SMSes for Wednesday 14 November 2012
SMS Of The Day *POVERTY, hunger, shelter (housing), land, education, unemployment, job creation and other issues matter most to Namibians. Where do the three Swapo candidates for the Vice-President stand on these issues?
Food for Thought
*SWAPO host a fund-raising dinner while elders are swimming in poverty, people are fighting at dump sites for food and many Namibians are sleeping in shacks. God Bless our country and the rich businessmen who don’t care about the poor.
*THERE should be a law that restricts the ridiculous real estate prices in Windhoek. The people are greedy, rent is too expensive and people can’t afford to buy houses.
*I FOUND it difficult to understand why the Namibian government and the Namibian nation are quiet about the killing of women? I believe it’s time we should be campaigning about it. It hurts that we are losing people who may be leaders of tomorrow just like that. I believe that we should help protect the lives of our people rather than to use the country’s resources for corrupt practices.
*WHY is it in Africa when you pay to go for a meal with the President it’s called corruption and in America it’s called party fund raising! Stop shooting yourselves in the foot!
*MINISTRY of Finance and Ministry of Local Government, salary increments for public servants will not solve the burning issues such as affordable housing. On the contrary, salary increments will just lead to the increase of accommodation rental fees and the already sky-rocketing house prices. As a homeless public servant, who cannot afford to buy a house, if I was given the option to choose between a salary increment and a piece of land in Windhoek, my option would be an erf!
*I TOTALLY agree that we should get our medicine from the pharmacies irrespective of the inconvenience caused. As a GRN employee the five percent charge is affordable. For example the doctors consultation room charged N$90 for Cervarix. I just got my last dose at N$20 from the pharmacy! A total difference of N$70. I did ask why the five percent charge is high and I was told the medical aid is not paying the whole amount. I will rather walk to the pharmacy than pay exorbitant doctor’s charges. Before the lawmakers revise the decision, please engage in consultations because those with cars only think about themselves and their convenience. Let’s amicably rescue the situation to benefit both the doctor, pharmacy and the end user.
*I’M not a political analyst but what I think is the main contributing factor to striking is greed. Namibians are too greedy. They want to get rich over night. When civil servants demand 20 percent salary increments, they say there is no money and the government cannot afford. But they have money to increase their salaries as parliamentarians with a huge percentage. Now who caused the strike? Trade union leaders who are supporting and instigating workers to go on strike are labelled as members of the opposition parties, just because they are talking the truth and truly represent the workers. Now, who is wrong?
*IF you have committed a crime and have a pending court case you will not be allowed to contest in the Namibian Presidential race. Is Jerry Ekandjo’s goat case still pending or is it settled?
*SWAPO congress, please be guided by the process of continuation and the wisdom applied by the Americans during the recent elections in the USA when electing the party’s top four leaders. The election of the top four leaders must be based on merit, their track record and credentials instead of tribalism, political constituencies and cliques.
*ACROSS the board salary increases are unhelpful. Just to illustrate: A cleaner earning a basic salary of N$1 200, will get an increase of N$96 but for a director or PS, the increase will be over N$2 500 extra. Divide the workforce into three categories and increase as such.
*LEADERSHIP doesn’t make good results: Hard work does! And results are a reflection of each individual teacher’s input. If the results of Grade 10 learners dropped in Khomas Region then look towards the individual teacher’s ‘hard work’.
*THE promotion of alcohol in the country should be controlled. The million dollars in prizes one could win make us drink more than we already do. These prizes are won only when their selling targets are reached. We should not allow drinking competitions anymore. We have enough crimes caused by alcohol.
*PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba, corruption is crippling our beloved country. Do something!
*MVA, we are approaching the festive season. Why don’t you encourage people to to travel by train. All you say is drive safely but nothing is improving. I believe it will cripple your pockets and your big salaries if we have to travel by train. TransNamib it’s time to step up. I use to enjoy my train rides as a young man.
Suggestion Box
*PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Works, is it true that your vehicle/fleet controls for annual Road Fund tax disc issue, as a GRN vehicle must drive from all over Namibia to collect their tax disc renewal. People driving from Katima, Opuwo, Walvis, Gobabis and Noordoewer. Surely, the senior control staff appointed can solve distribution in a simple cost effective, time efficient manner?
*IT’S high time the Municipality’s Traffic Management look into posting a traffic officer on a regular basis at Werner List Street to regulate unruly taxi drivers who are completely disorganised. They completely disregard the rights of other road users. And if there is no compliance, the best language is the application of the laws.
*MINISTRY of Education, when are you going to publish the English test results, that the teachers wrote last year? Minister Abraham Iyambo, introduce performance appraisals for all teachers in Namibia because some teachers are not performing and we see them in the groups that are on illegal strikes.
Bouquets and Brickbats
*N$100 000 dinner! What a farce... Nothing more than the self enrichment club finding favour with congress to fuel their own greed and back pockets. This club adds no value over the long term to create wealth and jobs across a broader spectrum of Namibia’s population. The real item on the menu ‘the colour of money’ for a selected few. Bon appétit Leon Jooste and Knowledge Katti.
*IT’S time we protest against the incompetence of the Minister of Home Affairs. She should simply be sacked.
*JERRY Ekandjo, there you start again with your dirty campaign. Please get yourself an advisor to advise how to campaign. Telling people that the opposition is behind the teacher’s strike is the joke of the year. I wonder what this country will be under your leadership. Please sort out the housing problem which are facing the country before making senseless statements.
*NPTH well done. I hope that the money will be used to develop NamPost infrastructure. Some post offices need upgrades.
*TAXIS are transporting customers with the thin casualty wheel. The wheel is for driving to the nearest repair centre. Commuters just jump the taxis.
*WHY do teachers want to be treated special? To me, eight percent for this year and regrading from April next year, 100 percent increase in housing allowance, 15 percent increase in transport allowance and again the improvement in housing loan where the GRN is contributing 66 to 70 percent from November 2012, bush allowance for all employees in remote areas and danger and risk allowance, for those working in danger areas, are really reasonable. We must thank our government for this.
*DJ MALDINI of NBC Oshiwambo service should know that that’s a national broadcaster not a tabloid radio. He should stop his childish jokes on radio and should do proper research on his topics rather than giving false information on air.
*WHAT’S the purpose of NBC having programmes such as ‘The Week that Was’ where individuals are invited to give some in depth analysis to the viewers? Unfortunately, time management is very bad. If not, then moderators do not know the purpose of such programmes because at times they simply want to move to the next topic while analysts have significant points to make, eg on Sunday Ferdinand Molale simply wanted to move to the last topic of Barack Obama’s re-election while the speakers had points to elaborate on the previous topic. This happened again on economic news, the interview with the Auditor General was unceremoniously stopped while he was giving clarity on the performance of the Public Sector being the government. Why the rush while the viewers are being educated? Why should three to four issues being analysed instead of one or two to do justice to the issues and discussions? The rush makes me conclude that there is no purpose at all.
*NAC board (not the CEO) should be held accountable for the mess up under pretence of realigning the company, resulting in total retrenchment of the entire workforce and authorising millions of dollars to pay a ‘consultant’. The question is, who managed the company? Is it the CEO who is still under probation or is it the board? What a drama! GRN wake up! It is time to act.
*RECENTLY, I attended the Youth Expo in Omaruru and I was shocked that our youth leaders and organiser of the event claimed not to know the difference between the categories of arts and crafts vs beauty and health. I, as a young entrepreneur, would like to see my motherland rate as a developed country but yet our leaders put us down by being ignorant, not well informed and humiliating us in front of foreign visitors. Where are we heading youth leaders?
*I FAIL to understand why Namibians are not proud of themselves. Why wearing somebody else’s hair? Yet we criticise Europeans but want to look like them? It was so embarrassing to watch a news reporter’s hair nearly falling out on November 11. Namibians be yourself, you have nothing to lose.
*TRUSTCO/Shoprite free life cover is not as simple and free as explained in the pamphlet. A lot of questions and conditions asked behind the scenes when you submit a claim. Come clean. No surprise cards up your sleeves.
*THE late John Pandeni, Jerry Ekandjo, Bernard Esau, Petrus Ilonga and Alfeus Muheua have one thing in common; unionist turned politician. Most of the current leaders in trade unions are just politician in-waiting that’s why they don’t care about the workers!
*RDP is not government don’t blame opposition it is yours weak Swapo government.
Service Please
*I WENT to Robert Mugabe clinic on November 12 at 16h40 because I was bitten by a dog but was told at the reception that I should go to Katutura Clinic. What kind of a person will say that to another person? Health Inspectors please do your work properly.
*HOME Affairs in the Northern Industrial Area, please keep the public toilet clean and officers please be friendly with all customers.
*MINISTER of Health are you aware that cleaners and cashiers in Ohangwena Region do not work on weekends anymore? And during weekends the wards are smelling bad. Our patients are suffering from infections due to poor hygiene. Please PS and Minister save us. Nurses are working in intolerable conditions.
Teachers
*I DO not trust teachers with my children. Teachers leave our poor learners just like that for money.
*SHOULD teachers continue to teach after what Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said then they are high on crack? What a joke to tell people she does not know when their issue will be handled? And the government still continues to call veterans and their kids for some free education. Can’t you handle teachers first? Basilius Haingura, quit, you suck at your job.
*WHY is the Minister of Education refusing to listen to his own members of the teaching force? Does he understand the responsibility not only over these teachers but the education of all Namibians. The Ministers actions are really unjustified.
*THE prolonged teacher strike across the country is really unfortunate. The Namibian child and parent are the main victims. This is squarely to blame on Nantu and the attitude of the Minister of Education towards teachers. The Minister should be held accountable for the failure rate in schools this year. Parents will demand answers and free education. No costs for repetition.
*IT’S really saddening and disheartening to see that all of a sudden the meagre eight percent civil servants will receive; will have such a huge negative impact on the country’s national budget. But when it was suggested that the president’s salary needs to be increased, no member from the Ministry of Finance or government financial analysts came forward to say how much it would cost government. I’m crying for my teachers and civil servants at large.
*VIVA teachers! You managed to fight the Ministry of Education. Next time fight the lazy principals who are only teaching religious studies at schools.
Response to Previous SMSes
*THANKS that there are still people thinking about Josef Hendricks (Axab). But I would advise the founders of Nanso to help the present-day Nanso members revisit the annals of Nanso’s participation in the liberation struggle. The purpose would be to rehabilitate the distorted image of Comrade Axab. As far as the dominant historical account is concerned he was accused of being in the service of the Apartheid regime and had subsequently disappeared into the Lubango dungeons. Only Nanso can do something about Axab. There are persons from the ethnic minorities who are national leaders of the ruling party but they are opportunists and will never raise the fate of patriots such as Axab.
*I AGREED with the SMS about DJ Maldini of Oshiwambo station. He tried too much to make fun, even of things, which are not funny. Comedians are born. I think he chose a wrong career. You are intelligent but need a lot to be a good DJ. You can be one.
In and from the Regions
*THE management of Kunene Private School, we need a new teacher for mathematics. We are sick of paying our money for nothing.
*THE absence of boreholes, and therefore clean water, in most rural villages of the Daures Constituency of the Erongo Region is mind boggling. People are still drinking with animals from open wells. What is the Councillor and Minister responsible for water doing? Go to western Daures and see for yourself. Not to talk of electricity when the Erongo Region is supposed to be leading in this respect.
*WE still drink unhealthy water! Councillor Josef Iimbili does not look to people’s needs. We informed him that we need clean water for Onamukuku Village in Okankolo constituency but he kept quiet.
Unions
*NANTU should distribute resignation forms at schools. I resigned a long time ago but now I have two deductions on my payslip for Nantu and Tun. Where is democracy in this country? Membership for unions or political parties should not be forced.
*CIVIL servants must blame Nantu and Napwu for failing and selling them out. All issues concluded have been on the negotiation table since 2011. Why only the eight percent backdated and the rest for November and April 2013. It’s once again clear that the two unions lost touch with and the mandate of their members.
Lost and Found
*I, JELEMIA Mbongola Nalhi lost my ID in a taxi. If found, please contract 081-676 0657.
*I, CLAUS Ndjavera lost my black Telecom file bag containing high school certificates and a Polytechnic National Diploma. If found, please call 081-212 0046 or 061-296 3079.
*I, CR Frederick lost my wallet with ID and drivers licence at Mariental. If found, please contact me at 081-128 2911 or hand it in at the nearest police station.
*I, WAOOMBA Murangi lost my purse with ID and other cards. If found, please contact 081-217 1541.
*I, MARTA Alumbungu lost my ID. If found, please contact 081-203 0230.
*I, DANIEL Klaudia lost my passport around Oshoopala, Oshakati. If found, please contact 081-602 05891.