would continue to come up with stringent measures to protect the most vulnerable members of the society, particularly women and children.