* I WISH I was in that area where regional leaders are fighting over a tree. I would have set a debate on how we could solve problems such as water supply, rural electrification, sanitation, prevention of HIV-AIDS etc as a community, just under that tree. I wonder if those leaders had planted a tree on any National Arbour Day and if you didn't, then do not fight because you both do not deserve that tree.

* I AM very surprised that any resident of Windhoek is allowed to run up their municipal bills to a point where the municipality feels justified to sell off their homes. I am pretty sure my services would be cut off very quickly if my bill went unpaid. To allow anyone to run up a bill that they will never be able to pay seems suspicious. Surely a much earlier cut-off would be kinder in the long run because affected residents would be more likely to be able to find several hundred than several thousands of dollars.

Food For Thought

* THE Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare should reconsider the amount given to OVCs. While we appreciate what we get, N$200 is hardly enough to cover the basic needs of children, especially if one has to pay school and hostel fees and also buy school uniforms. The burden increases when a caregiver has more than one orphan, as you only receive N$100 for additional children in your care. Please consider the increase, because we are truly suffering with children who have no parents. - Sylvia

* TO all foreign embassies, please instruct your personnel that disabled parking bays are for the disabled! I am sick of being denied that facility when I go to town for shopping. Who do you think you are? Be a good example and do the right thing. - Disabled pensioner

* I BET you, a single flower will never come from farm Ongombo West again. Officials, in the Ministry of Agriculture - it is wishful thinking. Shame.

Plane Crashes

* PLEASE, please, please the aviation authority must ground all small planes in Namibia pending an urgent investigation into their airworthiness.

* ALL the residents of Windhoek must petition the relevant authorities to do something about the unacceptable level of small planes falling in Windhoek. Enough is enough.

TransNamib Strike

* THE TransNamib issue is confusing. Is the CEO a paid-up union member or why all this? Somebody is taking the workers for granted, let them wait until the investigations are done.

* THE strike at TransNamib could have been averted if management was proactive. The board must now investigate why the strike was allowed to continue. There were and are still quite a lot of people willing to work but are not doing so because of personal safety. The acting CEO, Mr Mike Kavakotora, and the HR GM, Mr Albertus Naruseb, never pronounced themselves on the strike, its legality and safety issues. We wanted to hear assurances that the strike was illegal and the safety of those not participating in the action should be guaranteed. We do not trust the manager responsible for security because he and the guards are also participating in the strike. Natau is jeopardising our jobs with this ill-conceived strike. They know that it is an illegal and wildcat strike but have not explained that to the members. We do not have the same interests with the CEO. Natau is not telling its members not to harass and intimidate those that want to work. While under the tree, we were told that Walvis Bay offices were chain-locked but no instruction was conveyed to the shop stewards to unlock the premises. To conclude, the line ministry and the board should seriously consider investigating the roles played or not played by the acting CEO, HR GM and the manager for security, who also resorts under HR GM. They should also investigate the rest of the management, for example why the Operation GM was driving around in the South while he was needed in Windhoek to give guidance.

* THAT workers go on strike over a CEO who obviously falls outside their bargaining unit is to me absurd. Let him go to his union of fat cats.

* HOW can we have trust in Minister Helmut Angula if he openly takes sides with Festus Lameck (TransNamib board chairman) and the board.

* WE, the workers of TransNamib, want clarity from Minister Angula why he has taken so long to respond. We know there is [allegedly] something fishy.

Cell Wars

* IT is not cell firms that embarrass us. On the contrary it is the conduct of some ministers and other Government personnel.

* ALL three telecommunication service providers in Namibia are ripping off the public with their high rates. The poor service does not warrant the rates charged. - Unhappy MTC client

* WHY must the Government feel embarrassed about the mobile price war? They can save themselves that and many others if they put visionary legislative instruments in place to regulate these issues. Good heavens, it's 18 years after Independence - wake up!

Politics In General

* COMRADE President [Hifikepunye Pohamba], an opportunity presents itself for you to show your teeth. Are you able to rise to the occasion or you choose to compromise - again! Fire the Minister, simple. After all he will never be loyal to our party. Make your decision known otherwise other Swapo Youth League leaders will fill the vacuum.

* THE President of Namibia and Swapo has failed dismally by not being decisive and bold enough to stand his ground on Minister Nghimtina's case. - Tjeripo, Ongwediva

* PRESIDENT Pohamba please stop the comrades from destroying our hard-won gains otherwise history will judge and your good name will become a curse to Namibia's economic progress.

* THE arrival of President Pohamba raised the hopes of many Namibians, but his silence on lawlessness by his comrades is dishonest and shameful to Namibia - maybe it was all talk.

* YESTERDAY it was water that should be denied. Today it's a tree belonging to Swapo and I am sure tomorrow it will be the air we breathe - Swapo will claim ownership. What a confused party. Sies man!

* CAN Swapo and the RDP now determine the borders of the trees at Omutwewomunhu Village as it looks to me our leaders have both lost direction and are creating a new Palestine/Israel like situation in Namibia.

* GOVERNOR Usko Nghaamwa said we must not buy from RDP members' shops, but he was buying all his stock for his businesses in South Africa before Independence!

Sport Politics

* A BIT of advice to the Olympic committee. Let the athletes start preparing now for 2012 using 2008 qualifying criteria as guidelines. Do not wait until the IOC sets the criteria, it will be too late. We want medals, not post mortems. Good luck.

* MR Rusten Mogane you are doing a good job but try to give more funds to the federations and push your commissioners to work hard, some of them never met board members of those federations nor visited their offices. Keep up the good work.

Education

* DIRECTOR of Ohangwena education region, why are all the inspectors in your region from the same tribe? Take an example from your neighbouring regions.

* MR Nangolo Mbumba please do something. How can someone who was a principal get a pension of less than N$2 000 a month upon retirement? Is that what s/he deserves?

* THE SMS which was in The Namibian of Tuesday, September 2, about the Centaurus school's keyboard and word processing is true and believable. My daughter was in Grade 10 last year and got a U (ungraded) symbol in that subject. No wonder all learners got G and U. The principal and the subject teacher must be brought to book. Mr Nangolo (Mbumba) Minister of Education, we want feedback.

* OSHANA education region, please pay out our S&Ts for the post Grade 8 & 9 entrepreneurship teachers' training. How can we wait from January up to September without a single coin paid us? I need the ACC to seriously investigate this, otherwise we won't implement this subject in Grade 9 next year!

* MINISTER of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Abraham Iyambo, do you allow your employees to go on special leave during their probation period? A politically well-connected and loyal SPYL member who is employed atWalvis Bay is on three months' leave, allegedly to campaign for his political party. Is this a jobs-for-comrades benefit or a mere 'Aluta continua' self-aggrandisement? ACC, save the nation, please!

* I FULLY support the SMS that requested the ACC to look into the issue of employment at the Grootfontein municipality, because nepotism is rife, with unqualified people sitting in strategic positions, while development of the town has been pushed to the backburner. As residents of the town, we had enough corrupt appointments of key personnel. ACC, please help us to get rid of those who are in positions for which they do not qualify.

Taxi Troubles

* MR Magnus Nangombe of Nabta, it seems you are not aware of what is going on with your organisation. Despite the answer you gave last Monday in the media, taxi drivers in the northern towns are still charging N$8 for a ride. They claim to have received the price list from a certain Fonseca in Ongwediva, who also apparently (according to some of the taxi drivers) went on radio to announce the new tariffs. I therefore urge Mr. Nangombe to get his house in order before a vote of no confidence in his leadership. I'm now confused between Nangombe and Fonseca. Who is having the power of saying what?

* CAN Nabta please clarify and inform the public what the true taxi fares at Oshakati are? Taxi drivers at Oshakati are charging N$8. Is this the legal taxi fare? - Ndina

Avis Angst

* WHY does the municipality want to interfere with Avis Dam, which is a success, and not with the western part of Windhoek, which sorely needs better quality recreation spaces? Is it because there is a kickback in it for someone at the City of Windhoek?

* AVIS Dam development: Sadly I do not share the emotions around stopping the area from being developed. Yes, it is a nice-looking area, however people don't go there for the view - they take their dogs for a walk, and as a result you cannot walk there without stepping in dung and during the rainy season the smell of dog dung is horrible. If you want to preserve, do it for the people not their pets.

From The Regions

* HELAO Nafidi and Nored electricity please explain to us at Oshikango why the power constantly interrupted. Please tell us why you do not warn in advance about power cuts and also clean the town.

Letters Of The Last 48 Hours

•  SMSes Of The Day : Monday