SMSes for Thursday 23 February 2012
SMS Of The Day *THE education Conference that took place last year made a number of resolutions of which one was very significant – on the removal of alcohol outlets which are situated in close proximity to schools. May the ministers of education please update the nation on any progress, if any, regarding the implementation of this resolution. It is time to walk that talk. – Vapopya, Kuisebmond
Food for Thought
*IN recent weeks there have been a lot of tribal overtones in the media. Some of us try to gain mileage out of it. The truth is we are all Namibian before our tribal grouping. We should therefore serve the interests of all Namibians not the privileged few. Racism and tribalism will only take us back to the dark past. A situation best avoided.
Bouquets and Brickbats
*THE issues raised by Usutuaije Maamberua (as reported in yesterday’s edition) are well known even to the blind and are the cause of very serious concern in Namibia. I trust that Government will be bold enough to address the concerns raised.
– Galax
*YOUR ‘Management Tip of the Day’ in the Bottomline is always inspiring. Thank you!
– Stan
*MANY of my fellow managers in parastatals will agree that ministerial interference hampers the performance of parastatals. It is a well-written piece by Tsudao Gurirab.
*UNBELIEVABLE. Namibia Airports Company has money to retrench 280 employees but not to save the company from financial problems. What a joke!
*WELL done Mesag Kandjii. It has become the culture of our day to be late! Since when do minors call the shots at school? I too had to walk 5km to and from school but was always there 10 minutes early. Our children have no respect for themselves and others.
*SERIOUSLY! I mean really The Namibian! Sidney Martin’s family trust details on the front page. This paper is slowly but surely turning into nothing more than yet another weekly tabloid.
*WINDHOEK Municipality ask for your money back! You just had Sam Nujoma Drive resurfaced and look at it now. Pothole central!
*I AM appalled at the attitude and comments of an official from the Department of Maritime Affairs stating that patches of heavy fuel oil leaking from passing ships is not a cause for concern! Oil in the sea is always a major cause for concern and Namibian law is quite clear about this. If the officials who should be enforcing those laws are unconcerned, they should get another job. Chronic oiling of seabirds by “isolated patches” is contributing to the decline of several endangered species and oil on the beach will spoil the image of our “pristine” coastline as a tourism destination. Take action DMA!
– Jean-Paul Roux
*THERE are two people in the photograph of the Radio Wave Hottie winner. Who is the winner and who is the other girl?
– PR, Swakopmund
– Note: Sorry about that, some of the caption was lost in production. It should read: Olivia da Silva Gomes (left) from Walvis Bay has been crowned Radiowave Office Hottie 2012. She took over the title from Jandine Potgieter. Olivia, who was chosen from 150 entries by the listeners of Radio Wave, won a night at Little Kulala Lodge from Wilderness Safaris for herself and three friends to the value of N$27 000.
– News Desk
*THE ‘Paparazzi in The Weekender is losing the plot. It’s become mean and nasty.
City Fathers Please
*WE the residents of Riethaan Street, Hochland Park, are very unhappy about the owner of Hochland Tractor Centre for parking his unsightly tractors in our residential area and with the City of Windhoek Town Planning for granting him space to trade in our area. This type of business is obviously meant for an industrial park. We would appreciate urgent attention and feedback on this matter.
Education
*I AM very disappointed with the way Unam handles our results! They are supposed to be private, not for public display and lying around everywhere!
So many aspects.
*AN interesting topic for debating: Is multi-grade teaching in a multi-lingual class a taboo in Namibian schools? Does the national curriculum prohibit such ? What are the pros and cons? Perhaps the public relations officer of the Ministry of Education must shed more light on this. The National Institute for Educational Development is also most welcome to respond. Anyone well versed in educational matters is requested to comment. Combination of grades is very common in our schools borne of the current staffing norms agreed upon by a slumbering Nantu, the alert MoE and Secretary to Cabinet.
– Teacher.
*CAN the Minister of Education come to the Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus hostel. We have been without electricity since we began classes, no light, no study.
Is this fitting for school?
*I SAW a boy coming from school wearing his uniform with a mohawk hair style. Teachers, please where is discipline in our schools nowadays?
Health Matters
*I AM a student at a tertiary institution in Namibia and need advice. I suffer from anal warts caused by the human papilloma virus. I tried hospitals but did not get any help. This is affecting my pass rate. Health professionals please advise me. I am in trouble.
In and From the Regions
*OTJIWARONGO municipality, what is wrong? You want us to pay water bills for people who are dead and buried.
*NATIS Otjiwarongo, when will you start with written learners’ licence exams? Some people are intimidated by verbal testing. Even if we know the answers, we fail.
Easy to hiding.
*IS Otjiwarongo Town Council waiting for someone to be raped or killed in these thick or bushy erven in the residential area before it does something?
– Concerned Resident.
*MINISTRY of Home Affairs operating from Onandjokwe hospital? Why are all children born at Onandjokwe hospital given the place of birth as Onandjokwe instead of using the parents’ residential address? Is it right?
*WITVLEI has been without power since Monday apparently because NamPower pulled the plug due to non-payment. We have a pre-paid electricity system. Where does that money go? Is fraud/corruption taking place?
*WHEN will Woermann Brock open in Mariental?
*MINISTER of Works and Transport, please consider the road between Eenhana and Oshigambo. It is very bad.
– Raba
*THERE was nothing wrong with the Hardap resort. It only needed a very good clean-up. Fixing broken things should be hired out per bungalow as it used to be years back. Then the resort would regularly be booked as that resort is a place for Namibians and not for overseas tourists. Hire it out to somebody who will make a success of it.
Lost and Found
*I PICKED Daniel Silas’s driving licence. If there is way to get hold of him,he can call on 081-287-0492.
*I LOST the clearance and ownership papers for a gold Rav4 registration B535AIA. If found please call me on 081-443-6412 or 081-128-7605.
*I S JOHANNES lost my medical card 0069777. Please contact 081-147-8890 if found.
*I SELMA Petrus lost my ID bank and social security cards. Please call/SMS on 081-3002191.
*MY name is Camilla Brendell. I was robbed in Khomasdal. My ID and all cards were stolen. Pleae call 081-810-8358 or 283111if found.
*ABED Ndapewoshali Namutenya lost his ID and bank card between Omuthiya and Onakankunzi villafe. If found please contact 081-658-6453.
*MUHUKA Mbaundja or anyone who knows him I have his lost ID. Call me on 081-446-7919.
Responses to recent SMSes
*THERE are three basic requirements for effective and successful education: qualified and competent teachers, availability of necessary materials, equipment and books and thirdly, motivated and disciplined learners. Principal of Highline School you are taking a step in the right direction.
– PR, Swakopmund
*LEADERS should be lenient and tolerant. A director assaulting a teacher is uncalled for. What lesson does it send to teachers, learners, parents and the entire citizenship? An apology will do. Shame.