SMS for Wednesday 24 JUNE 2009
* I AM writing in response to the article titled ‘Frozen’ in today’s The Namibian. Is it possible to get the contact number of Ruben Kamutuezu? I have a few things that I want to donate. Thank you. – For donations of blankets and clothing to the Havana Extension 6 community, please contact community leaders Wendy at 081 233 6745 or Tjeripo at 081 238 4285. For general donations to people living in the informal settlements, the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia can be contacted at 061 228 697. – Newsdesk
Food For Thought
* SURELY an automatic increase every year just pushes up the inflation rate and cost of living? Why can’t rents, salaries, policy payments and prices just remain the same? It’s a vicious circle! We can only break the cycle if someone is prepared to make the first move. Otherwise where will it end?
Bouquets And Brickbats
* THANK you for the SMS page. It is interesting to read what people think.
* I AGREE with the person who wrote that The Namibian’s SMS page isn’t public opinion. Are you still telling it as it is?
– Yes we are! We do our best every day. – News Editor
* THE Namibian team, I know you will not publish this SMS because my SMSes hardly get through. I want to advise to please avoid being too defensive when responding to messages that are directed to you. You are human and prone to making mistakes. Why then do you want to defend every fault expressed. Are those defensive answers the stands of your newspaper or for the individual person answering?
– As we have noted on numerous occasions, it is not possible to publish every single SMS every day. We try to put in as many as possible, without fear or favour, and representing the broadest selection of views on the day. We have already started creating more space so that we can accommodate more SMSes, most notably on Wednesdays and Fridays so far. – News Editor
* IT is brilliant to be back in Namibia.
– Mungus
* HON (Nickey) Iyambo Minister of Safety and Security, we know you are fighting for us, the police officers, alone so that we can have better benefits and salaries. Please don’t give up because to us you are our hero. We salute you.
General
* I REALLY feel for people in informal settlements. But it is time for people to learn to help themselves, not expect handouts all the time.
– I appreciate where you are coming from. However, some times people need a hand up too, especially the less fortunate amongst us. Often a random act of kindness can change a person’s life. – News Editor
* BEWARE! A lady driving a red Tazz for a driving school with no name on the car tells you she can help you with licences and car registrations. In the end she takes money and goes Awol making empty promises of giving it back. Very well known around Natis offices.
* WHY can’t the duty of issuing and testing for drivers’ licences be done by local authorities like municipalities and town councils? Because Natis is gold digging. Natis staff, no one is happy with your services.
* IT is about time that somebody investigates this at (name of company supplied). They are discriminating against HIV-positive clients. My mother took out a life cover and study policy. To my shock when they heard that she was HIV positive all the policies lapsed after they had been deducting from her for 15 years. For heaven’s sake, why can’t they cancel the life cover and keep the study policy going? Now there will be more street kids, just because of (name of company supplied). Please stop stealing from the poor.
* CIVIL servants, especially retired officials of the MoE, are waiting for months on end, even up to a year, for their pension and other funds. Question? If the MoE is taking so long, is the MoE not morally and legally obliged to pay the monthly salary of the official who is waiting? Water and electricity bills have to be paid. Food and clothing are human needs. After a lifelong service we are treated like this. Please, look into the legal and moral aspects.
* IS there anyone in this country that can give me advice on how to claim my money from (name of company supplied). Because if not then a man has to do what he has to save his family. Dear Ministers of Finance and Justice give me advice. Aren’t we in a democratic country? Mr manager of (name of company supplied) I won’t let my kids go hungry while I have got my pension in your company. It’s been too long. I want my money to feed my kids.
* TO the SMS in Friday’s The Namibian. Do you want to say only kids of the struggle are making babies or what? They will take care of the babies themselves. Who takes care of those who aren’t kids of the struggle?
– Wilhelemina, a child of the struggle, Oshakati
Politics
* INDEED Mr Hengari T Alfredo, we as the Namibian nation have been robbed of a golden opportunity to share in the wisdom of former President (Sam) Nujoma by individuals who use him for politics of the belly.
* POLITICAL parties, we have heard a lot from you at rallies. Now, we need platforms where we can ask specific questions about your plans for addressing specific issues and challenges. We even want to ask questions on your very own manifestos. What you talk at rallies is mostly your own opinions from your own perspectives. Media institutions and businesses or institutions should encourage and or sponsor such fora.
Running The Show
*MINISTRY of Safety and Security should upgrade office equipment. For the past three years now we hoped for change but in vain. Especially the head office of Police is ill equipped. What happens to budgets all these years? It is demotivating to do everything manually in today’s world.
* DOES someone need to know someone working for the Ministry of Home Affairs or what? I applied for a passport April 7, but whenever I go there I am told it is not done. But I saw a woman apply on May 5 who has already got her passport. What does that mean? Please minister do your work.
– JPM
* CAN the Finance Department in the Ministry of Youth tell the nation why there is no money in the ministry as work is at a standstill. And every time people are being told the budget is not yet out. Please from the youth. We need a response.
* IS there guidance from Ministry of Justice to traditional leaders in hearing charges and passing judgements? And how fair is this should it not be the case?
*DISMAYED by the Finance Ministry. On June 22 I went to collect my income tax return form and for my colleague. To my surprise the lady at the counter told me that she can only give me one because the Ministry does not have enough forms. I am sure other people were told the same thing. She told me that I should go and make copies. As a taxpayer paying monthly, whose money I am going to use to make copies? Minister Saara [Kuugongelwa-Amadhila] do something. We will lose trust in you. We want efficiency and quality. No lip service. We do not want to follow suit in the footsteps of some corrupt African countries.
* MINISTER of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, we want to know whether the Tsumkwe settlement office, under the Otjozondjupa RC, got money for this financial year’s budget. Because since early last year, we have been in an electricity crisis. (No diesel for the machine, no electricity, no water at all.) Please GRN help us in Tsumkwe.
* PS of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication and Director of Civil Aviation when are you going to interview candidates who applied for the Chief ATC post? It has been almost six months. Minister of Works, PSC and ACC intervene. Rumours are rife about relaxing requirements and bringing in an unqualified Junior ATC.
Health Matters
* CAN Shoprite Oshakati and Ongwediva do something about their bread? First you need somebody to cut your bread but not the customers. Secondly your bread must be put in plastic so that we avoid contamination and unwanted bacteria. We have observed people cutting themselves with your bread machine and the blood was running all over the machine. People with skin problems touch bread without covering their hands.
* CAN the MoHSS please clean their backyard behind the houses in Florence Nightingale Street! The sewerage drain has been overflowing for a long time now and the trees that were cut down should be removed please! Namibia is a clean country! Let’s keep the status quo!
City Fathers Please ...
* ROADS Authority and City of Windhoek can you tell us the meaning of the new yellow comma-shaped road marks all over the city roads?
* TO the City of Windhoek, why are some of the SME stalls in Windhoek unoccupied despite the high demand for them? You are failing this nation. Wake up.
ACC Alert
* ACC please there is corruption at Oshivelo Check Point especially when one is not in possession of your driver’s licence, drives a vehicle with a foreign registration plate and should you not have the cross border charge permit or documents.
* ACC must investigate as to why the 40 per cent for Von Bach is given to (NWR MD Tobie) Aupindi’s own aunt? There is a clear conflict of interest.
Spy Bill
* THE Spy Bill will allow the GRN to eavesdrop just as Iran is doing and trample our human rights, intimidate citizens and stifle democracy.
– Tim, Eros
* ALL of us can cry foul about this interception bill, it’s a waste of time and energy. Once Swapo has put its mind on something, even knowing it’s wrong, unless one of their own is against it, it’s a done deal. They are about to use their majority vote to bulldoze it through. Who didn’t know?
– On the other hand, wouldn’t you agree that it’s good that, for better or worse, Government knows what people think about legislation ostensibly passed in their name? It’s also good for democracy if dissenting views are aired. As Martin Luther King said: “The time is always right to do the right thing.” – News Editor
* SPY Bill: what’s the use of freedom of speech if you can’t use it ...
Labour Issues
* THE clothing companies with their head offices in South Africa, are they above the Namibian labour laws prohibiting casual work. Our children are working a full week, weekends included, but are paid an amount only enough for their monthly taxi fare to and from work without any fringe benefits like pension and medical aid.
– From a concerned parent
* PRIVATE companies must also be transparent like Government when advertising positions and indicate the salaries.
* WE took part in the National HIV Testing Day, worked from 08h00 to 20h00 and we were promised payment but up to now we have not got anything! MoHSS please reply.
In And From the Regions
* THE town council of Katima, please try to develop the town. You have a big river but we experience water problems and even electricity cuts. Look at the roads, the dust makes us sick. Please do something for us
* OTAVI Village Council must take the initiative and address the issues of unemployment and lack of housing. Since Independence the past and current leadership has failed to bring development to Otavi. It is a shame that Otavi is regarded as the dirtiest place in Namibia while having a small population.
* HI, I’m from Sesfontein. I’ve learned that there is a saying named Vision 2030. Here at our place there is no FM radio or TV coverage. Why? According to my understanding these things are very educational and we need them. Please do something about it guys we are also Namibians, and deserve to be treated like other citizens!
* FKK ancestral land, what ancestral land? Only the San can claim that.
* PLEASE people of Keetmanshoop, know that Hilma Nicanor is the responsible councillor for development in your area and not the Governor. He is responsible for Berseba. constituency.
* OSHAKATI Town Council, thank you for your concern about flood victims! We wish your survey that is withholding our well-being does not take forever. We want to build, we want electricity, we want to be happy.
* I AM sick and tired of the people of Rehoboth who are selling their dagga (epangwe) here at Rehoboth. Dagga has become just like smoking a cigarette. Authorities know who is selling this but are just quiet. We need Police from Windhoek or Oshona to come and control that farm.
– Resident
* PLEASE Helao Nafidi Town Council take us out of this disaster of dust from the roads that you put up in Ohangwena suburb . The sand you used is improper, if you have your residents’ concerns at heart come to our rescue.
Lost And Found
* TO Kelvin Abel who sent an SMS to The Namibian of Tuesday 16 June 2009 on the documents of Hans Gerson Swartbooi (driver’s licence & ID) and Julanti Aloisia Uinuses (ID) that you found. Kindly give us another contact number on which we can reach you as the one you gave is just off all the time or contact us at Hans 081-140-5713 or Julanti 081-140-5701. Thank you very much.
* CAN the one who found Naftal Shetwaadha’s documents send a short SMS in The Namibian newspaper as I did not catch your number on the radio please.
Election Fever
* I REQUEST the Minister of Fisheries, Abraham Iyambo, to make sure that all the Namibian seafarers/crew on the Namibian vessels must come to the shore to vote for their political party. Some fishing companies ignore the elections and keep us at sea. And we have no choice although we registered to vote for our party. I pay N$6 000 every month in tax, coming home from the sea to find my six-year-old little girl sitting home. All the pre-primary schools in the town are full. There’s no place for her. We need a change in Namibia.
Sporting
* CONGRATULATIONS to Team USA at the Confederations Cup. Everybody thought they were going to be the whipping boys of the tournament. Well Italy and others are already on the flight home. USA is going to shock the world by beating Spain. Team USA all the way!
Service Please
* IF Air Namibia does not replace its management in the cargo division, the airline will never make a cent. I called to make an enquiry regarding flying a dog in and the department, including management, did not know how to deal with my request. Needless to say my dog arrived safely with the great cargo division of British Airways at the fraction of the cost quoted by cargo of Air Namibia!
* IT is true. I fully agree with the reader from Katima. Telecom 3G EVDO is really a disappointment. Modems are also not activated in Ondangwa and Okahandja. As a customer I really feel cheated.
* AT Okongo in Ohangwena region we need One Africa TV & Cell One coverage, please!
* WHAT Standard Bank! Placing a full-page ad in the newspapers saying you are the best bank in Namibia! And that after the new credit card fiasco and messing up Internet banking!
* I AM a client of FNB. When unit trust saving was introduced, I thought it was a good idea of saving in case you need to buy like a decoder or a stove without buying on credit. To my surprise I went to the bank to release few rands only to find out after four months of good saving not even one cent of interest was added on to my savings but rather N$300 was deducted from my savings. Why? The person at enquiries also didn’t know why.
– Tegelela
*SERVICE at NamPost main branch is pathetic. Only one cubicle was manned on Tuesday 18 June. Pull up your socks and stop getting angry when asked!
Education
* NANTU! What happened to the teachers’ sport games? We young teachers need to have them in all the regions. Please do something. We pay for this.
– HD !
* CAN the Ministry of Education explain why the Okakarara VTC doesn’t want to give us our tools? We completed, we left, they deducted the money from our loan. We didn’t receive those tools and we don’t even know how much we are going to pay back.
*HOW do you reason? You give a hostel out weekend from 17 - 19 July (after 12h00). It’s not economical! A child must travel on Friday after 12h00. In some places they arrive only on Saturday at the same time. Then Saturday evening back again to be in hostel on Sunday evening. Think! Please!
* WHY is it that only we students at Rundu College of Education are doing action research presentation? It seems that other colleges are not doing this. The Ministry of Education or NIED should take this into consideration please.
– Concerned third-year students
* I HAVE reason to believe that there was unjust delay in evaluating Unam’s four-year qualification for more than eight years. Hence, they only began with evaluations early this year. However, we have suffered with low salaries as a result all those years.
– Amutenya Hellen
Our History
* OVAHERERO dressing code. Thank you newsdesk for the good answer you gave. We as Africans sometimes tend to forget that information is power. The old people are dying. Unless we start documenting our history future generations will be left in the dark. The truth is Europeans brought this dress code to Africans. Before that time (Hereros, Ovambos) wore leather similar to what the Ovahimba wear today. Children born in the 1950s and 1960s remember that they too wore leather. In a nutshell, we all adopted European dress codes (including the Ovambo derera, Nama rok, bubu, etc.) For instance, the cloth used making the ovambo ‘derera’ dress is also used by one tribe in South Africa. Yes, we need to research and document our history. Archives, libraries and museums are “rich” with information. Please visit these places and do your research.