SMS Of The Day : Thursday

* IT is absolutely unacceptable. President [Hifikepunye[ Pohamba recently spoke at the conclusion of a Cabinet retreat at Swakopmund and promised action against Ministers who did not carry out their mandates or behaved in a manner unfitting to their positions in society. He is already faced with a test. What is he going to do about several senior members of his Cabinet, including a former Prime Minister, owing such debts to the City of Windhoek? What makes thing worse is the fact that many of these officials (comrades) are already subsidised for services such as these, so have received allowances, and yet their bills have remained unpaid. President Pohamba must keep to his promise of action and take this matter up publicly. We hope he will do so, for to ignore something as blatant as what has recently emerged will show that he is not serious about tackling graft and corruption, let alone discrimination against the poor.

Food For Thought * I THINK the human race have lost their sense of humanity. We are supposed to be the most intelligent beings on earth. The people perish because of ignorance.* WITHOUT doubt [President] Robert Mugabe has joined the ranks of Saddam Hussein, Sani Abacha, Idi Amin and their likes after last Friday’s sham election.* HORRORS! Fishing costs up! Welcome to the real world! Maybe a look at Eastern [Asian countries] work ethics might be the survival of the industry.Zimbabwe* IT took weeks and weeks to announce Zimbabwe’s March election results but it took only a day for Bob [Mugabe] to be sworn in as president for the next five years term. Sorry, no go.* THE streets, avenues, etc named after Robert Mugabe must be renamed Morgan Tsvangirai.* CONGRATULATIONS to Zimbabweans for electing an African hero Robert Mugabe; that is a good move.* MUGABE and his cronies should do what Charamba said: “Go hang.”* AN African Renaissance: rhetoric or reality? The Zimbabwe issue has been illuminating: arm-waving talkers versus quieter “do-ers”! Thank you [President Levy] Mwanawasa [the President of Zambia]! [SA President Thabo] Mbeki, thanks for zero! * MUGABE is worse than the APARTHEID JARE [the Apartheid years].* ALL the countries in the world that are against the Autocratic Election that took place in Zimbabwe, should send Zanu-PF representatives back home.* JUST to remind the doubting Thomases who want to take advantage of the Zimbabwe situation and cause fear amongst our people that Namibia is not Zimbabwe hence, no sense to compare the two.* MUGABE should be told to hand over power. Africa is not safe. He is a disgrace to peace and safety in the region. Those who support him, support hunger and starvation. He will soon follow [former Liberian president Charles] Taylor to The Hague.Sporting* ARE you guys playing with the football fraternity. You are killing football. Close Soccer House and get new people on board.* I THINK the reason why soccer in Namibia is stuck on its feet is because some people are stuck at Soccer House.* NFA you are not fooling the nation, the Secretary General position has been reserved for Barry all along. He proved in the past that he is incompetent for the job, he has no papers for the job.* CONGRATULATIONS to the new CEO.The NFA should do more for our players. Our players should not work for any company. They should play full-time football both in clubs and in the senior team. Then our players will do well. – Karen Onwuemene* RUKORO, the NFA chief is the best thing that has happened to Soccer House. I know he will do a good job. Congratulations Barry. – Pastor Nkem* IT’S payback time Mr Muuinjo, if politicians can do it why not you also? We don’t want to see another FA being formed. The president, SG, PRO, the secretaries of the SG, the Director of Sports all from one tribal group. That’s what we call transparency in Namibia. ACC please wake up and investigate, and anyway what happened to Barry’s Grade 12 certificate issue??? – BB* DOES the Belgian know the culture of our football? Perhaps he will also complain about the size of our players. – Cheeza, Walvis Bay* SHAME NFA Cup Final – very poor quality. No structure in play, poor passing, slow decisions, three shots only (including the kick-on-hope goal), no quality! Are all games in the league like that? No wonder Brave Warriors are failing. With Civics having 50 per cent national players, they were worse than African Stars. It was like watching an old crocks game. Please guys, football is about speed, accuracy and control. – F* IT is quite disappointing to hear about the appointment of the new NFA CEO. We were looking forward to a new person with new ideas to take our number one sport to a new and higher level. What changes can Mr Rukoro bring which he couldn’t implement for the past decade. Namibian sport is doomed by decisions like this one. – Blaz, Windhoek* CONGRATULATIONS to Barry, but what happened to the other applications. In the dustbin?General* CONDOMS in prisons for inmates to promote ‘Safe Sex or Safe Rape’? The Rule of Law and justice doesn’t apply in prison? We want to see culprits charged with rape!* NAMIBIANS once again have not been told the truth about the Chinese companies, not [allegedly] adhering to our laws for years and getting away with it! The ACC should investigate, and the corrupt [Namibian] officials should be jailed with no parole.* ELAINE Trepper [deputy Mayor of Windhoek] should go. Her time is up. What a poor statement [on the tariff increases].* WHY pay more tax? Please explain. The cost of living is too high but the GRN takes too much tax from us. Please consider this Finance Minister. – Swakopmund* SOMETIMES a running dog can be a useful dog. This is shown in the lecturers’ strike that took place few weeks ago.* NAMUGONGO [Sacky, Ministry of Environment official]: a big fish in a small pool or a minnow in an ocean of corruption?* THE Namibian Parliament is a ‘poppekas’ even kids will handle some issues better.* CLEARLY [Andrew] Ndishishi [Permanent Secretary of Agriculture] considers himself above the law – and it seems he is right* OUR Government must do something please. If everything is going up, then salaries should also increase so that we can afford things.Getting Contextual* IN response to one of the SMSes sent to your paper, the News Editor gave reference to a tarred road. Can’t also this be said about your response? If your SMSes are one sided should the public just keep quiet about that? Don’t you see that as a democratic right of every Namibian to express what they feel about your paper? Let the truth be said. – Nekongo – You are quite correct: it is every Namibian’s right, which is precisely why we publish these SMSes every day! – Newsdesk* EVERY time I send an SMS, The Namibian team takes my dollar but none of my messages were printed so far. Are you trying to cheat on your customers ? – The Namibian does not make a single cent from the SMS service. The dollar covers the costs of transmitting the message via MTC. – Newsdesk* RJ, the GRN will be criticised unless you make it change the way it currently does things. So far the GRN has turned a blind eye to attend to real issues and yet you want us to keep quiet. Enough is enough. The only way we can raise our voices is via SMSes. Hands up for The Namibian – God bless that newspaper and staff. Keep it up ! – EMBouquets And Brickbats* VIVA Hon Dr Nicky Iyambo [Minister of Safety and Security], you will never walk alone.* I WONDER why good people and things are not appreciated. My appreciation goes to the Katutura Hospital Maternity, Labour Ward staff. Everything there is if not 100 per cent, 98 per cent perfect. The nurses, (sisters), students and doctors are patient, caring and full of love. They will treat you soooo good that when it’s time to be discharged, you wouldn’t want to go. The ward is clean and the food is prepared nicely and sealed before being served. Thank you so much to the Katutura Hospital Maternity, Labour Ward for your friendly and healthy service. Keep up the good work, you are the best. – Kavii Ngava.* VIVA Karas Police chief, there are also unregistered illegal, fly-by-nights so-called traditional healers and pastors targeting windhoek. Please help us.* SWAPO Youth League members should travel, they are so full of hate. They are confusing our youth.* THOSE youth with their inflated egos. May his soul rest in peace, but who was Mr [Chris] Hawala [Nanso vice president] in the national context to warrant the lowering of the National flag at the Youth House on Monday? – IssaDisconnections* NBC you are so pathetic!! You are deliberately showing the Old March clips on Zimbabwe elections to mislead the Namibian public on voter turnout. Namibians be vigilant, same tactics will be used to suppress your democratic choice. What’s happening in Zim is a dangerous precedent!!* DOES the management of Ster­Kinekor really think we appreciate VHS video tape quality in their cinema? According to a friendly operator, they failed to repair a faulty lens for two months now, resulting in completely blurred screenings.* GIVE readers more letter space. Why is it called Readers’ Letters, if you give half the page to ‘Connecting the Dots?’ Unfair.Just Asking* CAN IOL inform us who’s their head of finance? Wrong deductions are made left and right. After six months students are still begging for refunds. We are just told next week or that their accountant can’t help us now. Ministry of Education, please look into this matter, we need help.* IT was a big relief to hear that no taxes would be added on the price of bread, but we still pay N$9 at our cuca shops! How come Mr President?* HELLO. Please send me phone number of ‘anti-corruption’. I need it please. – The number provided in the phone book for the Windhoek office is (061) 370600.Why?* WHY is there no mention about the battle at Cambeno Valley near Uuyona which is known in Swapo as the Battle of Okangwati. Please this is worth mentioning because so many lives were lost on that day – March 11 1982 – when the Plan base was destroyed by the enemy. Please this day should be mentioned on important days. – Mufitu, former Plan memberEducation* I PITY the Omaheke Region very much because of the high failure rates in the region. Is there anything the education directors can do to alleviate this? – LudmineLabour Issues* WHY doesn’t TransNamib want to give employees a transport allowance or home allowance? Why don’t they appoint people after contracts? – Worker, Ondangwa Depot* I THINK the human race have lost their sense of humanity. We are supposed to be the most intelligent beings on earth. The people perish because of ignorance.* WITHOUT doubt [President] Robert Mugabe has joined the ranks of Saddam Hussein, Sani Abacha, Idi Amin and their likes after last Friday’s sham election.* HORRORS! Fishing costs up! Welcome to the real world! Maybe a look at Eastern [Asian countries] work ethics might be the survival of the industry.Zimbabwe * IT took weeks and weeks to announce Zimbabwe’s March election results but it took only a day for Bob [Mugabe] to be sworn in as president for the next five years term. Sorry, no go.* THE streets, avenues, etc named after Robert Mugabe must be renamed Morgan Tsvangirai.* CONGRATULATIONS to Zimbabweans for electing an African hero Robert Mugabe; that is a good move.* MUGABE and his cronies should do what Charamba said: “Go hang.”* AN African Renaissance: rhetoric or reality? The Zimbabwe issue has been illuminating: arm-waving talkers versus quieter “do-ers”! Thank you [President Levy] Mwanawasa [the President of Zambia]! [SA President Thabo] Mbeki, thanks for zero! * MUGABE is worse than the APARTHEID JARE [the Apartheid years].* ALL the countries in the world that are against the Autocratic Election that took place in Zimbabwe, should send Zanu-PF representatives back home.* JUST to remind the doubting Thomases who want to take advantage of the Zimbabwe situation and cause fear amongst our people that Namibia is not Zimbabwe hence, no sense to compare the two.* MUGABE should be told to hand over power. Africa is not safe. He is a disgrace to peace and safety in the region. Those who support him, support hunger and starvation. He will soon follow [former Liberian president Charles] Taylor to The Hague.Sporting * ARE you guys playing with the football fraternity. You are killing football. Close Soccer House and get new people on board.* I THINK the reason why soccer in Namibia is stuck on its feet is because some people are stuck at Soccer House.* NFA you are not fooling the nation, the Secretary General position has been reserved for Barry all along. He proved in the past that he is incompetent for the job, he has no papers for the job.* CONGRATULATIONS to the new CEO.The NFA should do more for our players. Our players should not work for any company. They should play full-time football both in clubs and in the senior team. Then our players will do well. – Karen Onwuemene * RUKORO, the NFA chief is the best thing that has happened to Soccer House. I know he will do a good job. Congratulations Barry. – Pastor Nkem * IT’S payback time Mr Muuinjo, if politicians can do it why not you also? We don’t want to see another FA being formed. The president, SG, PRO, the secretaries of the SG, the Director of Sports all from one tribal group. That’s what we call transparency in Namibia. ACC please wake up and investigate, and anyway what happened to Barry’s Grade 12 certificate issue??? – BB * DOES the Belgian know the culture of our football? Perhaps he will also complain about the size of our players. – Cheeza, Walvis Bay * SHAME NFA Cup Final – very poor quality. No structure in play, poor passing, slow decisions, three shots only (including the kick-on-hope goal), no quality! Are all games in the league like that? No wonder Brave Warriors are failing. With Civics having 50 per cent national players, they were worse than African Stars. It was like watching an old crocks game. Please guys, football is about speed, accuracy and control. – F * IT is quite disappointing to hear about the appointment of the new NFA CEO. We were looking forward to a new person with new ideas to take our number one sport to a new and higher level. What changes can Mr Rukoro bring which he couldn’t implement for the past decade. Namibian sport is doomed by decisions like this one. – Blaz, Windhoek * CONGRATULATIONS to Barry, but what happened to the other applications. In the dustbin? General * CONDOMS in prisons for inmates to promote ‘Safe Sex or Safe Rape’? The Rule of Law and justice doesn’t apply in prison? We want to see culprits charged with rape! * NAMIBIANS once again have not been told the truth about the Chinese companies, not [allegedly] adhering to our laws for years and getting away with it! The ACC should investigate, and the corrupt [Namibian] officials should be jailed with no parole.* ELAINE Trepper [deputy Mayor of Windhoek] should go. Her time is up. What a poor statement [on the tariff increases].* WHY pay more tax? Please explain. The cost of living is too high but the GRN takes too much tax from us. Please consider this Finance Minister. – Swakopmund * SOMETIMES a running dog can be a useful dog. This is shown in the lecturers’ strike that took place few weeks ago.* NAMUGONGO [Sacky, Ministry of Environment official]: a big fish in a small pool or a minnow in an ocean of corruption? * THE Namibian Parliament is a ‘poppekas’ even kids will handle some issues better.* CLEARLY [Andrew] Ndishishi [Permanent Secretary of Agriculture] considers himself above the law – and it seems he is right * OUR Government must do something please. If everything is going up, then salaries should also increase so that we can afford things.Getting Contextual * IN response to one of the SMSes sent to your paper, the News Editor gave reference to a tarred road. Can’t also this be said about your response? If your SMSes are one sided should the public just keep quiet about that? Don’t you see that as a democratic right of every Namibian to express what they feel about your paper? Let the truth be said. – Nekongo – You are quite correct: it is every Namibian’s right, which is precisely why we publish these SMSes every day! – Newsdesk * EVERY time I send an SMS, The Namibian team takes my dollar but none of my messages were printed so far. Are you trying to cheat on your customers ? – The Namibian does not make a single cent from the SMS service. The dollar covers the costs of transmitting the message via MTC. – Newsdesk * RJ, the GRN will be criticised unless you make it change the way it currently does things. So far the GRN has turned a blind eye to attend to real issues and yet you want us to keep quiet. Enough is enough. The only way we can raise our voices is via SMSes. Hands up for The Namibian – God bless that newspaper and staff. Keep it up ! – EM Bouquets And Brickbats * VIVA Hon Dr Nicky Iyambo [Minister of Safety and Security], you will never walk alone.* I WONDER why good people and things are not appreciated. My appreciation goes to the Katutura Hospital Maternity, Labour Ward staff. Everything there is if not 100 per cent, 98 per cent perfect. The nurses, (sisters), students and doctors are patient, caring and full of love. They will treat you soooo good that when it’s time to be discharged, you wouldn’t want to go. The ward is clean and the food is prepared nicely and sealed before being served. Thank you so much to the Katutura Hospital Maternity, Labour Ward for your friendly and healthy service. Keep up the good work, you are the best. – Kavii Ngava.* VIVA Karas Police chief, there are also unregistered illegal, fly-by-nights so-called traditional healers and pastors targeting windhoek. Please help us.* SWAPO Youth League members should travel, they are so full of hate. They are confusing our youth.* THOSE youth with their inflated egos. May his soul rest in peace, but who was Mr [Chris] Hawala [Nanso vice president] in the national context to warrant the lowering of the National flag at the Youth House on Monday? – Issa Disconnections * NBC you are so pathetic!! You are deliberately showing the Old March clips on Zimbabwe elections to mislead the Namibian public on voter turnout. Namibians be vigilant, same tactics will be used to suppress your democratic choice. What’s happening in Zim is a dangerous precedent!! * DOES the management of Ster­Kinekor really think we appreciate VHS video tape quality in their cinema? According to a friendly operator, they failed to repair a faulty lens for two months now, resulting in completely blurred screenings.* GIVE readers more letter space. Why is it called Readers’ Letters, if you give half the page to ‘Connecting the Dots?’ Unfair.Just Asking * CAN IOL inform us who’s their head of finance? Wrong deductions are made left and right. After six months students are still begging for refunds. We are just told next week or that their accountant can’t help us now. Ministry of Education, please look into this matter, we need help.* IT was a big relief to hear that no taxes would be added on the price of bread, but we still pay N$9 at our cuca shops! How come Mr President? * HELLO. Please send me phone number of ‘anti-corruption’. I need it please. – The number provided in the phone book for the Windhoek office is (061) 370600.Why? * WHY is there no mention about the battle at Cambeno Valley near Uuyona which is known in Swapo as the Battle of Okangwati. Please this is worth mentioning because so many lives were lost on that day – March 11 1982 – when the Plan base was destroyed by the enemy. Please this day should be mentioned on important days. – Mufitu, former Plan member Education * I PITY the Omaheke Region very much because of the high failure rates in the region. Is there anything the education directors can do to alleviate this? – Ludmine Labour Issues * WHY doesn’t TransNamib want to give employees a transport allowance or home allowance? Why don’t they appoint people after contracts? – Worker, Ondangwa Depot