Compare Apples With Apples When Talking Economics

I AM writing in response to Toivo Ndjembela of Helsinki, Finland (‘An incomplete analysis on Mugabe’), and I would like to state that I appreciate his respect for my freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Namibian Constitution, a document which entitles him to his own opinion as well.

However, Mr Ndjembela ought to be gender sensitive – just because he is male he should not assume everybody else is, I am a woman, and very proud of being that! Talking of the landing delay and its cost implications for Air Namibia or the taxpayer for that matter, I wonder if his opinion would be different if he was a passenger on that flight. Can he imagine how many passengers would stop using our national carrier because of events like that? As a taxpayer I am worried about Air Namibia’s losses, and if any cent could be saved by our national carrier, the bailouts which are characteristic of our annual national budget would be less costly, and do not think N$50 000 is a loss that I or any other taxpayer should not concerned about! You asked whether I could attest to a bumped City traffic police car, obviously you do not scrutinise your newspapers.Mr Ndjembela, it appears to me that you believe in providing figures, whether they fit the occasion or not, you may have put figures on paper, albeit that of a President of one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and you want to compare that with Namibia? It seems to me you are the one refusing to think, as per your previous statement.Do you have the slightest idea how campaign funds are raised in the US? I won’t believe you trying to convince me it comes from state coffers.If you are undertaking studies to compare the economies of Namibia and the US, I would advise that you re-think your strategy and try your hands at comparing things closer to the conditions home, otherwise it would be a futile exercise, much more like wanting to fit a square peg in a round hole! If you have made yourself a Zim spokesperson, so be it, maybe you can enlighten us more on the recent events there, and one wonders how much of that barbarism was at the hands and/or due to the western sanctions that you try to make me and others believe are responsible for the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.I must applaud you for not refusing to come to a conclusion that ordinary citizens (in Zimbabwe or any other country, for that matter) suffer when those entrusted with power take ‘unthinkable’ decisions.Mr Ndjembela, since you are far from home, allow me to inform you that we had a wonderful 17th independence celebration, with Zambian President Levy P.Mwanawasa on a four-day state visit, and I must say it was much calmer, and to the appreciation of the Windhoek (and I am sure Swakopmund) driving public, no barricades that characterised the previous state visit.P N Mwetulundila WindhoekCan he imagine how many passengers would stop using our national carrier because of events like that? As a taxpayer I am worried about Air Namibia’s losses, and if any cent could be saved by our national carrier, the bailouts which are characteristic of our annual national budget would be less costly, and do not think N$50 000 is a loss that I or any other taxpayer should not concerned about! You asked whether I could attest to a bumped City traffic police car, obviously you do not scrutinise your newspapers.Mr Ndjembela, it appears to me that you believe in providing figures, whether they fit the occasion or not, you may have put figures on paper, albeit that of a President of one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and you want to compare that with Namibia? It seems to me you are the one refusing to think, as per your previous statement.Do you have the slightest idea how campaign funds are raised in the US? I won’t believe you trying to convince me it comes from state coffers.If you are undertaking studies to compare the economies of Namibia and the US, I would advise that you re-think your strategy and try your hands at comparing things closer to the conditions home, otherwise it would be a futile exercise, much more like wanting to fit a square peg in a round hole! If you have made yourself a Zim spokesperson, so be it, maybe you can enlighten us more on the recent events there, and one wonders how much of that barbarism was at the hands and/or due to the western sanctions that you try to make me and others believe are responsible for the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.I must applaud you for not refusing to come to a conclusion that ordinary citizens (in Zimbabwe or any other country, for that matter) suffer when those entrusted with power take ‘unthinkable’ decisions.Mr Ndjembela, since you are far from home, allow me to inform you that we had a wonderful 17th independence celebration, with Zambian President Levy P.Mwanawasa on a four-day state visit, and I must say it was much calmer, and to the appreciation of the Windhoek (and I am sure Swakopmund) driving public, no barricades that characterised the previous state visit.P N Mwetulundila Windhoek