SMSes for Tue 24 Mar 09
* CAN somebody please tell us if the old-age pensioners did get a raise or not. We are confused. One Africa TV said not while a newspaper said we did get a 21,6% raise which should raise our pensions to N$550 not N$450. – Some media seem to have misinterpreted Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s Budget statement. There will be NO INCREASE in pensions this year. What the Minister said is that some N$200 million has been budgeted for the next three years to increase the coverage, i.e. the number of people, for social grants for pensioners and war veterans. Government intends to support 92 per cent of pensioners by 2011-12. – Newsdesk
Food for Thought
* THOSE gentlemen who filled N$100 of fuel at Engen Jakaranda, at around 8, with a black sedan car, a Hyundai or Honda, please come and pay. Because if you don’t, it will be deducted from my salary. Please call or SMS me at 085-573-4949. Please.
Looking Back 19 Years
* NAMIBIA, 19th year of Independence but no progress in broadcasting. We need professional directors for videos and music and sound at national events. These are technical areas and only needed to be “tuned”. Now, our events look amateurish and backward. The poor service damage is irreparable to our national image; humiliates our leaders and questions our technical abilities. Can’t we? – From Electech
* IN Otavi Independence is understood as only for Swapo Party. If you belong to other political parties and you are there, it is very hurtful. Swapo members are fully camouflaged in Swapo and they are all are regarded as VIPs. Can we, the other political parties, then together celebrate the day on another day together with disregarded community leaders and church leaders of our society?
* CAN someone please tell me whether the commemoration of Independence is for one party? If it for all citizens, then why do people attend such an event wearing party colours?
Tax Talk
* [FINANCE Minister] Saara [Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s] Budget is just too soft and too short! With the predictable recession, reduced revenue, overruns, plus the added flood disaster, I know that the budget is out of line (so does Saara). It is an election year so things are different (thanks for the cuts) but I wanted Saara to drastically stop ALL non-essential GRN expenditure and spend heavily on survival mode issues. (Not forgetting that foreign trade and aid will be reduced). There should have been a new focus on job creation. The flood fund should have been fivefold as this will have a huge impact on the viability of the people in the North with economic implications for all. Education should have been massively increased to sort out this essential aspect for survival. We hear everyday they can’t pay their bills. The pensioners...no, no, no... please! The defence allocation should be halved and Air Namibia should be liquidated … sorry, we are in the quagmire! It should have been a lot more “crisis” orientated. – Stefan
* COMRADE Finance Minister, can you please backdate the tax exemption for retrenched workers, who are already retrenched due to the global financial crisis. Thanks for your understanding. – Cde Richard Gositamang Madi
* HOW is it possible that Mr Beukes who already worked for Namcor did not know that they had to hedge against forex differences? He should have been aware of this.
Politics* SPYL the youth on the streets are the ones who feel the pinch, not those in parental care and in the school benches. – N-Sandy
* THE reaction of the Nkarapamwe congregation at Rundu to the political speech by Dr Geingob was a clear signal that Namibian people are politically mature and cannot be fooled any longer.
* WHAT a disgrace! On the March 22 2009 I attended a church service in my church Nkarapamwe Elcin Rundu. I was looking forward to a sermon and hymns since I have been away to a boarding school out of town. To my disbelief the service turned into a Swapo campaign by the party’s vice president who was in attendance. Are churches now becoming political gatherings or are they still a house of worship and prayer?
Politics In General
* THE GRN condemns the situation in Madagascar, but was quiet when President Robert Mugabe caused havoc next to them. They accused harmless opposition parties of disturbing peace, but excused Mugabe for disturbing regional and continental peace. How do politicians think? – Cleo vd Bucht
* SADC, what a shame: When Mugabe was busy abusing power there was silence and now that a young African lion has seized power to safeguard his country’s land you all want to punish him. This is but one example that the African youth are tired of corrupt leaders. With time the SADC should also be scrutinised to rid it of elements that want to use it to protect personal interests. Rajoelina many progressive African youth salute you and I salute you. – Eddie, Namibia
An Odd Choice
* GWEN Lister leave Sackey Namugongo alone. A person is assumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. We all know the fact that you desperately want him dead or convicted. But the grace of God will prevail. Be concerned about the bones in your own closet. A luta continua. – To write that Ms Lister “desperately wants Mr Namugongo dead” is total nonsense, of course! – News Editor
* SHAME to whoever appointed Sackey Namugongo to narrate the happenings at our major events like this past Independence celebration. Don’t we ever respect our integrity Namibia? Why do we allow a man with criminal charges against him to narrate these events? Isn’t there anybody else with the knowledge to do that? What message are we giving out there? Anyway, happy birthday Namibia.
* SACKEY Namugongo is innocent until proven guilt by a competent Court. There is nothing wrong with the NBC inviting him to present.
Bouquets And Brickbats
* LIFESTYLE Laundry Maerua, your staff is not very friendly!
General
* THE titles Excellency and Honourable are widely used in many parts of the world not only in Namibia as one SMS on Monday alleged. If one checks a dictionary or website: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the-honourable, you will find out where, when and why these titles are used.
* NEED help! If anyone knows where I can do Invitation Cards training, please call or SMS 081 245 4959. Thanks in advance
* ON Radio Wave there’s this 4x4 advert where the man says to his wife “Hold on to my ‘dop’ while I drive this 4x4 vehicle”. Isn’t that promoting drinking and driving? Just asking.
* N21600W transporting 10 people on the back of a 1400 Nissan bakkie to work, especially during rush hour is life threatening.
Children Of The Struggle
* IS really wise to make Police officers and soldiers out of people such as the ‘children of the struggle’ who show such contempt for law and order?
Education
* UNAM thanks for closing the library on Sunday as well. How convenient! Please learn something from the Polytech!
* UNIVERSITY of Namibia, please review your timetables especially the one for the Faculty of Education. We have classes at night and end up beaten and robbed by the botsotsos. Please for the well-being of your students, we don’t want to lose our lives. What if the last class is at 17h30? We don’t want to die.
* HOW is it possible for a person who failed Grade 10 at Namcol be allowed to register for Grade 12 subjects? Namcol must tell the nation. – Rei Mandume
In And From the Regions
* ONDANGWA Town Council please do something. We need electricity. We are behind so much it seems like we aren’t in the town. – Fellow Namibians from Ondhila
* COUNCILLOR Katoma, when will the residents of Okathitu Village have their clinic? Please do something.
Health Matters
* WHAT time do the doctors start attending to patients at the Katutura State Hospital at night? We took a sick child there and the initial check-up was done by the nurse at 19h00 but waited for the doctor until 22h30. We are tired of poor service from State hospitals, please improve before elections
* PUBLIC hospitals do not most of the time have anti-rabies, anti-venom and tetanus treatment in stock. Mind you, access to those medications can determine life and death. Minister (Richard) Kamwi, what is going on?
* TO the head of National Health Training Centres: when are we the first students going to start with our lessons. We are sick and tired of sitting around. Please do something. – Concerned student
Service Please
* THE toilets at Ariamsvlei have been stinking since Friday, March 20. Insects, spiders, locusts, etc, are everywhere. Give the job to local people please Mr Supervisor of Immigration and talk to your cleaners. It’s a health hazard. They must clean it properly.
* MTC please do something to your Tsumeb outlet. The service there is not good. With the last promotion of cellphones, these were sold through nepotism. Standing in the queue you are told they are out of stock. Come other people they get them while you are standing there. Please do something before the situation gets out of hand. – Disgruntled customer
* MTC you could have opened another branch within Oshakati instead of the Volvos (competition). Please have your customers at heart, avoid long queues. This is frustrating. – Furious customer
* FIRST National Bank of Namibia, we’re tired of going to Swakop to get money. We need your service in Arandis, even if you give us an ATM first.
* OK Grocer at Eenhana is [allegedly] selling us expired food. Their fish is off and not suitable for human use, their mangoes (currently on sale N$3) are worse. Please do something – we expect this one and only big shop in town to provide us with excellent service.