SMSes of Thursday 4 February 2010
* I’M still waiting for the best Namibian journalists to uncover and reveal why/how ‘The Rich’ get richer and ‘The Poor remain Poor’. Who is fooling who? Who manipulates who? How does wealth get to be evenly redistributed in Namibia?
Food for Thought
* FELLOW Namibians, stop complaining that Government is doing nothing to help in this or that. After all, this has been happening since 1991 and yet we continue to keep the same old people in power. Is that not what we wanted?
Bouquets and Brickbats
* THE Namibian, thank you for bringing old stories from your archives. It made me happy to see those prices and shows how life has changed since. It really helps us the youth. By the way the 30th August 1985 as shown on your first edition was the day I turned six up there in the north. Keep it up.
* THE editor can you make the selective front pages that appear once a week more visible because we want to read that story on it. Is a good idea. I am thinking even of you inserting the whole copy of the old newspaper into the new edition. Please do it.
– Note: Afraid this is not possible. But our archives are there for those who are interested in The Namibian’s history to access. – Ed
* YOUR front page insert of August 1985 refers. Just look at the prices of WB products. What has happened to the economy since then?
* CONGRATULATIONS on the return of Ndeshi and Jakes. This Tuesday’s is the best ever. Keep up the good work.
* NOT one to judge, I have endured English grammatical errors in The Namibian with profound anguish. But it’s everyone’s social duty to correct such ills. Please editor do enforce spelling and grammar checks on all material submitted by your reporters. This is embarrassing to say the least.
– Keletso
* GREAT news at last; the Tender Board came to terms with not giving tenders to foreign companies making use of foreign unskilled and semi-skilled workers. We need to empower ourselves.
– Pastor Ben Araeb
* THE introduction of the hardship allowance for bush teachers is a good strategic motivation to teachers. Be on the lookout for good academic results.
Running the Show
* DEAR Permanent Secretary and Minister of Home Affairs please one day come at 08h00 to see when your counters start serving people. You will be surprised at 09h00.
* CAN Prime Minister Nahas Angula explain to this nation why the GIPF should be given to a private individual.
– Namholo.
In and From the Regions
* THE Chinese retailers, cum investors, have completely economically colonised Oshikango, making it the dirtiest shanty town in Namibia, while GRN does nothing to promote local economic empowerment. In China they do not allow small-time retailers masquerading as investors. China only welcome investors in manufacturing and technology. In Africa they kill local manufacturers, eg Zimbabwe. Namibia needs Chinese investors not retailers.
We can’t hear you
* I AM a resident of Henties Bay. There is no more Omulunga Radio reception in Henties bay. Omulunga! Please do something. We like you.
– Amelly
* THE office of the councillor of Guinas Constituency is forever closed. There is no development or job creation in Guinas. Please Comrade Isak Gomagab you were voted to serve the people of Guinas.
* ONDANGWA Town Council does not know about health and sanitation. Those of us in the old houses (oontokele) have had a blocked sewarage system long before Independence. This poor sanitation and rotting sewerage system is affecting our health. Why do we pay for sewerage services if the system is not working. Please health inspector visit Block E houses. We need help.
* WE want to hear what the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) has to say about the houses also not sold in Keetmanshoop? We hear the comrade contracted has run away.
* NHE at least tell us when you are building new houses in Rundu again. As you know you are the only one with affordable prices for us poor civil servants with little housing subsidies. We are tired of hearing the word soon but no exact time given. Please come rescue us from a nightmare of renting.
Politics
* WHAT is wrong with (Kazenambo) Kazenambo’s statement? Is it because it is the truth?
The Killing Fields
* STILL telling it like it is? Do you still subscribe to this motto? Now why don’t you do us an informative article about Eugene de Kock of Vlakplaas – fame’s family in Namibia? Is he perhaps a sibling of a certain lawyer in Karasburg or is it mere coincidence that they share the same family name and both had a father who was at one time a magistrate in Namibia?
– Iuleds
Health
* PLEASE go and check the living conditions of the students at the nursing home in Keetmanshoop. Some of them are in their second year and are still waiting for the money which is supposed to cover their needs, books and accommodation at the training centre. The Government complains about the number of nurses in our country and they are treating those who want to commit to the job in this way. Remember some of these people are there directly from schools and are totally dependent on their loans. Does the Government really want these people to educate themselves and, if so, where is their contribution? Please honourable minister look into this matter.
Education
* TO the person who was complaining about the Polytechnic changing its admission requirements to 25 points in 5 subjects, the Polytechnic is now a University of Science and Technology. They just need to work harder and get the required points.
– Pau
* I WANT to know why IOL never accepts cancellations because I registered with ICDL in 2007 and after two months I wrote a cancellation letter but they did not accept it. The worse part is I am still paying for a course that am not doing.
– Susan
* WE used to attend studies in the afternoon with dedicated teachers. Why is it an issue for Khomas and Erongo? No wonder the results are poor!
Counting the Cost
* WE are vegetable farmers. We only get paid N$3 a kilo for butternuts but in the shops they sell for N$14. We would like to know how this calculation is made?
* FIRST our wholesome plentiful fish, now our red meat, beef and game out of reach of the masses. Now we must settle for overgrown imported rats. What a disgrace!
ACC Alert
* ACC isn’t it time to investigate all Nampol sports clubs?
And Justice for All
* IN the RSA, judges are required to declare their interests before they assume office. Advocate Heathcote why does your Society of Advocates not spearhead such transparency in the appointment of judges right from the start? For in your comments on the NUNW you have failed to comment on this crucial point. All judges must declare their interests in 2010.
– August M
* COURT at Eenhana is disorganised! We had to wait at court from 09h00 till 17h00 but to no avail. We were not told what would happen next and if we needed to come back the next day for a hearing! Please police, lawyers inform people of your plans, we also have jobs to attend to and other business!
– Suki
General
A TEXT message called ‘PAA’ claimed that I am more concerned about Swapo’s violation of human rights instead of monitoring prisons. As a matter of fact, I am equally concerned about all and any human rights violations by whomsoever. Over the last 20 years we have persistently spoken against overcrowded prisons as well as chronic postponing of court cases. Shouldn’t we blame the Swapo Government for spartan prisons also?
– Phil ya Nangoloh
* I FIND Angolan car registration numbers really suspect. Most of them are faded and some are printed in italics. Won’t it be best if all foreign cars get a local registration number after some time in the country?
– Kalashnikov
Labour Issues
* TO civil servants and other state employees whose pensions are administered by GIPF: Do you know for sure that the reported new pension administrator, Kuleni Fund Administrator, due to take over the role of GIPF, as reported in another newspaper, has the credibility and standing to guarantee the security of your pension? Are you really sure?
* OUR Cabinet of Namibia you have totally chased away the former Amcom workers. Some of us are 55 years old. Nobody wants to employ us. Our President please do something.
Service Please
* HOW is this possible? Last weekend on Friday Nandos did not have any chicken at all. Why not just close the doors because if there is no chicken what is there to buy?
* STANDARD Bank Rundu is your air conditioning working? Your branch is hot and smelly. Please do something!
* FNB Rundu please improve your service. There are seven tellers and only two working at month end! FNB how can you help us?
* STANDARD Bank Khorixas Branch please consider placing chairs in the bank because the elderly and everybody else have to stand in very long queues.
– Hellie