SMSes for Thursday 01 November 2012
SMS Of The Day *I BEG to differ about the three worst ministries mentioned in Monday’s paper. They are all in a chaotic state and all collapsed a long time ago. But if you had to go to court nine times in three years to defend yourself against an unfair traffic ticket of only N$60, you realise that we are dead and buried.
Food for Thought
*MINISTER Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, why Namibians can not save is because we have nothing left after buying food for our families.
*BANK Windhoek rejects my application to obtain a bank guarantee while my property covers the entire guarantee. They only accept cash as a way of security. How does the black business community grow if commercial banks deny us the opportunities. Minister of Trade, take note of this.
*WHEN is a strike legal or illegal? Please explain.
*MINISTER of Education go to Oshakati health training centre, the nursing names are out but how can one with 26 points in five subjects and a D in English not be admitted? Some people are just admitting their family. When are some of us going to have a better future if we are not admitted to tertiary institutions?
*NKOSAZANA Dlamini-Zuma, you are shocked to find out that foreign donors fund 97 percent of the African Union’s expenses? Come to Namibia and see how much foreign donors pump into this country to help civil society organisations help with orphan care, early childhood development and combat the spread of HIV-Aids. Our government is simply not capable of taking on these tasks. Our politicians would rather build their own empires.
*I AGREE, South African chickens are cheaper than Namibian chickens. As a pensioner I buy the tasteless South African chicken. Are the Namibian producers a fly by night business? Here today gone tomorrow?
*ARE there underground tunnels from previous mining facilities? I’m very concerned, because holes are starting to pop up.
*A REMINDER to Dr Abraham Iyambo. In 1987 we boycotted schools, as learners countrywide, in supporting the removal of an army base close to Ponhofi Secondary School. We resisted threats from the authorities of the time. In the same way, we will resist the threats today. What we are demanding is a salary increment for all public servants. That is all we need.
*NUNW is not serious. Evilastus Kaaronda is Namibia’s Julius Malema. Because of telling the truth he is expelled. Public servants, let’s strike for his reinstatement.
Divide and rule is back.
*NAMIBIA’S losing the chance to host the Green Climate Fund is a blessing in disguise. The MET’s decision to bid was ill-advised in the first place. It is difficult to imagine what the country would have done with a fund which is not capitalised and which no one wants to commit any funds to. The MET, after this failure, needs to focus its attention on solving internal environmental problems that the Ministry has neglected over the years.
*IN The Namibian of October 30 2012, 44 years in prison is just too long, a convicted killer argues. Murder is just too wrong for the family who have lost a loved one.
*IT is now two days short of two weeks that I am waiting for MTC to transfer my MTC contract from my name to my wholly owned business. MTC is thus officially taking longer than Home Affairs would take to issue me a passport. Dozens of calls to MTC were made in vain. I suppose a hearty well done to Home Affairs is in order! You have proven that it is possible for government to surpass the private sector in service delivery.
Suggestion Box
*WHY does Natis nationwide not come up with a booking registration system? Maybe electronic SMS systems. We stand at your offices from early morning.
*IUM please start providing statements to GRN loan-holders. We want to know how much the government pays for us and how much we are supposed to get as refunds! We are tired of applying for academic records which we never get.
*GOVERNMENT, why not make a law for heavy trucks so that they don’t move after 20h00! This may save many lives.
*OUTAPI Town Council, December is near and many people come to town for the Christmas holidays. The town will be full of people so please put the pedestrian crossing between Furnmart and Shoprite U Save.
*ACC we want N$100 million of ODC, N$30 million for SSC, N$600 million for GIPF. Leave fake diplomas and degrees for City Police. ACC always runs after simple things.
Teachers
*WE, teachers have been treated like stepchildren for quite some time. A teacher works for 40 years and ends up with nothing whereas those who are against our increments are rich like nobody’s business. How fair is that?
*NONE of the strikes in Namibia were legal. Stop threatening teachers. They are tired.
*KHOMAS teachers are just demanding salary hikes while they are under performing. Last year the region was second last in Grade 10 exams. They are failing our nation and yet they want to be rewarded for that. What a shame! Khomas education region is just a disaster.
*MINISTRY of Education, please do what Khomas teachers are asking. Why is our minister so talkative to us when there is a problem between a teacher and a learner but when it comes to teachers you keep quiet? Teachers are sleeping in shacks while you sleep comfortably. Is that fair? Please have a heart.
*HOW did Omusati education allocate incentives to school? I invite Minister Abraham Iyambo to Onembaba Combined School, in the Okalongo circuit during rainy season. Honestly we as teachers and learners are suffering and our incentives are N$750. The same as schools close to the road, our inspector has failed us.
*BASILIUS Haingura all the regions are not happy with the current Nantu management. What you are saying is not true, teachers will go on strike countrywide after October 31. We have been patient for quite long, what you said on ‘Good Morning Namibia’ on Tuesday doesn’t hold a drop of water. Haingura wait and see what we teachers will do after the 31st.
– Northern teacher.
*VACANT position: Teaching: Duty station Khomas, Caprivi and Erongo Region. Requirements: Should be a Nantu member. Should not strike for salary increments. Grade 12 and exile record will be an advantage. Exile kids are encouraged to apply. No tertiary qualification is required. Reason for vacancies: To replace striking teachers who have diplomas and degrees. Enquiries: Dr Abraham Iyambo.
Bouquets and Brickbats
*NAMIBIAN Chicken might be expensive but the quality is very good. Please deliver more to the coast, it is sold out most of the time.
*POLICE officers at Oshakati police station must stop judging, swearing and insulting prisoners. Not everybody taken to prison is a criminal. Even criminals do not deserve your insults. That’s intimidation. Let judges do their work. I am sure you know what you are trained for.
*I AM from Walvis Bay and had an urgent caesarian done on October 21 in Central Hospital. The staff of the maternity ward, thank you for your good service. Day staff as well as night staff. Sometimes they are so tired but yet friendly and eager to help. Keep on doing what you are doing and may God bless you all.
– Sinden.
*WHAT an insult to say teachers struggle to read, write and speak English. Who taught you then? Stop it. We do not teach English and it is not our language. We will not be forced to do ELPP. Let it start with the minister and then downward. Give English to English teachers.
*NICTUS Walvis Bay’s prices differ from the ones in the pamphlet. It’s higher in the shop and they say it’s a printing mistake. Now, why do they even put it in newspapers when some items are even not available. Manager be real.
*PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba’s government will only respond after strikes. That is the reason why everyone is making their voices heard in the only language that the government hears and understands. Strike!
*RICHARD Kamwi must withdraw his words when he said unhappy nurses should look for opportunities in the private sector. That wasn’t a smart remark. If you can’t do your job step down and go join your fellow MPs who have resigned.
*THE senior citizens of Senior Park Old Age Home would like to thank the Higher Praise Ensemble for giving us a wonderful musical evening on October 27! You brought tears to the eyes of the old people and joy and warmth in their hearts! Thank you very much! God bless you abundantly!
*NICO Kaiyamo on ‘One on One’ on NBC TV this week. You have what some of us long to see on platforms like that. I wish you could be given a chance on the ‘Inside Politics’ programme. Seriously, Kaiyamo speaks of realities with facts. Those who thought they own Namibia should forget. You deserve my vote.
*TO all incompetent ministers, you deserve to step down and let others take over because reshuffling doesn’t change the way you handle the ministries. We are tired of having the same ministers since Independence. You have promised a better future yet corruption is number one.
*BASILIUS Haingura, go back to radio, TV and newspapers of May and June 2011. There you promised the required increase in April 2012! Well, it’s over a year!
*I THINK it is time for the Minister of Health to be reassigned to another job. The country is faced with a shortage of nurses but he is still continuing to demonise them with bad comments. Most skilled nurses have left for the private sector already and he still encourages the few we have to leave. It is time you start respecting the nurses.
*FREE education, as in one of our neighbouring countries, means free and not hampered by fees. There was never a revolution in this country just people stepping in the old shoes of others. There is never any change.
*MINISTER Joel Kaapanda... no work no pay? Pay is for quick street jobs. This is a profession where we fight to get a salary. Mabara pas?
– Sir Wilho
*MINISTERS do not fool us. You drive a GRN vehicle, you live in a GRN house and your kids are schooling abroad on scholarships. You are so blessed.
n WELL done Nico Kaiyamo. I listened to your interview on ‘One on One’. You are an honest man. You were straight to the point. You spoke your mind not minding if your reinstatement is suspended or not. Keep it up my brother. You are my hero because we speak the truth and not many people like honesty.
*NO doubt that they dismissed Evilastus Kaaronda to get away with the GIPF case.
*SUSPENDING Evilastus Kaaronda is a mistake. I believe the nurses and teachers should start to react to that move and defend the only leader who was representing us well by striking. In this country when you tell the truth you are the problem.
*GO Nico Kaiyamo go! You truly have guts and aluta continua! Go ahead with Tsumeb forensic audit! You are right!
*BEING a full and active member of Swapo, I was uncomfortable watching the evening news where Evilastus Kaaronda’s fate was decided. My worry is not about his suspension but about the dress code of the man who was making the statement. Why put on Swapo colours from the head down when you are representing the nation’s workers? Who doesn’t know which party you belong to? Are you perhaps looking for political goals? I am 100 percent sure that your chances of getting to the top are quite slim. Be wise and put on the union’s attire and not Swapo or RDP or UDF or CoD.
Unions
*THANK you Basilius Haingura and your Swapo team for what you did to Evilastus Kaaronda and Namibian teachers! Come election time, it will be our turn!
*THE majority of striking teachers are fully paid up Nantu members. The idea of mass cancellation of memberships can not be ruled out. Haingura and co, what then?
*IF you touch Evilastus Kaaronda, you touch all the abused Public Service employees.
*I WONDER why members of the two unions namely Nantu and Napwu are wasting time? It’s time we cancel our membership and see who these unions will represent. Let’s all stop our contributions as a way of punishing the management of these two unions.
*A BIG question mark on Petrus Gideon wearing Swapo colours at the NUWN press conference. Where did he get the mandate from to suspend Evilastus Kaaronda as SG of NUNW and which workers did he represent? He was talking on behalf of Swapo with his scarf and beret and also invited Petrus Iilonga who is a minister. What was Iilonga’s interest at that press conference? Was he representing GRN or was he part of union activities. All those politicking union representatives must choose who they really represent and stop victimising real worker representatives.
*NAMIBIA is the second Zimbabwe. Evilastus Kaaronda is now gone because of the love of reality. I’m prepared to be a rebel and do what has been done, like in Libya and Egypt. Revolution is the only way out.
*TRADE unions that represent GRN employees are too politically involved. They are not independent. When it comes to disputes, the comrades do not hand in the disputes at the Office of the Labour Commissioner. They therefore do not acquire unresolved certificates, if parties don’t reach an agreement, which makes striking legal. GRN wants private investors to look after its employees, yet they forget about the people who vote them into power. Until when does does GRN want to negotiate with the unions? It’s long overdue.
*THE NUNW-Swapo marriage is the biggest sign that Namibia is a totalitarian state.
*COWARDS, how can representatives of workers vote to expel Evilastus Kaaroonda? It’s time that all government employees reject the dismissal of this man. Kaaronda was simply the man who articulated workers feelings. Now they suspended him for doing his job well. It is a shame.
*ALL disgruntled Nantu members, let us withdraw our membership and join TUN. Nantu should be disarmed and silenced by withdrawing our financial support and making TUN one strong formidable union. We should go for a union that is not affiliated to a party!
Suggestion Box
*MINISTER of Education, please introduce May-June examinations for those who got 20 points in five subjects to improve instead of waiting for results at the end of the year. All bursary applications end by October 31 and we have no chance to apply for loans.
*PLEASE The Namibian you must stop Oshiwambo language please.
Politics
*SWAPO Party Youth League please guard against bringing division within the party. There is a great difference between being militant and being divisive. Also don’t create problems and tension among the senior party cadres.
– Aluta Gurirab
*WHEN TransNamib workers were threatening to go on strike President Hifikepunye Pohamba intervened to avoid the strike but now that the teachers are striking why can’t the president intervene?
*I HOPE all three candidates vying for the Swapo Vice Presidency have a bankable plan to address the issue of the ‘struggle kids’ for once and for all! I pardon them for not solving the issue for the past 22 years. It pains to see Namibia being held hostage by the issue resulting in the neglect of the high rate of unemployment facing the country which to me is the real time bomb!
– JNK