SMS Of Monday 14 September 2009

* WHY can’t the Government build us matchbox-type houses as the colonial government did, as this at least was a solution during those years. Everyone had a place called home. Now after Independence we stay in shacks and squatter camps. Get those building plans from the archives and roll out throughout the country.

Food For Thought* WHEN one looks at the huge number of South African businessmen and women that jet in and out of Namibia for the procurement of goods and especially services, which Namibians can render, then one wonders why our leaders do not finalise the empowerment legislation to level the playing fields or do they regard the foreigners as better beneficial business partners as us. By doing what they ought to do they will not just economically empower us but also intellectually.- Dirk Conradie* ON the issue of the national flag, I’m happy that Sergeant Fornchek has brought this matter up for public education on the importance of the flag. Myself I have been observing this with great concern as to why there is no respect at all with the hoisting of our flag. You find even the hoister busy talking to a friend while hoisting the flag, a quarter of the flag is on the ground and others are just up and down passing around with out no observation at all. I believe public education is a must here because our nation was never informed of how important is it to observe our flag. We must not forget the blood that waters our freedom.- Tirfain TimoTribute To AntonAnton Lubowski* FOR those who take the Independence of our beloved country for granted, they must not forget! It was via the shedding of blood for those we are still mourning until today. Viva comrade Anton Lubowski! Those who killed you know that they killed a Namibian hero. Today September 12, we still say that those who killed you, we termed them cowards. May your soul rest in peace! Viva all the African leaders! God bless you. We forgive but to forget, never ever. Viva all the Namibian people and long live all comrades!- Comrade Isak Hamunyela (monawameme – meu)Left Out by ECN* ECN – for far too long, I’ve been so curious to know the genuine reason for The Namibian ban by our so-called democratic State. If there was wrongdoing on the side of the newspaper, why can’t our Swapo Government let bygones be bygones? At all their gatherings, they are preaching a policy of national reconciliation, who is fooling who here? I don’t see the difference between the current government and the apartheid era, it is shameful in many folds. Madam Gwen, your non-exclusive contribution to our society is enormous. With this ban, you have nothing to lose. I’ve yet to hear the improvement on financial stability of our State-owned newspaper. You have been telling, still and will continue to tell like it is. It is a pity that our leaders celebrate failures and mourn successes.- Shiningamukweni* ECN must keep in mind that the people in Caprivi cannot read or understand Afrikaans. Election information must also be published in The Namibian newspaper* ‘THE ECN is independent of the Swapo Party’ (New Era editorial, Sept 11 2009). Indeed the ECN depends on the Swapo Party for it is the Swapo Party that prints the ballot papers.* THE ECN is entitled to put information in any newspaper they think will be able to reach their target. What an autocratic thought of thinking that The Namibian is the only newspaper that can inform the nation. Stop using your public platform for your own gain. Come on. The time has come for the Government to use any media house which supports their efforts and structures. At times one questions your newspaper’s real motive, because most of the reports you carried this year were aimed at attacking Swapo and its Government. Why can’t you at least focus on issues related to nation building rather than being a criticism-based newspaper!- Omkondy- No one has ever said that The Namibian is the only newspaper that can inform the nation, but it can help broaden the information outreach. And, as far as the newspaper is concerned, gain has never been a factor. Quite frankly, while the ECN is fully within its rights to publish information where it wants, its the ECN’s reponsibility to reach as many people as possible. Also, democracy is part of nation building. Ignoring what is wrong is not! – News Editor* ECN, you are not free, neither are u fair, you are the grass on the battlefield of the elephants.- Lynette* THE ban on The Namibian is a sign of people still stuck in the past. Life is hard without info. Before elections lift the ban.* ECN make us understand please. We are confused about those who are registration officials. Are they going to continue until the November election or are still more names going to be released?- Confused waka * I FIND it rather outrageous to see the electoral commission firstly very unorganised and secondly so very not neutral! This in turn also highlights the ineffectiveness of the ACC which has failed not only in this one case! The only institution capable of uncovering these fraudulent and corrupt practices by GRN and its institutions seems to be the media. * MADAM Gwen Lister just publish it for your readers that election registration information. We, the readers, keep you in business not the ECN, the ‘progressive puppets’ of the Government.* PIECE of advice to my GRN! I honestly think that the GRN is wasting its time by not advertising in The Namibian newspaper. Surely, every minister, every GRN Director and the employees buy The Namibian newspaper daily. Who is being punished by the GRN here? GRN please think again.Election Fever* ELECTORAL Commission please explain to us as voters the issue of the RP and RDP Party colours. Why are the same colours allocated to both parties? Is it not going to cause confusion on the ballot papers?Bouquets And Brickbats* EDITOR, I love this article on page B9 on ‘ sharing a bed ‘(11/ 09/2009). Is it possible to get a general public opinion on this in your next issue please?* NBC sports desk please make sure the signal is acquired in time so one can watch the game from the beginning. No repeat of last week’s game. For heaven’s sake get things right.- Soccer Fanatic* JOHN, Barry, JJD, Tim, Titus and Tovey keep up the good work. And thanx Big Vries for giving something back to soccer.- Xram* I DO not want to buy all what Fredrico Links wrote in his opinion piece in The Namibian of Friday by implying that RDP, like all other political parties, ‘has fizzled to silence’ and not doing much it could do in campaigning. But he should also be cautious of the fact that if Hidipo Hamutenya (HH) has not spoken for sometimes it does not mean RDP is ‘fizzled’. I recently attended a press conference addressed by Hon Jeremia Nambinga (of RDP) about the ‘demarcation of new borders’ in Caprivi Region. The cries over the house-to-house/shebeen-to-shebeen campaign in the North by Swapo Party councillors is testimony that RDP is active and shaking the playing field. What about its recently launched newsletter, ‘The Voice of Change’? What about the Saturday, September 12 Big Walk (to Victory)? Is that being ‘fizzled to silence’?* I JUST want to say I am proud of the up and coming music artists of Keetmanshoop. Guys and girls keep up the good work, and thanks to KAKAS FM (KCR) for promoting them.Not too many games lately* WHY does the media never report on what is happening in the under 17 Khomas League? Better stop preaching football development. Jakes do something.Politics* NAMIBIANS, for too long we have been acting out of fear rather than on the basic of courage, what will happen to me if I take a stand on social justice? We think short term rather than long term. The ruling party has been making empty promises to the poor to win elections and hopes voters do not rise up in anger for non-service delivery like the struggle kids. You voters should also vote with common sense!- KolaliRunning The Show* HOW long does it take the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to approve a social assistance application for the disabled? I applied on January 8, but still no answer. At the office they promised it should take 90 days and is now 240 days, almost a year now without a reply.- Betrayed, Omusati
* GRN why do you want to implement the ‘Spy Bill’ if you can’t even sponsor schools with books, pens and pencils like in the apartheid era? Why not take care of our gravel roads and rather privatise them.Service PleaseWhere did all the peas go?* SUPERMARKETS in Windhoek why no frozen peas? I tried all of you.* POOR service of the week! I posted a parcel to Walvis Bay on Monday, September 8 with Parcel Force but up to now the parcel has not yet reached Walvis Bay. Can you believe it! It’s almost 5 days!Education* MOST schools in Ohangwena Region will perform poorly because they have been without principals since January, however it is the PS squarely to be blamed. He has been sitting on recommendations since February but other regions are not affected. The Namibian newspaper please interview the PS to inform the public his on his actions.* TO hear that a married principal in Kavango Region has impregnated a 16-year-old at his own school is sickening. God save this nation and I will continue to pray for men to change their attitude towards our school children.* WE need help Namibia and we want somebody to help us the students of Döbra High School. We pay a lot of money, yet we sometimes lack water and there are no cleaning materials. The hostel is not in a good living condition. We need health inspectors and government (Ministry of Education) to at least get involved. It is now or never.In And From The Regions* WE people of Outjo are still in the dark over the municipal affairs please, Mayor call a public meeting and talk to your people* ABANDONED and vandalized houses have become the norm in Okahandja’s Nau-Aib location. These houses are now being used by criminals as hideouts and a haven for drug users. Who is responsible for these houses, the Police or the Okahandja municipality as it is clear their owners don’t need them anymore? Please help because our safety and health is at great risk.* WE hear of [alleged] arrests at will and [alleged] torture at Masokotwani, 40 km from Katima Mulilo. Who can help stop this cruel treatment?- Do you have more information on these claims? We are interested in knowing more. – News Editor* ONDANGWA Town Council wants some NHE houses to be relocated simply because there is a sewerage problem that they cannot solve. Most of these houses were never flooded since they were built 15 years ago. What about other houses in Ondangwa that were also flooded?* WHAT is going on with Noordgrens at Rundu? The kids are running across the road in front of oncoming traffic. What happened to the school patrol that used to help the kids safely cross the road? Please teachers and parents make sure the kids know the rules of the road and teach them to use the zebra crossing safely!* OKAHANDJA Municipality, we are tired of dogs all over the street. Our mini dustbins, which you supplied to us, are always overturned by street dogs.* I WATCHED ‘Open File’ on NBC on Wednesday morning and saw how people are being affected by flooding in the four northern regions. All the CEOs of regional and town councils the reporter spoke to have strategic plans in place to assist people who are affected, but there is no money. Now in just a few months the disaster will strike again but the Government has money to build the office of the former President and to implement the Spy Bill which can only benefit certain individuals not the masses of people. But there is no money to assist hundred thousands of poor people affected by this natural disaster. Oh God save us. Come November 27 and 28 2009- JH* WHEN is NBC television going to reach all parts of Namibia? Like Mpungu village in the west side of Kavango Region. We have been forced to pay TV licences whereby we use the dish for DStv to watch our television. Is this fair? Please Director General of NBC do something!- Concerned citizen, Mungu villageGeneralHow about a free ride?* LIKE in the past, can the Government not give free train tickets to its employees, when they are taking annual leave, to ease the burden of transport expenses. It will be highly appreciated.- P Christiaans* THIS country will never progress because Government employs people who are not educated through families.- Employed by government* IN response to deaf people begging for money. The Namibian National Association of the Deaf does not send out deaf people to solicit money, most of those deaf are Zimbabwean. We condemned their acts, so please in the future, it’s up to you whether to give or not.- Uncle Paul, NNAD chairperson.Lost And Found* MR Paavo Petrus, you ID and Driving Licence was picked in a riverbed. Please call Mr Salomon on 081-124-0157.* FOUND a black female dog around Khomasdal. Please contact 081-255-4919* MS Rosina Ndeshiteelela Komeya your ID and voter registration cards are at the Katutura Court maintenance section. Phone 081-247-8203* I FOUND an ID card and BOB card for Enkono Hileni Namutenya. Please call 081-3166-100.* I LOST my valuable documents, my passport, car documents (CFM 32522), vote card, and five memory sticks, and all under my name: Onesmus Hailombe. These memory sticks have my three years work of my study, therefore anyone with information or who found it please contact me at 081-260-4799, and I would refund all your expenses.* I’M Sheefeeni Johannes. I lost my ID, Polytech student card and FNB debit card all with the same name. Contact me on 081-463-7499, if you come across those items.* IF you find documents in the name of Wilhelm Martha, please Call 081-128-8009