SMSes for Thu 26 Feb 09
* HOLD on guys! Building dams to stop floods in the North is not the answer since floodplains don’t have precise tributaries. We have to excuse nature to replenish itself. The North is overpopulated, land is over-utilised and wildlife is decimated to extinction, for example, giant catfish and frogs. For the last three decades people have only caught juvenile fish and frogs. Migrating birds don’t come anymore, and there are more rats and cockroaches than their natural predators. The GRN and MET must relocate everyone from the efundja paths and resettle them on higher ground, while those with many livestock should go to commercial farms. Wetlands and swamps must be restored for good. We should not blame nature but our poor planning!
Food For Thought
* NAMIBIANS should not complain about the Government wasting money on boats and planes and trains. After all, they voted for them! – A Smit
* NAMIBIANS deserve tax relief this year. After the hardships of the past two years our real incomes are severely eroded. Namibians are of the most heavily taxed in the SADC sub-region. At least ministers got 24% salary hikes.
Development Woes
* PRESIDENT (Hifikepunye) Pohamba and your Government ministers! Where are you during this difficult time of floods and no water at Walvis Bay? – Nduuvundi
* WHAT a terrible town to live in. For God’s sake how is Walvis Bay supposed to grow economically and attract tourists if there are no basic needs such as water and electricity. It is sheer stupidity how we as Africans talk of developing ourselves but do exactly the opposite of what will make us develop. It is a very sad and sickening state of affairs.
Bouquets And Brickbats
* THANK you City Police for arresting those three guys who were robbing in Windhoek West. One of them wanted to beat me with a big rock last year. Keep it up please.
* VIVA to the security guarding at the Polytech during part-time classes. Our cars are safe.
* WE applaud Dr Nickey Iyambo for reprimanding the NBC TV team for coming late. If Namibia really wants to reach Vision 2030 it is high time to step up against lack of discipline at our Government institutions – follow Dr Iyambo’s example. – CAM
* I’M a first-year student at Unam doing law part time. How does one come to his first ever class, sit in class for two hours, only to realise that no lecturer is coming? I know there is something called African time, but not showing up? Such a waste of taxi money to come all that way for nothing! – Nappa Iyambo
For The City Fathers
* WINDHOEK Municipality and its tender process. How do we upcoming entrepreneurs compete with well-established companies for a simple supply service while you encourage SMEs from previously disadvantaged groups to apply? Where’s the consistency if Plastic Packaging is awarded a tender? What is the council’s social responsibility towards upcoming businesses?
* PLEASE City of Windhoek do something about Herero Mall, it’s polluted by broken bottles and urine. – Robben Karumendu
Election Fever!
* ARE our military personnel allowed to decorate their own private cars with Swapo flags while at work? I have seen it at the Military School by one senior officer.
In And From The Regions
* WHY is the firewood of King Elifas [allegedly] transported with NDF vehicles? Is he the only beneficiary or are there also other chiefs who benefit from the NDF’s generosity?
* NAMIBIANS please, it’s Kavango, not Okavango as was read by a One Africa TV presenter on Monday. We would like an apology. – Mudumbi
* CASH register at Unam, Oshakati Campus. On February 23 I went to pay school fees for my child. To my surprise, on the 24th I looked at the receipt and noticed there is only N$1 050 instead of the N$2 050 which I paid. People are struggling to pay and this is what happens. Warning to the nation. Check your receipt before you go.
* I WANT to know from the Swakopmund Municipality whether the riding of quad bikes is allowed in residential areas. It seems that they have chosen weekends when everybody wants to enjoy their quiet times at home. – Maria Woelk, Swakopmund
* PLEASE can the regional management of education in Kavango drive around from 05h00 to 07h00 in the morning and see how many learners are going for school at Mururani and Katjinakatji. They travel as far as about 7 km. Is this access to education? Do not talk about kids from Mukambo to Silikunga school. Make a survey at all the schools on how long each learner is travelling. Please request more schools.
Health Matters
* GRN and MoHSS is it true what I heard? You really accept your own people going back on the street, those TB Dot Promoters who were helping the Namibian nation. Just imagine they were getting only N$600 per month to help our nation. Does the GRN mean that they cannot help those 16 people to go on with that job? We don’t want to die of TB. We all know that TB is T everywhere. Dr R Kamwi please help them. Thanks.
Running The Show
* BEFORE we buy a new presidential plane, please Mr President look at the country’s road conditions and by the way who is advising the President? Don’t just look at your commission
* A CEO of a certain parastatal in Namibia earns N$100 000 a month but the GRN doesn’t have money for the poor children who need surgery. Is this leadership?
Education
* I WOULD like to know why the Okakarara VTC is not publishing the names of those admitted in the newspaper like other institutions? Not all the people are from that region and can go and check if they are admitted. I lost my place because of that. Please change your system. – Victim
* PLEASE, the acting principal of Onguti Senior Secondary School in Oshikoto when are you going to post our testimonials? We matriculated last year but until now we have not received anything! – Sky headboy
* WE parents of learners at Gammams Primary School, especially those in Grade 1 and 2, were very startled to learn of the manner in which our children are being punished. Therefore, we would like to draw your attention, the general public and those whom this may concern, so that this complaint may receive your sincere consideration. Our beloved children have been running to us complaining about being pinched and the use of corporal punishment. This has led to children being frightened at the thought of going to school. Moreover, as parents, we feel that this kind of punishment is not appropriate because the transgressions for which they are being punished are trivial!
* WHEN will they employ us maths and science teachers? People are just calling their friends, wives, relatives and husbands for interviews.
* FOR years now the Government has failed to provide adequately for teacher advisors and inspectors to visit schools regularly to help them support with teaching and learning. This undermines the provision of quality education. What surprises is the continued silence on this serious matter by the line PS and Minister. For example, the Caprivi Education Region is on its knees transport wise. Unbelievable!
Painful Prices
* I WOULD like to know why Prosperity increases its premium tremendously. I am saying this because last year I was only paying N$400. This year it has moved up to N$609. I think I must cancel this policy before I become a beggar. This as I earn only N$3 500. I was not told that it would go this high.
Taxi Talk
* PEDESTRIANS are the main contributing factor to the unruly behaviour of taxi drivers. They stop the taxis at unsuitable places and they move freely in the roads so that drivers have to give them right of way where there’s no pedestrian crossing.
Service Please
* What’s the use of FNB’s Cellphone banking, especially to the disabled who cannot physically get to a FNB branch and rely on it, if it’s never available (MTC charges for every time this “Not Available” service is used).
* PLEASE train the staff of Foschini Keetmanshoop or close it. Some are not friendly, helpful and glad to work during these trying times – be grateful to be of service to the nation!
On the Box
* NEVILLE (Basson) the launching of the Namibian soapie on Friday was an occasion. I have a concern that you kept putting your arm around Minister (Hage) Geingob and (Environment and Tourist Minister Netumbo) Nandi-Ndaitwah. Take note she is a lady. I propose that you polish this aspect – you are too familiar. Hey, I still enjoy your shows. Take a hint.
MTC responds
IN view of the many comments and queries about MTC, we asked them to clarify these for our readers:
- The Volvo competition is open to all Namibians irrespective of geographic location. Winners have come from all corners of the country, all ethnic groups and reflect the demographic profile of the population.
- The Volvo competition terms and conditions are clearly stated on our website: www.mtc.com.na/tango_crazy_car.php. A driver’s licence is not a condition.
- Network problems: MTC is committed to providing all our 1 million+ customers with a world-class network. We spend in excess of N$300 million annually to improve coverage and quality of network. Where there are outages due to power cuts or breaks in the Telecom Namibia coverage, we do our level best to do attend to problems speedily. With recent rains, some areas were particularly worst hit and we apologise for any inconveniences experienced.