* FIVE crashes in 10 months and eight people dead! Well done NAC - how much longer do you think IATA will allow Eros to remain open? Where have all the experienced technicians and engineers gone? AA and EE are costing the industry senseless financial wastage - not forgetting loss of lives. Come on pilots - the decision is ultimately yours! Stop playing Russian Roulette!

Food for Thought

* I THINK we Namibians are becoming too serious and stiff. Time we started laughing at ourselves. It's the best way to build reconciliation! Where are the Neville Bassons and Lazarus Jacobs? We need something like 'Eksê Kuume' to laugh at ourselves. - Makbright

* FREEDOM of speech, movement, democracy and the right to criticise, enjoyed by all Namibians, were given by Swapo according to the Mayor of Ongwediva. The question to the Hon Mayor is: Why is Swapo always irritated when the people exercise these rights?

Smithie

* MY humble condolences to the family of Hannes Smith. It takes all kinds to make the world; he was a good man.

* WE remember. The icon of the newspaper flagship is no more. Hannes the notorious has taken leave from life. Smithie, the fearless, has joined the fallen heroes in their rest. His visionary news intelligence will be difficult to surpass easily. Hannes the man has closed his chapter and file. He led Namibia during the dark and most difficult hours of Apartheid to Independence through pen and paper. His true and fearless newspaper legacy will be our strength to equal rights and economic emancipation. He was a man of all seasons to friend and foe. R.I.P Smithie. - UDF Branch-Khorixas

* SMITHIE was a hero in the media arena. How about we accord him a hero's funeral at the Heroes' Acre?

* BOTH Hannes Smith and my father have something in common, they both worked for railways when they were young.

Politics

* THE downfall of the Swapo Party started immediately after a top former Swapo leader acted the way he acted before the 2004 congress. And still some Swapo leaders are entertaining that Swapo downfall strategy spearheaded by Jerry Ekandjo and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.

* THOSE who want to advance their hidden agendas, leave the State President to exercise his constitutional right. Study the Constitution first, before criticising the State President. Where is their respect? Shame on them. Since when is the President questioned by his subordinates? Comrade President, it's high time for a reshuffle. - Kautwima

* DEAR not-so-honest citizen. It is a sad case that most SMSes published on politics seem to be a deliberate target on the founding father and Swapo. It is dangerous to make a statement just for the fun of it. Don't forget that although the founding father has stepped down, he is still in the Swapo Party leadership and that is how it will remain, thus he has the right to be involved in the party's activities. We are aware that all the anti-Nujoma like you will never stop barking as your mission is clearly to discredit the founding father. Please follow the politics with open eyes before you position yourself on making malicious accusations. Last but not least familiarise yourself with the Swapo leadership structure, and on how decisions are carried out. I trust your paper publish this as it is. - Amadhila

* HELLO. Can Namibian Ministers please be given a term of office of at most five years which is renewable only once? Meanwhile, if the appointing authority is not satisfied with any Minister's service, they can still dismiss him/her any time. This way, there will be more accountability and chances for more deserving Namibians. Ministers for life should please not be entertained. Let the cake be shared, please!

In and From the Regions

* I AM a regular caller to Oshakati State Hospital for various reasons. What is frustrating is that the ladies at the said hospital switchboard don't respond at all or respond only after many tries. Dr Kakungulu [Medical Superintendent] please intervene. Thanks. - Ndavulwa.

* [HEALTH] Minister [Richard] Kamwi, when is the Oshikuku Hospital road going to be tarred and joined to the main road as all other hospitals? This gravel road is killing our patients

* CEO of Outapi town, when are you going to introduce speed bumps along the road near Onavivi bar and the Police Station? I think that curve is dangerous or are you only going to act if an accident happens. Please prevention is better than cure! - Worried mega

Group Identity

* THE RDP faction of the Mbanderu traditional authority must respect the Swapo faction of the Mbanderu Concerned group. RDP you are new and already people leave the Mbanderus. Don't try to win cheap politics by confusing people.

* I'M an Ovambo but followed the issue of Ovambanderu. My advice to GRN is simple, the name Keharanyo is of the late grand chief and was given to him as symbol of succession.

Price Pain

* ANOTHER reduction in the crude oil price. Mr President please reduce the petrol and food price or give us a raise of at least 20 per cent so that we can cope with the cost of living.

* WHY do banks increase credit card interest rates even when the Bank of Namibia didn't raise its bank rate? Why should it follow SA rates?

* CRUDE oil prices continue to fall but no relief in Namibia. The price can fall three times in one week in some countries. Who is lining pockets?

Calling The ACC

* PLEASE Mr Noa (ACC) investigate the weighbridge at Brakwater. There are serious underhand and illegal things happening - especially at night. How can a truck that's travelled from South Africa without any problems at four different weighbridges suddenly be overweight at Brakwater?

* I DRIVE GRN vehicles. I can't give lifts to poor citizens who put the GRN in power because I am scared to be arrested by ACC agents. Where are we heading? Till when?

General

* DEAR Windhoek City. Your article on Changes at the Avis dam? in the July 2008 issue of Aloe refers. It is correct that the Council has followed a consistent approach to the Avis dam... For the last 10 years at least this has comprised of consistently ignoring the views of the Avis dam community of users. They have always told you that they are not opposed to appropriate development at or near the dam. But they have always opposed development on Erf 2882, which geographically is situated inside the dam area, and immediately in front of what you describe as "one of the best-loved vistas in the City". They believe that development there will irreparably compromise the Avis dam's sense of place. They have always offered the Council alternative, well-researched alternatives near the dam, and exactly facing that "best-loved vista". But you have consistently ignored these proposals. When will the Council/officials who advise it, take the Windhoek-wide Avis dam user community's opinion about development on Erf 2882 seriously, and stop paying mere lip-service to the idea of public participation?

* A PASSENGER reported a taxi man was trying to rob a passenger of N$100. This is true. I am a lady travelling from town to Hochland Park around 21h00 from work. I gave the taxi man N$100. Once we approached my designation he told me to get out without giving my change. He said if I did not get out, he would push me out. I did not have any choice but to leave without my change. The taxi associations must do something about this. Let there be a law that all taxi drivers wear uniforms and picture IDs with the association's logo placed visible on the dashboard. This may help for safety reasons.

* I DO not enjoy studying at my favourite place anymore. The Windhoek Public Library is in need of a real renovation. I do not know if the Library Council realises this.

* I WOULD like to enquire about the Day 1 Health Namibian Medical Aid that was recently launched. Can someone please get me the contact details of the individual I can reach if I would like to become a member and the physical location of its premises.

* PLEASE the GRN must resolve borders between Namibia and South Africa. - Pius W

Automatic For The People

* IT is outrageous that lazy students expect/demand to be passed! They are wasting taxpayers' money. Shame on you! Professor van Rooyen, we support your stand. - Furious

* IF automatic passing for students at Unam becomes the order of the day, don't be surprised if employers simply won't be recruiting them. Another case of political manipulation by the powers that be maybe? - Edwin B

* ENGLISH is the main language in Namibia! How can Unam students expect to pass if they don't attend the lectures and don't even buy the prescribed textbooks! And then they want to repeat for free! It is unfair to those students who put in the time and effort to do well and want to make something of themselves. Are we willing to let lazy people into society?

* SHAME on Unam management for not helping Professor van Rooyen against the rowdy students who fail and further lower the Unam standards. Mr (Education Minister Nangolo), your silence is deafening. Today I took a decision not to allow my kids to study at Unam.

Bouquets And Brickbats

* EDITOR, allow me to send my gratitude to thank Mr Linekela Shipindo of the MVA Fund. The man is really an educator who educates through the NBC programme for us to understand the new act on the MVA Fund. Just continue my brother.

* MR Eckart Demasius Swakopmund's CEO you rock! Please come to Windhoek and close shebeens in our neighbourhoods, because our town council does not care.

* THANK you my favourite President (Hifikepunye) Pohamba for removing tax on mostly basic food. Now can have three meals a day again.

* MADAME Lister (Editor of The Namibian), please consider writing an autobiography. I'm sure that your story will inspire thousands of people. - It's a work in progress. - Newsdesk

* THE Namibian Rugby team did well for us. I am so proud of you guys, the likes of Wacca and the rest. All the best for the future, keep it up guys! - Medso

Letters Of The Last 48 Hours

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