SMSes for Monday 20 February 20112
SMS Of The Day *TO stop tender corruption, the Government should stop the practice of tender exemption which is being abused by those who enrich themselves and their cronies.
Food for Thought
*NOTHING is wrong with tribalism, we just need to respect each other’s ways and differences. Some tribes have traditional laws and rules followed by their kids, youth and elders and this makes them live in harmony. Other tribes don’t care about laws and rules and everything in their lives is chaos. Do you really expect these tribes to live as one? But I don’t say they should not respect each other and avoid conflicts at all cost.
*HOW do we support one another? By discriminating or insulting each other? Let’s all contribute to our country with a positive attitude.
– Johnny K
Bouquets and Brickbats
Whitney Houston
*WHAT a moving service for Whitney Houston. Thank you CNN. Such a moving and emotional service. Celebrating the life and homegoing of ‘The Voice’ Whitney Houston. You are loved forever. – LBJB (For more on Whitney, see also page 16).
*OUTSIDE the line of duty. To those who believe that Namibians, in particular those working for the public sector, are not doing anything kind and out of the ordinary (without being paid, bribed or begged) here is a story to renew your faith. On a recent trip between Windhoek and Okahandja I witnessed two members of the traffic department, who had stopped on the verge of the busy B1, with emergency lights on assisting (or rather encouraging) a tortoise to cross the hectic road. The flashing lights had the desired effect of slowing the traffic considerably and the good news is the tortoise made it! Well done whoever you are and thank you.
*THANK you Gwen Lister for the Friday perspective, as usual well written. Tribalism is a serious problem in our country. KK was bold enough to show his side, whether it was out of frustration of being constantly being discriminated against or as a way of showing his ‘evil’ side. We cannot deny the fact that the minorities in our country are frustrated, some feel as if they have no rights. As Gwen Lister rightfully said, firing KK because he said something about the Oshiwambo-speaking [people] will definitely not send the right message, if, when he spoke about the whites, we saw nothing wrong with that. We need to look at issues deeper than they appear. When people suffer for a cause and get liberated becoming a “slave” of those you suffered together with, this creates an emotional turmoil that sometimes erupts without notice!
*JUST loved the Weekender especially ‘Paparazzi’ page 20.
*THE Weekender is very good. ‘Paparazzi’ is fearless. We must laugh more often!
*‘Paparazzi’ is the funniest thing ever!
*HOW smart Rambler used an old Conan O’Brien gag to localise satire.
Feast for the eye.
*THANK you for showcasing Namibia in full bloom. Tanja Bause highlights what we take for granted.
– Rianne Selle
*NAMIBIA Airports Company (NAC) should dismiss their chief of Airport Operations because of the poorly co-ordinated airport emergency drill at Hosea Kutako International Airport. If that would have been a real aircraft accident people could have died.
*WHERE did NBC get money to show us [Whitney] Houston’s funeral programme or is it a free broadcast? Do the same when our prominent people like leaders, artists die because that’s why we pay TV licences to watch local programmes. May her soul rest in peace.
Running the Show
*THE President should also reshuffle or dismiss some of the Permanent Secretaries since most have now become untouchable and a law unto themselves, running ministries like their own private enterprises.
*WHY does the Namibian Government always want to fix things that are not broken yet break those that don’t need repair. What is wrong with the dollar bills? Why does the $20 bill need a new face? Seriously put energy into fighting poverty and unemployment.
– Limba M
Rest in Peace
*MY condolences to Minister Iyambo at the passing of his beloved sister. May the Almighty give you strength to overcome this loss.
– Kiito
Law and Order
We need to revisit.
*THERE is a desperate need to change our prisons’ overcrowded, unhygienic, inhuman, unacceptable conditions! They are not appropriate for reform. Rape, murder and intimidation are daily occurrences. Those who survive the experience are scarred for life! And the system costs Namibians more per day per inmate than putting him/her in a local hotel! Who is concerned and willing to make things better? Brain storming sessions are urgently needed! Anybody out there who cares?
– OAP
*MINISTRY of Justice, please answer. In South Africa a person can expunge an old criminal record that is 10 years old provided he/she is not convicted of an offence in that period. What is the situation in Namibia?
*A GRN car without any VIP sticker whatsoever that was travelling at about 140km/h in a 60km/h zone was given an indication to proceed and I was fined for doing 116km/h in the same zone in a rented vehicle. I requested to see the calibration certificate and the operator’s card. The officer couldn’t display it. Was even asked ‘How much do you have?’ I preferred to take the fine rather than to bribe an officer of the law. Further I was informed that my request will be displayed in court.
– Concerned citizen.
A Place to Call Home
*COUNCIL houses in Otavi are being sold privately to members of the council without informing the people who rent them. Can the Ministry of Regional and Local Government Housing and Rural Development come and investigate these sales.
*NAMIBIAN Cabinet, people who earn $20 000 or more have enough money! How can you still help them with housing? The help must be for those who earn less than $20 000 per month.
*THE Government Institutions Pension Fund’s new housing scheme seems to benefit only a lucky few yet again, as is the case with banking loans. What about those living with terminal illnesses like cancer and HIV? Till when are we going to be marginalised and discriminated against? We deserve houses too, even with special precautions. We don’t mind that just treat us fairly.
Education
Not in the classroom.
*WILL the Deputy Minister please pay surprise visits at schools in Erongo? Some teachers are not doing their work at all. In one Swakop school they are chatting on their phones, eating in class and reading newspapers instead of teaching. This teacher is responsible for Grade 12 English and up to now the learners have done nothing.
Health Matters
*MINISTER of Health can you please visit the respective wards at Central Hospital and interview nurses on issues they facing in their daily work instead of standing outside to see who comes on duty late.
*MINISTER R Kamwi why should you recruit foreign nurses? Just upgrade salaries and benefits and they won’t go and work in the private sector!
When to stay in bed?
*MEDICAL doctors please indicate whether patients should stay in bed or not when booked off.
– Concerned
In and From the Regions
*MINISTER of Works and Transport, please consider the road between Oshakati and Omungwelume. It is dangerous.
*NORED in Rundu why don’t you bring the line through some villages like Telecom does so that we can get electricity? We are tired of using candles east of Rundu.
– Changiso.
*THE Trans-Kalahari road links Gobabis with SADC countries. The Trans-Caprivi highway under construction will link Gobabis with the North via a tar road. Gobabis, however, doesn’t even have a truckport. Development is not taking place and our leaders do nothing about it. Why?
*THE tar road between Tsumeb and Oshivelo is full of holes. There is a permanent Roads Contractor Company camp here but nothing has been done. This causes accidents. Please do something.
*THE registration of communal land is coming to an end. The community of Schuckmansburg in Caprivi has not been registered, neither was feedback given on the issues raised last year. Mr Naruseb are you aware of this or did your staff members in that region not inform you?
Bed nets can help.
*COUNCILLOR Paulus just to remind you, almost a year ago the people of Warmbad asked that you do something about the mosquitoes. Please take action.
*NAMPOWER every time it rains the electricity at Okaukuejo goes off. Those of us in the so-called location suffer the most during the rainy season. Last Sunday there was a power failure from 10h00 until the evening. According to park rules no one is allowed to make a fire in a park as all of us know. Can the Ministry of Environment please make an exemption in this regard. We are scared of the wild animals, especially lions, which come very close to the area of the location.
Sporting
Zambian making all proud.
*THE Namibia Football Association must closely watch how Zambia played in the Africa Cup of Nations and that it is not through talking and getting fat cheques, but only if football has the right people with the right attitude towards the game that brings results. So Barry and Muinjo stop your excuses and improve our Brave Warriors or quit and give your posts to people with vision and the interest of our country at heart.
And the Winner Is!
*CASTLE Brewing Namibia when is the draw for seven Fiat bakkies that were promised in the Black Label competition run last year?
General
* MEN with a strong traditional background should please marry women from the same culture as traditional differences can put a huge burden on marriages.
*HAS anyone considering buying property along the airport road stopped to consider the possibility of the new road running through the gated reserves?
*MARRIED men who don’t wear wedding rings confuse us. Why are you ladies allowing your men out of the house branded?
Labour Issues
*MINISTRY of Education why is there a delay in the receipt of pay slips, especially in Omusati Region? We have not yet received our January pay slips.
– Skinny
*TO be honest, it’s wrong of Rubicon security to make a pregnant woman go on duty with a big stomach wearing a normal security uniform. Where are the working conditions?
Service Please
*NAMIBIA Airports Company at Hosea Kutako International Airport what pathetic weigh in service have you now introduced? Staff are slow, don’t know what they are doing. Improve your service. You are charging me for airport taxes!
*IT has just been my misfortune to try and declare something at customs and excise at Hosea Kutako airport. This facility is a disgrace. The walls are filthy. The signs are torn and crooked. The staff are unable to help.
*PLEASE MTC, why did you limit your free call minutes? And 30 minutes is not enough.
*MINISTER Nghidinwa how would you feel if you were to wait for a full birth certificate for three years? Please do something on the issuing of full birth certificate. We are tired of poor service.
*SHOPRITE Oshakati the meat in your fridges is spoiled. Please throw it away because it’s a health hazard. I bought boerewors and jagwors there on Thursday which was completely rotten.
*WOERMANN BROCK has so many supermarkets in the northern and central towns towns but fails to have a single one in the South? Your consignments come through the South but we are still without one.
– Concerned Namibian
Lost and Found
*SHIGWEDHA Patrisia Kashizindje Iyaloo Tangi from Onjora I found your ID. Call 081-285-7051
*I HAVE documents of Mr Erick Frederick Mathys. Please call 081-354-0666 any time.
*I KANDOLO Simon lost my ID in Windhoek. If found please contact 081-372-6487.
*I NDANA Nicholas Muyoba lost my ID in Katima Mulilo. If found please contact me on 081-324-0770.
*I DENGEINGE Eivi Nghidixumo lost my ID and social security. Please contact 081-729-6351 if found.
*I THOMAS Nangweda lost my wallet containing my ID, bank and other cards. If found please contact me at 081-446-0180.
n I JOSEF Lahja Nyanyukweni Inexy lost my wallet with ID and cash in Outapi. if found please call or sms to 081-492-6782.
Please Help
*TO the person who stole a cute female Jack Russell [terrier] in Promenaden Road don’t you have any feelings or respect? Please return her to her loved ones where she belongs.
*WHO is Tobias Mbako who wrote lead articles in The Namibian during the 1980s?
Responses to recent SMSes
*URAMIN/AREVA paid former PM (Hage) US$300 000 for doing one activity – just to advise Government to award a mining licence. Hage was a very expensive consultant indeed.
*IN response to Friday’s SMS on the Zambian team that crashed in 93; the player’s name is Moses Chikwalakwala. Yes indeed, he was on that fateful plane.
– A Zambian based in Windhoek.
*IN response to the SMS by Ithete ya Hango on Friday, February 17, on the war veterans’ issue. War vets are not only those who were in exile, everyone who has reason to call him or herself a war vet, whether they were inside or outside the country, has the right to go and register with the Veterans Affairs Ministry. Many veterans have been registered although they were not in exile and now they are getting their share. My father is one of them. You people should just stop complaining and go and register if you know that you are a war veteran. How will you be recognised if you didn’t register yourself?
*FOR all those students who wish to join a chess club contact FIDE instructors Charles at 081-623-8160 and Otto at 081-211-6463.
Who should be doing it?
* HOCHLAND High like any other Government school has its cleaners who get paid to do just that. No wonder this school is not performing like it used to. To clean the school premises is one thing, but to do cleaners’ duties daily during school hours?
*I AGREE with the complaint about MultiChoice. Their service is declining by the day. They stopped printing monthly programme guides without informing the consumers yet they increase the price for bouquets. What are increases for if services are not improving?