01 Oct 2024

 GaMmangwato regent, Kgosi Serogola Seretse is grateful for the country's forefathers to have laid a strong foundation that contributed immensely to peace, tranquillity and political stability.

Speaking during Independence Day celebrations in Serowe on Monday, Kgosi Seretse said Botswana had progressed from poverty and lack of development to the current status due to the visionary leadership of the founding fathers.

He said they worked hard to ensure that culture and political stability were preserved and maintained, thus it was befitting to give glory to God to have blessed the country with such visionary leaders.

Kgosi Seretse said the country continued to enjoy peace and tranquillity as result of a strong foundation laid down by its forefathers.

He said the country traversed through thick and thin during pre-independence and post-independence eras, but by God’s grace Botswana was a success story.

Furthermore, he said all the five presidents, who led the country went through trials and tests, but by God's power and grace challenges were overcome; citing poverty during Sir Seretse Khama’s reign, seeing the country through a severe drought and an early 1980s slump in diamond sales during Sir Ketumile Masire's tenure, HIV/AIDS during Dr Festus Mogae’s term, economic recession during Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s time and COVID-19 during the current President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s reign.

He said the country went through challenges but the presidents managed to lead the nation to the promised land flowing with ‘milk and honey’.

In addition, he thanked all who attended the celebrations, noting that the turn up showed that they valued the day were patriotic.

He said such a historic moment of attaining Independence needed to be celebrated for God to continue opening more doors for the country to ascend to greater heights.

On other issues, Kgosi Seretse said it was paramount to respect the law and Setswana custom so as to guide children and upcoming generations in the right path.

He urged people to shun gender-based violence at all costs and to nip it in the bud, adding that it was only God who had the authority to create and end life.

Moreover, he said murder and suicide were not the solutions to life problems, but only increased afflictions and miseries of creating orphans and robbing innocent people of guardians.

It is therefore imperative, he noted, to seek counselling from relevant authorities and experts to counteract whatever people might be going through at that point in time.

He urged all Batswana to celebrate with peace without trampling upon other people's rights.

For his part, umbrella village district committee chairperson representative, Mr Edward Shampeng challenged parents to encourage their children to attend independence celebrations in large numbers as it marked a historic moment in the lives of Batswana.

“Historical anniversaries provide an opportunity to reflect on our origins and understand the events and individuals who have shaped our world,” he said.

He also implored parents to teach their children culture for posterity, adding that walking on the footsteps of their parents would ensure that culture was preserved for upcoming generations as it was a way of finding identity, creating a sense of pride and promoting cultural tourism, which could inject money into the economy. ENDS