Food for Thought

* RESPONSE on 'President for All'. Sometimes we tend to ask a lot from political office bearers while we are failures ourselves. Charity begins at home. - President - The writer is referring to an SMS urging President Hifikepunye Pohamba to do something "tangible" about inter-tribal, intra-tribal, ethnic and political disharmony. - News Editor

Politics

* Please leave [Deputy Prime Minister] Dr Libertina Amathila alone. She is one of the few leaders, if not the only one, with vision. As the head of health, she inspired the likes of Dr [Helena] Ndume. at Local Government and Housing she started the Build Together programme, as the Deputy PM she is busy bringing the San, Ovatwe and Ovahimba into the economic mainstream. She does not need to make noise because her work speaks louder and the Namibians appreciate it. Dear Dr Amathila, don't be discouraged by those whom we hear talking and don't see working. Your reward is bigger because God sees the righteous.

* SWAPO has a vacant leadership. Period.

* SWAPO Party in political standoff? It surprises no one. Now it is not only a leadership crisis but a Government crisis. If President Hifikepunye Pohamba has got only one option: take a Wamutharika approach, if he is a "President-for-all" and wants to "set a personal example". - Bingu wa Mutharika won the presidency in Malawi on the UDF ticket, but later resigned from the party and formed his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party. After taking office, Mutharika came into conflict with Bakili Muluzi, head of the UDF party, over Mutharika's campaign against corruption. If you are interested, you can read more about President wu Mutharika on Wikepedia. He also has his own Facebook site. - News Editor

* MS [Pendukeni] Iivula-Ithana and allies, your faction agenda has come a long way and now is in action because Mr Hage [Geingob] is back in Swapo. Your agenda will never leave Swapo in unity, it will destroy the Comrades with the vote of no confidence.

* TO Mr Hage Geingob, I want you to be reminded - it seems you have forgotten quickly on the issues of consultation in the Swapo Party. When you were demoted by Mr Sam Nujoma, the former President, you were not consulted as Prime Minister, a second person in Government or even Vice President. The secretary general in Swapo was consulted. So we know that you wanted to defend Ms Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana your campaign manager. Please stop playing double standards.

* WE humbly request His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba to bring Honourable [John] Mutorwa back to Education. During Hon Mutorwa's era, education was showing a greener sign than today! President please hear our prayer! The ship is sinking! The pilot is sleeping!

* I JUST want to talk about politicians and others in Namibia who are holding more than two valuable posts. Are there no other people who can serve in those particular posts? Let us share the cake of this lovely country. If this post could be given to a person in another family, then that family has a breadwinner and it sounds better. - Luxy

* OUR elders, please I am on my knees begging you to stop playing with our future. Your future was prepared by your elders and you know that. Most of you belong to more than one political party why? I hardly understand why some of you can't wait to be president. What is wrong with you? These things are God given. Lastly, stop insulting Mr [Founding President Sam] Nujoma. This man did not wrong you. The only thing he did is that he made you what you are today and some of you do not even deserve it. Thank you.

* THE lightweights in the Swapo Party Youth League are johnny-come-latelys who have to shout loud nothings for their piece of the patronage cake.

Health Matters

* THE dentists in Okahandja do not accept PSEMAS and one is forced to pay N$200 upfront. Something must be done about this before we die of toothache.

Systems And Sins

* APARTHEID legacy, homeland hangover or promotion of regionalism at Oshivelo permanent roadblock? The Cordon Line seems to be affecting not only the raw beef from Owambo but also people. It is clear that a slogan, 'All men: carry your Identity Document!' is still haunting us. What aggrieves most is when I observed a female Police officer boasting that "we are looking for young men like you!" before he could produce his ID. What was very painful is when the officer (who is Oshikwanyama-speaking) argued that she could not let him go because he was not speaking Oshindonga but Oshikwanyama instead. Lieutenant General S Ndeitunga, if your officers have got a suspect they are looking for, they must have the specific identifications and it must not be a witch hunt against a certain group or based on gender. The border control operations must go on at the borders, not between regions. Who is still fearing fellow Namibians?

* SHOP owners have doubled the prices of other basic necessities like soap, lotions and washing powder after Government scrapped VAT on some foodstuffs.

* IT is indeed evident that a prison sentence is no deterrent, that's why they tortured and robbed the helpless old Jacobs couple. After all, Legal Aid will assist these criminals and they will receive free medical services, food, toiletries, lodging etc after being sentenced!

* PLEASE Ministry of Finance, why do you tax us so much on overtime? Overtime is not a normal shift, you offer to work abnormal shifts. Please reduce the tax.

* WHY are the majority of immigration officers at Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer only from one group, while other groups are suffering in the Karas Region?

Deserting Our Elephants

* SAVE the elephants! How can the Ministry of Environment be so materialistic?

In And From the Regions

* MOST taxis between Ondangwa and Omuthiya are illegal. Please Oshikoto Police do something.

* WHY is Selco electricity more expensive in comparison with the other towns? With a N$100 you only get 89 units of power while in Windhoek, N$100 gets you 132 units. - Concerned, Keetmanshoop

* I WANT to know why the Hardap Region does not have a broadcaster. We don't ask for a big one, just to enjoy what every other Namibian is enjoying! Please, we want answers! What are our governors for?

* USAKOS Youth Centre, if you want to employ people with experienced, why not send the young ones to Women's Action for Development for training or to other institutions to gain knowledge to train others, for example cake baking, cooking etc?

* WHY isn't the electricity at Onampira Village connected? The councillor of Etayi constituency should give feedback to the residents. We are tired of waiting for four years.

* PLEASE Comrade Kankoshi, we need development in our constituency. In areas such as Amuteya, Oluyo Primary School, up to Omutse Primary School there's no clean water and electricity.

* WHY can't the Tsumeb Police pitch up when one needs their services urgently, especially in cases like assault, burglaries and even when somebody is threatening you? There is always an excuse of transport! Till when? Honourable Minister of Safety and Security please do something!

* PLEASE Roads Authority, whoever is responsible for grading gravel roads in the Khomas Region must consider the district road Nr 1491 Brakwater. The last time this road had new gravel was 22 years ago most possibly not in your records anymore. We have done everything we were told to do including sending faxes to your offices. Please do something our vehicles are falling apart!! - Very Tired

* AS there are many handguns in Arandis. Why can't we start a shooting club?

Bouquets And Brickbats

* PLEASE allow me to thank the City Police for their assistance on Sunday afternoon and for their humanity in understanding personal circumstances. Thank you and thanks for understanding!

* WELL done to Oshilulu Combined School for being a clean school. I think other schools should take an example. - Chichi from Ondangwa

* DSTV'S advert on page 36 in Friday's paper is misleading. The English Premier league is about to start again, DStv Africa lost the rights to broadcast those games over three years. - Kgalemang Makgone

* SHAME on the NBC, they have been in existence for quite a long time but failed to consider the Eenhana residents. Well One Africa has proved you wrong, viva One Africa. We appreciate and value your services very much. - Eenhana resident.

Labour Issues

* IS the Inspector General of the Namibian Police aware that lowest ranked members are not allowed to take vacation leave during December every year? And why? Crimes and roads accidents don't only take place in December. Thus roadblocks can held any time, any month. Please release us too.

Service Please!

* WHY don't you have a notice for business hours at Ohangwena FNB, must we guess or what? Please be professional guys.

* STANDARD Bank Mariental, please provide your bank with pens. Now we have to go back home and fetch our own pens to write with, that is what we call very poor service!

Can You Help?

* I'D like to join Tai Chi classes in Windhoek, but do not know where and how. Please let me know - 081-127-4977.

Education

* I HAVE a cousin who is studying at the Polytechnic of Namibia. He is often coming from school with complaints that his lecturer in one subject seems to be poorly prepared and not in a teaching mood. There seems to be a lack of a channel to register grievances by part-time students. The Dean of Students must act fairly and urgently!

* MY concern is about Grade 1- 3 learners who are taught all subjects in Oshiwambo, except English. Learners are left behind and teachers forget English. Can the Ministry change the system? All the subjects must be taught in English and the teacher must switch to Oshiwambo were the learners do not understand. Here in the North, learners speak only Oshiwambo. - Concerned Sarty

* SCHOOL Board and Anti-Corruption Commission please find out what is the delay in getting the tracksuits that learners paid for last year at the Ruacana Vocational Secondary School.

* OUR Government should really do something when it comes to education. If they are serious about attaining Vision 2030 why not establish another university, especially in the North considering the growing population? Unam is very small it, cannot accommodate big numbers of students who wants to further their studies.

A Question Of Business

* I AM surprised the Chinese are investing in our country, but they are [allegedly] not paying any tax while us Namibians are dying from tax deductions.

* CAN anybody tell me what kind of leaders we have? Imagine a person refusing investors, while we have thousands of unemployed in the street. How many buyers stand at the Ramatex building with money?

Letters Of The Last 48 Hours

•  SMS Of The Day : Wednesday
•  SMS Of The Day : Tuesday