SMSes for Wed 17 Dec 08
* RAMATEX left thousands in the streets, mines are closing down, many more school dropouts will join the unemployed masses; who will save us? We can save ourselves if we want to. We can create our own jobs by using the small amount we have to buy Namibian products identified by the Team Namibia logo. If we do that in our thousands, Namibian shops will be forced to remove readymade imports from their shelves and local producers will be forced to employ more people. Political leaders, church leaders, trade union leaders and student organisation must start campaigning among their members and supporters for the buying of Namibian products. Stop hate speech and buy Namibian products please.– WSAM, Windhoek
Food for Thought
* AFRICAN leaders forget that it’s because of their followers that they are leaders today. Instead they forget their duties and concentrate on enriching themselves. Let’s not vote for such people in the next election. Together we can do it. Why is it that we have lots of resources within a small population but we have towns looking like in the 80s? Where is all the money going?
Zimbabwe
* I SUPPORT the idea of closing the Zimbabwean Embassy and that our Government should call back our diplomatic staff. We should demand a national referendum on the Zimbabwe issue.
* PEOPLE of Namibia, please, leave (President Robert) Mugabe alone and concentrate on the problems in your own country. First clean in here before you go out. Much is dirtier here than Mugabe. – Mwapotah
* IF sanctions from the West worked for us to help to get rid of white African ‘apartheid’ dictators... Why can it not work for us to get rid of black African dictators? All we need to do is to join forces with Botswana and the West towards a future for Zimbabwe without Mugabe and his gang: Tough love, but true love. Let’s be strong enough, Namibia!
Bouquets and Brickbats
* THE Namibian is not being fair and impartial, its opinions are overbearing and filter through all articles regarding Swapo and RDP. Our President is being vilified day in and day out. Why not publish his full statement regarding the recent tension, not what your editors think we the people should know. The editors’ disapproval of the people’s choice should not prevent the paper from telling it as it is. – John – The Namibian has and always will tell it like it is, but often people’s political affiliations and prejudices colour their perceptions of what is fair and impartial. People view the same event through different prisms. It’s also important to note that there is a difference between “criticism” and “vilification”. The news published in The Namibian is not subject to the approval or disapproval of any one person, whether it be a journalist or the editor, or any organisation for that matter. Nonetheless we respect your right to your views and are pleased that you are using this forum to do so. P.S. We are looking at if there is a way of publishing the President’s speech. – News Editor
* TO the DJ’s of Fresh Radio Station, thanks for putting fun back into our lives through the programme ‘Time 2 Shoot’. Whoever’s brilliant idea that was, be blessed. I have a small problem though, when are you rolling out to Walvis Bay?
General
* ARABS are exposing their statesmen to humiliation in foreign countries by supporting the shoe thrower in Iraq that is not the proper gesture to show discontent. – Concerned from Caprivi.
* I’M sure the Bush administration will find a way to make the shoe incident ‘an act of terrorism’.
* NAMIBIAN MPs please leave our shebeens and deal with alcohol producers.
* IF the law prohibits labour-hire companies, the same law can stop REDs, which are also third-party companies which are a burden on consumer.
* HOW long still before Nabta lowers taxi fares? Normally they don’t waste time raising their fares after the fuel prices have gone up a couple of times. Well, Mr Chairman of Nabta, fuel prices have been reduced more than a couple of times now. – L Namaseb
* I URGE all opinion-makers in the newspapers to keep their contributions short and sweet. The New Era has a tendency of publishing long articles that are repetitive and don’t really make sense to an independent thinker.
* CAN Elcin abolish the book used during church services and try to pray more with the guidance of the Holy Sprit. This book is becoming boring. We thus need something new.
* [ISAAC] Kaulinge of Roynam seems bent on blaming everyone else, including staff and suppliers, but himself, where the real problem, in light of all the blame, probably lies.
* I WANT to suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs goes and investigates the immigration officers at the borders in the South. They are not serious. They are getting paid for nothing. People pass by with stolen cars and with no documents. Please do something, they are sleeping.
* THE fuel price has dropped for the fifth time. What about the price of public transport? Can someone explain to the nation please. – Concerned Citizen
* AN excellent proposal: Rename Mugabe Avenue to Barack Obama Avenue.
* MULTICHOICE please check whether it is legal to have a SA smart card but reside in Namibia. A lot of people have those cards, is it fair? Please deal with it!
* CAN the City of Windhoek please do something about the streetlights in Golgotha 14 because we are being attacked in our houses which are being broken into. Please help. We will die. We can’t even walk freely. I’m concerned how far this will go.
Message Of Condolence
* SOME of us who went through the 1996 NDF first recruits training were honoured to have been under the leadership of Brigadier Malakia Nakandungile as the commanded of the Osona Military School. A no-nonsense man. The military force and the nation lost a real leader. May his soul rest in rest. – EV Muhata
* I WISH to extend my sympathy to the wife of Brigadier Nakanduungile and S/Sgt Likius Amunyela (Kaboy) who died in a car accident on December 13. God gave, and He took them, let His name be praised. May their souls rest in peace. – Meme Louw
In and From the Regions
* I FAIL to understand why our pensioners in Kavango don’t have old-age homes but others in the South and Central do. Is this fair? – Benny, Mupapama
* KEETMANSHOOP Municipality please can you erect speed bumps on the road to the waste dump at Krönlein. This road has become a racetrack. No stop signs, very unsafe condition and dusty. Please do something. – Concerned Resident.
* WHY is it that Kunene Region is always the last one in everything. Teachers from other regions have received their cheques for marking a long time back and ours are not yet out. No wonder the region is performing poorly. Please supervisors at Khorixas do your work. Talk to your people. – Angry and Hungry Teacher
* SWAPO is building Unam and other institutions of higher learning in the North, and not a single one in the entire south. And insults us by labelling us as drunks. – Your main point stands. However, as far as I can recall, the Swapo Party didn’t label people in the South as “drunks”. Rather, there was a report, which pinpointed alcohol as a problem in the South. – News Editor
* WE here at Tsumkwe at Mangetti dune beg you in the GRN to help us with a network please. We are also part of the country, we are really suffering when it comes to car accidents on roads. Sometimes it happens, let’s say at 19h00, but the poor individuals with their pain will stay there until the following day and people dying from waiting so long. Please give us attention as you do to others.
Lend An Ear
* WE want to find out from the TUN president about the 24 loan which we applied for in October. It’s like we have been left in the dark. The worst part is that they have already deducted N$202 from our account.
* PLEASE explain to me I’m totally confused. I applied for a loan at TUN which is linked to Mortgage Wise. I’ve been trying to call their office which is in Windhoek but not reachable anymore. They deducted N$202 from my salary but still no feedback and the number in RSA is not reachable either. So please I want feedback or I will take further steps.
Education
* CAN the Permanent Secretary of Education explain his decision to allow the controversial rector of Ongwediva to chair an interview while on six months’ sick leave?
ACC Alert
* HONOURABLE (Vitalis) Ankama, is circular 5 not applied in Kavango Region. Many young poor girls are impregnated by teachers, not to mention principals who are marrying learners. ACC please intervene.
* ACC and Education Director, please investigate the telephone misuse (over N$5 000 in four months) at the Omusati Education Regional Office, Outapi. The same thing happened at the Omusati Regional Council.
* WE the Ondangwa community want the Anti-Corruption Commission to come and investigate whether the Heroes Primary School is a private school or a community school.
– Concerned Parents
Service Please
* PLEASE Mr Bob Kandetu, we at Otjiwarongo have been without NBC TV service for three weeks. We pay our TV licences in Otjiwarongo. Please do something.
– Frans
* SINCE MTC sucks with its poor services, why can’t Telecom Namibia and Cell One merge? It will benefit the telecommunication industry
* PICK ‘n Pay management go an see Pick ‘n Pay Katutura and see how dirty the trolleys are.
* CITY of Windhoek and FNB, are you aware that the system of buying electricity at the ATM machine does not work anymore?