SMSes for Wednesday 17 October 2012
SMS Of The Day *THE Police Chief was quoted admitting that his members do not own anything other than a shack. Maybe poverty gave birth to the reported SMSes about a strike, as a hungry man is an angry man. Meaning that they are living in poverty and that can make the cops vulnerable to accepting bribes. Cabinet, treat the matter as an emergency and consider releasing money to bail out the Police.
Food for Thought
*WHY was he called ‘The Butcher of Lubango’? Very interesting.
*THERE were queries raised by Tim Parkhouse of the Namibia Employers Federation about the justification of Natau expecting the struggling TransNamib to give increases of 33 per cent to its workforce. He has a valid point. But how is it possible that the management of the same struggling company are paid market related salaries with attractive benefits? Over N$400 million has vanished from the company. The former CEO has publicly revealed that the company is profitable. Who is to blame here for the demands? Not the union at all.
– Setho
*I DON’T know why the civil servants are crying for increments. They (GRN) knows that 80 per cent of government employees are Swapo and that you will not strike and 20 per cent of us will not take part in any strike because we will be fired. It’s now the fifth month for negotiations but still they keep us in the dark. Do you know that we will pay more for medical aid from next month?
*COUNCILLOR of Okahao, when will communities like the San people benefit from the development of this country? People are suffering with no fresh water, no communication and the road from Okahao to Uutsathima is bad. What do you think? Do you remember what you told us about network? Years come and go. Are you cheating us? Shame on you! We want development too. You need us only during elections. If there is an election you come to us. Support us as we support you.
*AS illegal shebeens are shut down so should be the selling of cars on street corners. Most of these cars are bought across our borders to be sold in the country for a quick buck. Selling cars this way should be illegal. How is the paperwork of these cars controlled? What legal protection and warranty protects the buyers of these cars? Please investigate for there are many irregularities in this tricky trade.
*PRESIDENT Pohamba, please be man enough and be an example to the greedy African leaders in addition to President Banda who cut her salary by 30 per cent. You can do it by refusing the proposed increment by the delusional Nahas Angula. President Sir, you don’t pay tax, nor water, housing, groceries or clothing, furniture, petrol and all that! What do you need the increment for? Your kids are all grown up men and women who take good care of themselves. Please do the right thing: Reject the increment then we will all truly salute you!
*PASSION killing? What is passionate about killing? Let’s focus on the BOY CHILD for a change. What happened to the ‘Men for Change’ group? They should visit schools and talk to our soon to be boyfriends and husbands about knowing wrong from right.
– Worried Citizen!
*WHY is NBC not showing the Brave Warriors matches? And all their matches take place in Windhoek. What about us who live outside Windhoek? We also want to see how the Warriors play. At least show us highlights on both matches, the under 17 match and the big boys.
*I WANT to urge Government to ban alcohol in Namibia with immediate effect. Leave smoking and concentrate on the main killer of human lives. Why always concentrate on non-important issues and leave destructive issues? Eish!
Bouquets and Brickbats
*I WOULD like to congratulate the junior national chess team on qualifying for the world youth chess championships in Slovenia. Good luck and we know you will do us proud.
*THE Khomas teachers know how to mobilise strikes while they are failing learners. Your region is not performing. Do the right things first.
*RUUSA Shipanga, I and many other women married outside the so-called red line, salute and strongly support you in the battle: Challenging the Apartheid marriage law that automatically marries natives out of community of property. It is high time the government is sued for racial discrimination. The outcome should be effective from 1990 and perhaps should apply to only those who have not divorced or died yet, as including everybody may be tantamount to the scraping thereof. That law should have been the very first, together with the death penalty laws, to be nullified immediately after 1990. The judicial system has failed us as a nation!
*CAN the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs tell us why our applications for projects are not yet approved? Some of us did it last year and some of us at the beginning of this year but no response. What do they want to do with our money?
*WHY is there no news on what Miss Namibia does for the country?
*LAST Thursday was the day to close all the shebeens operating without a liquor licences, but this was only done to some areas like Single Quarters and Shandumbala. It’s not fair at all. Is Festus Shilongo serious or does he just want public attention?
*GOVERNMENT to employ more civil servants: It is a shame to our leaders to say they are employing more civil servants in government because how will they pay these people if they fail to pay those already in government? Please stop fooling us. Elections are around the corner.
*PARENTS must stop jumping in defence of their children only. Can anyone tell me that a teacher will tell children, who behave themselves, to ‘Voetsek’ or ‘I’ll klap you’? Paying school fees doesn’t mean your children can go and behave as they want. Parents who can’t even discipline their children at home are quick to criticise teachers. I’m also a parent.
*THE City of Windhoek has given the Chinese Construction Company between Hybury Court and Arimas Court in Arimas Street, Cimbebasia permission to operate the power generator from 18h00 until 24h00. The final exams have started and our kids can’t study as the noise is unbearable. Where should we complain about this noise?
*VELA Building Solution will come to the rescue of us civil servants in towns instead of the long wait with NHE.
– Butiki Josob
*WHAT’S going on with Unam’s Van Schaik Bookshop? We want to buy books but the system is off since October 27. Please Ministry of Education, get involved. We do not want to pay back the money we did not use because they are going to claim the money we transferred to book cards, while we did not use them.
*I AM so disappointed that Joe sold Joe’s Beerhouse. The bar service is terrible because barmen were drastically reduced and the food has gone to half the portions they were. He knew how to satisfy customers.
*CAN David Nujoma please address the slow service delivery at DBN. The analyst never answers their calls, nor do they return your emails. It took them one week just to put my loan application onto their SAP. A week later the analyst has still not looked at it.
– Concerned applicant!
*WHOEVER pushed Ngurare into the SPYL leadership a few years after joining Swapo has created a monster who, if not controlled, will destroy Swapo from within. This man joined Swapo between 1998/9 and he is today more Swapo than everybody else.
*SPAR manager at Mariental and senior staff members, please stop smoking in your shop. It is a bad habit and a health risk to your customers.
*SAM Nujoma, you are the father of the nation. Your children are living in poverty. Don’t you believe? Visit some place you did not visit when you were president and see poverty yourself.
*I DON’T understand the closing of shebeens in Windhoek. To acquire a licence is a long process. If it’s because of jukebox noise, people must only switch off until after the exams. Where are we going to find our bread if we don’t have jobs? We know that you receive a salary every month, but think about others who depend only on shebeens. We help our families and employ people.
*DO Governors have advisers? If so, why don’t they give advice to governor Swartbooi? There was no need for the engagement party in the eyes of the nation. We honour a wedding ceremony. You are leading the nation. So, if you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Service Please
*PLEASE Home Affairs Immigration Services, what should one do to get service? You call four extensions but no one picks up. The acting Chief of Immigration does not pick up. Elison Hishekwa, please explain to Namibians how we are supposed to get service from your division? Minister of Home Affairs don’t you read The Namibian or listen to radio phone-in programmes? Please improve your service!
*AS far as I can remember during the presentation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs budget by its Minister, a provision of N$200 was budgeted for the veterans who are currently entitled to N$2 200. Up to now, this money has not been added. Can the Permanent Secretary shed more light into this matter, seeing that the budget was passed a long time ago.
*WE really need a Standard Bank or any bank ATM at Fresh n Bake complex opposite the police station in Opuwo. Please bank managers consider this.
*I WAS amazed to observe a Standard Bank bulk teller at the northern industrial agency refusing to accept coins from a poor lady who came by taxi on October 15. Apparently because she had too many coins. She was told to go to the branches which are always full. After me there was no other person beside her. Is this how it should be done?
*I DO not understand Game Namibia. One cannot replace your Game card with a valid passport. They only accept ID or drivers license. It doesn’t make sense at all.
– Very disappointed customer.
Response to Previous SMSes
*REGARDING Martin’s SMS on why the colour pink is used to promote breast cancer awareness – pink is the international colour and the pink ribbon is a symbol to all us breast cancer survivors, regardless of race or colour. As a survivor I proudly wear my pink ribbon. One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in Namibia everyday, so rather support pink, and forget about the Eurocentric campaign as you call it. My breast cancer friends are of every race in the world, and I will do all I can to support them.
– From a proud Namibian survivor.
*MARTIN, Acacia the three ex-military men nominated because SPYL want them there! Why you are criticising our choice? You might not even be a Swapo member.
Civil Service
*WHAT’S with teachers nowadays? They don’t perform but they want a salary increase. Especially Omaheke teachers. The region is ranked number 13 for so long. Directors, teachers, learners and the community, who’s fooling who?
*CALLE Schlettwein, please make sure that civil servants salaries are increased before medical aid contributions are doubled.
*PETER Mweshihange Military Hospital’s management needs urgent investigation. Professional nurses who completed their studies at the University of Namibia in 2011 and are said to be on one year probation are not respected. They are on duty without access to phones, even in emergencies, since they are not given pins. But nurses in the same categories at state hospitals have pins. No professional nurses from the hospital are sent for workshops for nurses, instead soldiers (who are not nurses) at the hospital are sent there. That’s why qualified nurses are resigning. Hospital administrators are to blame for nurses leaving.
*WHY is the recruitment and advertisement of chaplaincy posts in the police, defence and prisons a secret?
Education
*ABRAHAM Iyambo, I’m a Grade 10 learner at Onankali South Combined School and I’m in the hospital. When I asked if the school can bring exam papers to me, they said this is a strategy so that I don’t write exams. What is the matter? I paid. I’m not pretending to be sick.
– Tabita, Onankali
*IF teachers are not proficient in English, why can’t proficient parents teach their children themselves?
*I’M a parent of school-going children who were very disturbed about the article on teachers in Monday’s edition. What will happen to our children if the teachers go on strike? What about exams? Please GRN, give teachers their increment.
*MINISTER of Education, please investigate Polytechnic. Kids are without classes and are forced to change courses.
Labour Issues
*TEACHERS please don’t be misled by these so-called recognised unions. They use your votes as union leaders to get big positions in the government. Please organise your own actions. They will never jeopardise the fat cat positions they are going to get as union leaders.
*WE are confused, as our unions (Napwu, Nantu) are becoming political parties. They don’t have the workers’ concern at heart only their recognition in political agendas. Petrus Nevonga when are you going to recognise us the poor civil servants?
*CIVIL servants, please open your eyes! The Namibian of October 15 show that there will be an increase in medical aid contributions but our benefits remain the same i.e. the housing subsidy, housing and transport allowance. The petrol, food and electricity prices are going up regularly! Yet, our Napwu is just silent. May the the Minister of Finance have mercy on us.
Civil Servants
*SOME truck owners are greedy. They only think of the money brought in by the freight and forget that drivers are humans too and need rest. They need jobs but have lives, houses and family.
*BASILIUS was reading a note someone wrote or ordered him to read. He failed the union and must quit and join those who hunt political positions. What does he think about the rise in medical aid with same benefits? Was it part of his negotiations?
*THE Nantu secretary general is taking teachers for granted while we are the ones who put him there and pay monthly deductions for him to get a better salary. I am calling all teachers to go for the strike for better salaries and housing subsidies. We must also strike to remove Nantu’s Secretary General and replace him with someone who has teachers’ interest at heart.
In and from the Regions
*APPOINTING office bearers or politicians to serve on regional tender boards is unethical. It happens in Karas and Oshana Regional Councils. They are sending regional councillors to attend joint budget hearings that are only supposed to be attended by administrative staff. Jerry Ekandjo please reprimand these councils before they cause irreversible embarrassment to our Government.
*MALTAHÖHE residents are up in arms against high tariffs imposed by the Village Council. The rates, refuse and sewerage tariffs have been increased by more than 100 per cent. Who can afford such exorbitant tariffs? Certainly not the pensioners, nor the very few workers in government institutions. We are informed that none of the councillors have been consulted, except the chairman and the secretary. No consultation with the inhabitants took place. We say stop the rot.
*OUTAPI Town Council, do something for water and electricity of Okakwa location. We have no electricity and we drink water from the canal. That is not healthy. Okakwa is very close, two to three kilometres.
*WHEN is the Municipality of Keetmanshoop going to convert the intersection in front of Rencia Market to a four-way stop? For some of us it’s a nuisance to wait at a stop sign while you came first to the intersection. Please do something about this. I plead with you before something will happen there.
– Manfred of the South
*OPUWO Town Council, be reminded once again that water is life. How long should we remain without water? It has been three full days without water now. Please put your house in order.
*ROADS Authority in Windhoek, inspect the MR33 from Dordabis to Uhlenhorst. This road destroys the tyres of our cars because it is only stones with no gravel anymore. Please RA help us. We are also tax payers. They don’t grade this road. Where can we go for help?
*I WENT to Walvis Bay to look for a place for my child for the next academic year. I was told that a child must only move within his region. My child is from the Kavango Region and wants to move due to difficult circumstances. I even went up to the regional offices in Swakop. I still got the same answer. The Constitution of Namibia states we have the right to move. Please do something before the end of this month.
Lost and Found
*I found the documents of Martha Tukondyeni Shakuyungwa. Call or SMS 081-362 4246.