SMS for Wednesday 20 March 2013
SMS Of The Day *TO the reader who complained about Moola Bonanza, if you think it’s not transparent why play and waste your money? The choice is yours.
Food For Thought
*THE socalled ‘children of the liberation struggle’ must be joking. They know nothing about the struggle. They have never struggled. How old are they now? Namibia is now independent for almost 23 years and some of them are 14 and 17 years old, but they claim to be the ‘children of the liberation struggle’. What a joke! They want to get everything for free. They must grow up and utilise the free education provided by the government, the grants, the bursaries, the foreign donation projects, small business loans, and many more. Become a useful member of society instead of a menace to society.
Bouquets and Brickbats
*NDAHANGWAPO Kashihakumwa, please visit Ohangwena Police Station. A certain warrant officer does not have respect for the public. He even insults elderly people in front of his fellow officers. He should be removed from the Ohangwena Region as a matter of urgency.
*WHERE were the ‘struggle children’ before the issue of the war veterans came up? Why should some children be treated differently? They should stand up and look for jobs themselves rather than just waiting for the government to provide them with jobs.
*DIRECTOR of Libraries, don’t we have qualified librarians who can head the National Library and Education Library Services? The head of National Library and his senior are foreigners and even those at the education library services. Does this mean Namibians with library science qualifications cannot run those institutions? Stop hiring non-Namibians.
*ABOUT the SMS regarding the so-called illegal strike in The Namibian of March 18, ‘Principals and HODs taught desks in empty classrooms’. Children who came to school were sent home. The few teachers who sat on the fence whereas the majority of teachers were on strike had a nice little holiday. Their brave colleagues fought for better benefits. So stop bragging about patience. You should be ashamed of being paid more than teachers with higher qualifications than you.
*I THINK it is time for the Ministry of Works to sell some of the government flats to the tenants, especially the ones that are old.
*CAN President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila do themselves a favour and visit Botswana. They will see how people of Botswana are benefiting from imported, cheap and luxury vehicles there. People in Botswana don’t drive skoro-skoros, like we do here. Stop promoting poverty instead of alleviating it.
*SOCIAL Security Commision, is there a way that we can claim back money because we cannot just make payments for years without benefiting? I will certainly not make use of the maternity leave as I can no longer get pregnant.
*THE Health Inspector of Otjiwarongo is denying the residents of Otavi single quarters the opportunity to renew their sheebeen licences. As a result we cannot put bread on our tables. We are unemployed and this is the only source of income we have. The Ministry of Trade and Industry must look into this matter. We are suffering and our Town Council is not doing anything to help us.
*PUBLIC Service Commission, while you are engaged in the business of regrading, keep in mind that some cleaners have Grade 10 and 12 certificates but are not considered to become clerical assistants or better positions. We have families to support, therefore consider us for promotion.
*THE director of IOL, we need our study materials because we registered for pre-primary courses in February this year and we have not received anything so far. We need books. We want to study.
*I AM a former student at Ogongo campus and have a problem with my study loan. I was given a continuation letter from the Ministry of Education at the beginning of 2011 but the loan has not been paid out until now. I am at home without doing anything and seriously need to pay for my studies so I can complete my course.
*THE story of the ‘struggle children’ is not true at all. How many people in the world have lost their mothers and fathers but they have homes and even extended families. Where were the ‘struggle children’ since 1990? Minister Charles Namoloh, set the record straight in last week’s Windhoek Observer.
*SOCIAL Security Commission, no amount of media releases will change the public perception of your commission. The best thing to do is to close down. I am still waiting for the payment of a 2002 death claim.
*CALLE Schlettwein, wake up! Do you know how much maize is imported into Namibia without a proper assessment made about the GMO status? Trucks arrive everyday at Namib Mills.
*IN Hardap education sector, a certain subject advisor is acting as inspector for almost two years. Other teachers have applied and were interviewed, but the position has not been filled. What is going on? Is it again a case of favouritism or nepotism?
*SOME members of the Swapo CC are not sympathetic with the ‘children of the liberation struggle’ because some of them were siding with the enemies who had killed the parents of those children. Remember: the blood of their parents waters our freedom. The government needs to address the plight of these children.
*IT is really shocking to find out that some teachers were invited to apply for HOD positions in the Ohangwena Region, while others were not invited. This happened two weeks ago. The positions were advertised at the end of last year. When are we going to abolish nepotism and favouritism in our country? Minister of Education must investigate this. Some teachers who were not invited are more educated than those who were interviewed.
*THANK you for showing us the way forward Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, Chi-Chi Muinjo, Dillish Matheus and Maria Nepembe. We will support your campaign wholeheartedly. Women of Namibia, we need to fight this war of violence against us together!
*IF the truth may be told, Swapo owe the ‘children of the liberation struggle’ who were orpha ned during the war. Those whose parents are alive, their parents received N$ 50 000 and project startup capital worth N$200 0000 and the poor kid with no parent? What does he/she get? The kid whose parents live have the following benefits: 1. The mother/father works and received a lump sum. 2. They are kids of veterans, so they can get a bursary from the veteran’s ministry. What I mean is please Swapo, take care of these kids with no parents.
*JERRY Ekandjo, the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme is without a board of directors for almost four months and all its programmes stand in the middle of the road. Youths who were trained since last year didn’t get their loans. Who is fooling who in this country?
*WHY are songwriters not given the recognition they deserve in Namibia? Both NAMAs and Trustco’s Star Performer don’t have a category that celebrate the skills of the pen.
*WE want Oshiwambo ‘Open Line’ back. The reason why it was banned was to keep away from the truth and live in the darkness. Important issues concerning the development of our country as well as good practice and abuse of power were discussed on the programme. It’s time listeners stand up for their rights.
Suggestion Box
*LET us boycott ‘Big Brother Africa’. What do they actually teach our young ones? It misdirects our children rather than providing jobs to unemployed Africans, eradicate hunger or open schools for the poor.
*PRIME Minister, could you please change the public holiday to be on Friday.
Service Please
*OKURYANGAVA Shell Service Station’s customer service leaves much to be desired. The service at the kitchen is really bad. They are unfriendly and the place is not clean.
*I CONCUR with the SMS in The Namibian of Monday, March 18. Auas Delta has a pathetic after sales service and they don’t care about clients’ frustrations. I have been doing business there but have decided to make business somewhere else.
Labour
*WHERE is Napwu during matters regrading the Public Servants because clerical assistants need your intervention. I salute Nantu for keeping up the good job.
*A STUDENT nurse who completed Grade 12 with no experience will be earning the same salary as a registered nurse. It’s terribly shocking.
*MINISTRY Of Labour, since we started work in January this year, we never signed contracts at Meatco. The management is forcing us to work more overtime, while the Labour Act stipulates that an employee must not work more than 10 hours overtime. The company wants to increase our salaries by N$80 and N$20 housing allowance. The increment is very low. This is indeed shameful for a company which is rated amongst the top four meat producers in Africa!
*MINISTER Of Safety and Security, can you please visit the police barracks behind Old Mutual in Oshakati to see how our police officers are suffering? The building is very old. Please do something to improve the situation.
*IT’S just regrading that is being talked about. What about camping and bush allowance for civil servants?
Education
*PRIMARY School Baumgartsbrunn in Khomas Hochland is experiencing water problems. The water has a bad smell and our children are at risk of contracting diseases. Since the government took over a few years ago, the situation at the school has worsened and we are worried about the health of our children. Please do something.
*AN unqualified pre-primary teacher has been appointed in the Kunene Region. The Ministry stated the requirements for Grade 12 as 20 points with an E symbol in English and for Grade 10 as 24 points with a D symbol in English, but it is not like that in Kunene. They are forced to enrol at IOL. The medium of instruction is Khoe-khoe Gowab in most schools in Kunene South but the person appointed there did not even have Khoe-khoe Gowab in Grade 10 or Grade 12. We have a lot of qualified people out there. The inspector of education must wake up and do something or let ACC investigate the matter. It is getting worse in the Kunene Region.
*MINISTER of Education, what is happening at the Nangolo Junior Secondary School in Ondangwa? We want to re-elect the LRS. They are favourable to some at the expense of others. It seems like they look at your colour, your cultural background and who your friends are. Where is the suggestion box at Nangolo Secondary? The Minister must visit us or send someone to come and listen to our grievances.
*DAVID Namwandi, what is happening with the NSFAF loans? Our loans for those going to China are on hold and we are not notified? What is being investigated at the last minute? We have letters stating that we are awarded a loan/grant already and now it’s on hold again. Is your ministry aware of how much we spent already because we were assured of a loan? If there is no loan then you must refund the money we spent on invitation letters and visas!
*I AM an English student at the Polytechnic of Namibia but the Ministry of Education does not offer us loans. Why are we being neglected while English is a big concern in our schools? Is it an offence to the Ministry of Education if we are studying linguistics at Polytechnic or what hides behind the Ministry of Education since we all deserve education? Not everyone in this country can afford to pay the fees at institutions of higher learning. Please, we need educational financial assistance like all other students deserve it.
Response to Previous SMSes
*MONITRONIC Success College has the best quality assurance in Namibia. They have libraries and online libraries. Why do you want it to be investigated? To satisfy your jealousy? You will be disappointed. People have tried to destroy it for 14 years but they could not. Why do you think you will succeed this time around?
*I AM sick and tired of hearing the story of Harry Simon each and everyday. He is not the only champion we have in this country. He must just accept that he is now a veteran. We have people like Frank Fredericks, soccer stars and others. Are they still running for good? This is not a matter of God or being born again. This is a matter of old age on the sports field.
Complaint
*Why does Nampol take so long to pay out S&T, can I take Nampol to court, Inspector Shikwambi can I do that?
Response
The practice of issuing S&T within the government is standard and Nampol is no exception. S&T is issued to an individual when he/she is embarking on an official journey and this is done in advance. The government has done away with the issuance of cheques and has introduced an electronic payment system of which S&T is instantly paid into one’s account.
In view of the above we request the concerned police officer to visit the relevant offices within the force in order to raise his/her concerns and or grievances. The approach of taking his/her concerns to The Namibian newspaper was not necessary at all.
Should none of his/her concerns be addressed, then he/she can go to court as he/she rightfully put it because it is a civic right to demand for justice.
For further enquiries the author of the SMS can contact Inspector Shikwambi at 061 – 209 3470 or our Finance Directorate 061 – 209 3215, Inspector Toivo Angolo during office hours.
Lost and Found
*I, SILVIA Shatika, lost my wallet with all my documents in Windhoek. If found, please call me at 0813329112 or 08121454801.
*I, KATRINA Sheya lost my wallet containing all my documents in Windhoek. If found, please contact me at 0818954814 or 0812479752.
*BEZUIDENHOUDT Hardley Lariano, please contact 0813449137 to get your ID and drivers licence.
*I FOUND the drivers licence of AVF von Flotow. He can contact Fritz at 0818603063.