SMSes Of Thursday 29 October 2009
* OUR country’s education and progress has stalled because the state is not using mass communication for development but propaganda, eg NBC and New Era. People don’t need to celebrate plans, we need to know the results, learn from our mistakes and improve on our techniques. Any foreign, local investments or project worth more than N$5 million should have a mandatory video documentation to record failures and successes for public scrutiny. Mining companies and other investors are not held accountable for their actions, sometimes after using taxpayers’ money. Transparency is a future guarantor of economic stability. There are no quick fixes! – Communicator
Food For Thought
* WHEN the dust settles, like electricity, after billions have been spent, will desalinated water prove to be so expensive nobody will be able to afford it?
Bouquets And Brickbats
* I WISH to thank Captain Boardman and his co-pilot for handling the emergency in the air when I experienced total breath loss during flight SW855 on Friday from Oranjemund to Eros. Keep it up Air Namibia, you are the best.
* THANK you Michael for your call for more cycling awareness in Windhoek. At last Sunday morning’s national cycle race a car stopped and shouted: “Ek sal al hierdie fietsryers doodry!” Such aggressive behaviour and intolerance is unacceptable and dangerous. Let’s rather welcome the cyclists at the African Championships from November 4 – 8 with a smile and wish them a safe ride.
– Vera
* FNB Ondangwa, thanks for the well organised service you offer to your clients and those friendly smiles means a lot to us. May God bless!
– Clients
* I WOULD just like to congratulate the ladies of Proqual Imaging on winning the Business Leadership award. They are a true inspiration for upcoming female entrepreneurs. May God bless you!
* I WOULD like to extend my deep appreciation to the Tsumeb Municipal Council for finding a lasting solution with regard to the relocation of Soweto residents to a more conducive area nearby. The response was good even though it has encouraged name calling. At the end of the day, it’s in the best interests of our people.
– Comrade Simon ya Limbandungila, community activist, onapo ya kweni hayo yoye
* YESTERDAY’S article on gift ideas for Xmas was a great one ... until I read the option of “rather buying a gift for the animals” ... instead of the San. Hmm since when are as a developing country faced with the option of saving animals over human lives. It’s an insult to the San community for their survival to be equated to that of the cheetahs. Be serious please.
– I think you are misinterpreting the options. You can give a gift to the San people, and you can also give a gift to help animals. It’s not that one is being equated with the other. – News Editor
Politics
* THERE we go again at Outapi: “we were provoked”. Swapo supporters at Outapi, you are a disgrace to our democracy. You do not even heed the President`s call to resist the so-called provocation. What a shame!
* NAMIBIANS, let’s do away with politics for some time, please. What’s wrong with printing Mrs Witbooi giving her last respects and love to her hubby on the cover page? Is it because it is in The Namibian or what’s the fuss all about? Reverend Witbooi was a real statesman, even more than what most of us claim. So he deserves all possible journalistic coverage by all media houses. Hamba khale.
– Rev Dr Tyrish
* THE NAMIBIAN, please grant me this opportunity to also air my view on the Chinese bursaries. I am not surprised but just delighted that such things are being brought to light. The information that a Chinese official was talking to the ministers to offer the bursaries is a revelation. What are they waiting for before they resign their positions in government!
* CHILDREN of high officials have the benefit of bursaries. Struggle veterans and their kids have benefits of jobs and financial grants. We who suffered inside (the country) don’t want benefits but at least demand equal rights and justice.
– Jah B
* TO win you must be united. I am an independent politician. But there are way too many useless political parties in Namibia. I support the two-party system idea but I know that Swapo will be the first to oppose it because they know what it means.
Election Fever
* DO I have to vote if I don’t have confidence in any of the candidates up for elections? I’m confused!
City Fathers Please ...
* I FEEL pity for our dear City of Windhoek municipality. Government is not able to pay you because it is busy buying luxury vehicles for its so-called comrades that cannot make it to parliament even if they had free transport. Why not repair the vehicles in the government garage. Some are still in good conditions. It is cheaper to repair than to purchase. Plan your finances and help others.
Not a pretty sight
* CITY of Windhoek CEO and Mayor I asked Town Planning (TP) for the illegal business of a neighbour to be stopped and scrap cars be removed from in front of my house. They apparently told City Police who are now taking ages to do their job despite repeated promises. Please ask the TP for details.
Education
* Please Honourable Nangolo Mbumba, your speech at NBC news must be put into action. What extra N$10 000 is your Ministry giving to students if some are still in arrears? Which students have been helped out? Or is it just an election campaign?
* I AGREE with Shilongo (October 27), practical and technical subjects must be done from Grade1! Thus, all Namibians learn new skills and will be self-employed instead of unemployed!
* DEAR Shilongo, your call for vocational training at school level refers. Come and look what the Waldorf School is planning: from Grade 10 all learners will do a vocational training course so when they finish school they will have an NSSC plus a qualified skill to start working.
– Vera
* I TOTALLY agree with Shilongo about revamping the education system. It will put less pressure on the children, and Namibia can surely look to a brighter future.
Labour Issues
* THE MRLGHRD must look seriously at the salaries and benefits of towns such as Luderitz. They continuously advertise but don’t get people.
* WHY did the Government stop the transport for soldiers to and from Luiperdsvallei when they know that there is no taxi rank and its even out of town.
* A CERTAIN SA company (name supplied) is denying their workers leave to go and write exams. Please Government do something about this.
* WE as TransNamib workers from Mariental want the CEO of TransNamib to tell us what we will do with the 7,6 % salary increment if a general worker’s basic salary is N$1 660. It’s a shame. Mr Hambili please check, we are hungry.
* ARE Government cars allowed to be at shebeens and bars at night after five?
* NANTU has lost its vision. Erongo Regional Leadership has failed us. Our grievences have not been addressed for the past few years and we continue to suffer humiliation and threats from our superiors. Better stop deducting from my salary.
– Concerned Teacher.
General
* AS a concerned parent I suggest that our government introduces a system to create involvement opportunities for schoolchildren in national projects during school holidays to prevent them to walking around in the streets and involve them in bad activities.
* GOVERNMENT should review its spending on prisoners. What a waste, we are maintaining lives which are productive. These people should be used in major projects where manual labour is required. Land is expensive in Luderitz. Maybe this may reduce cost. And obviously the prison crimes.
Customer Questions
* Interesting, when you take a bank loan you pay 15% plus prime and when you invest your money you get interest of 7,5% only!
Health Matters
* OH Ministry of Works and Health, are you either waiting for the Katutura Nurses’ Home to fall down or injuries to occur. Everything is old, today water is running from the top building, floors are flooded. Who to sue for our damaged goods?
– Crying resident.
NBC
* CAN NBC please bring back the salt and pepper cooking show. I enjoyed the show, so did all my friends. The recipes were great, location perfect, guests interesting. They promised to be back three months ago.
– Cuisine.
R.I.P
* ROGER said here I am and can’t breath. Then God called him. But let us dance to and enjoy the great music that he left behind. Rest in peace Roger.
* THE untimely passing away of Roger and Eclipse touches not only GMP but the whole of Namibia. Rest in Peace
– Truly Namibian
* WE thank you for the many, many messages of condolence we have received at the death of of Roger and Eclipse. We unfortunately do not have the space to publish them all. We would like to advise you though of a Joint Memorial Service to be held at the National Theatre of Namibia in Windhoek at 16h00 today.