SMS Of Wednesday 16 September 2009

* DANGEROUS TAXIS: Mr Magnus Nangombe of Nabta, please try to find a solution to the speeding IVECO taxis on our national roads. This you should do with the Transport section in the Ministry concerned so that the speed on such taxis can be electronically governed at 80 km/h or 100 km/h maximum. The operators must foot the bill and also limit them to one set of spotlights only. These guys don’t like to dim their lights in the evening although knowing that they’re blinding other drivers.

Food For Thought* ECN can take responsibility over voter education but it is the politicians who should motivate people to go and vote in the first place. – SRSMessage For Dr Libertina* LONG live the Minister of the Poor and Marginalised! ‘Ouna wa Amathila’ (a reference to the market structures she initiated), a mark that Dr (Libertina) Amathila will leave in every town in Namibia. You worked so hard and the nation will miss you, especially the poor and destitute. Election Fever* HAVE those ballot boxes of ECN, which were hidden in a Police Station, been returned to the Commission? * I UNDERSTAND now why corruption is so rife in our society! Why: because of the greedy! Imagine already employed people hijacking what was supposed to be for the unemployed people! ECN must explain to the nation why these people were chosen?* I HAVE come to realise that there are many heartless Namibians in this country! These heartless fellows hijacked every job opportunity on offer! The biggest question is: why the ECN employed some of the already employed personnel? What about our unemployed brothers and sisters in the streets? This is a national disaster! ECN must explain to the nation please. * SOME of our Honourable Councillors only like talk in about non-issues! I’m challenging all the councillors now to take issue with the ECN employing already employed personnel as registration officers, some of the officers are from the Regional Council Office! Come on Honourables, the unemployed are crying. We want to hear your voice here! * CAN the ECN re-advertise the 16-page supplement. As being in the North, I have not seen it.- JD Hatutale* NSHR and NID we need to see big control at the border for Namibia and Angola. What happened past elections must not happen again (monitor).- MM, NSHR trainee 2008.* THE Ministry of Home Affairs must do something. It’s now again time for registration for elections but some of us don’t even register because we don’t have documents. The ministry is now putting our party down because we are not going to vote. Please open your mind. Politics* I AM not decided who to vote for because all I know of our politicians are accusations and counter-accusations. I will vote for anyone who can turn these problems we are sitting with into opportunities. Just say how.* HE President (Hifikepunye) Pohamba vigorously protested accusations that he was a puppet of Founding President Sam Nujoma. Nevertheless, he conceded that if he were a puppet, then he was a progressive one. If Mr Pohamba is indeed not a puppet, he should lift the ban on The Namibian. The sincerity of Mr Pohamba is subject to proof. Failure to lift the ban confirms suspicion he is not his own man. * BOTH Marco Hausiku and Rafael Dinyando have high profiles in the struggle for independence in Kavango Region. It is really hurting to see them being over taken in a Swapo list by some late-come-Johnnies who have no struggle credentials whatsoever. It really hurts very much for many who know these people. Let reconciliation prevails in Namibia. * PLEASE can you leave meme Ithana (our Secretary General) alone. She knows what she meant at Omuthiya. You don’t even realise how hard she worked for us to be free. You can say it, but unfortunately there’s nothing you can do about it. She’s a genius! Pay attention to that. Let’s admire our heroes Namibia, whilst they are still living. Long live meme, you’re the best.- Anthony, Windhoek Politics In General* WITH regard to 911: There are too many indicators that the so-called attacks on WTC were done from within the US. Search with Google for 911 mysteries. You will be shocked!!- And yes, there’s even a book been written advocating something similar. However, it is worth noting that, so far, it has fallen into the category of conspiracy theories and urban legend. The facts to date do not back this theory up. – News EditorBouquets And Brickbats* I HAVE been lucky enough to travel around both Europe and southern Africa, and today Namibia gave me a first – a KFC that had no chicken, add to that no explanation or apology. Yet another example of the appalling customer service you can get in this country.* IT is very positive to see the Social Security Commission planning to institute a national pension fund. Keep it up. Progress will always be welcome. * UNCLE Bob (Kandetu), I have watched you go through life’s tribulations both in your private and public lives. Your column on Anton reminds me again that you came a long way and was there way before many of us who were handed over Independence on a silver platter and yet have the audacity to doubt the commitment of others to nation building. Hold your head high …* I WOULD like hail our sports hero Rudolf Bester for making his name in the PSL. By sinking the giant Amakhosi is a testimony that Namibia is really a land of the brave.- Diehard soccer fan Michael, Wanaheda. * THANK you for this space and opportunity. I would like to congratulate and salute the prison inmates for doing a fantastic job by putting iron bars (a palisade fence) at Central Hospital. It looks very nice. – Natangwe Ileka* THANKS to The Namibian for still telling it like it should be told, for you have made the NBC produce a brand new show about rugby. Hope it’s about Namibian rugby.- Sports fan* HI The Namibian. Apart from our every-day problems, I just want to say good job, your paper looks stunning especially the top part. That’s a modern change! * CAN NBC please move the MTC ‘cookie’ ad from 20h00 TV news? We want news, not ads at 20h00!* NDESHI and Jakes, I really want to say thanks to the cartoonist of Ndeshi and Jakes because they really get me through my day even if it’s just to put a smile on my face, because I for one understand every episode. So thanks!* THOSE who disagree with Swapo are dominating the SMS pages in this paper so much that some of us only buy it for the same reason one would go to an accident scene. Could you please screen hate from constructive criticism.- Queries and criticism we do publish, hate speech not. – Newsdesk* AND once again: How many Swakopmunders don’t bother with the newspaper when leaving for the mines. It’s arriving later every morning. The shops say the delivery drivers are a law unto themselves.- Thank you. This matter is being dealt with by the departments in question. – Newsdesk Health Matters* CAN The Namibian and MoHSS inform us how many of the 57 positively tested H1N1 patients are cured? I think the impression for most of us is that these 57 people are still in isolation or hospitals, infected. Or what exactly is the case? So much information has been given about signs and symptoms, but what happens after diagnosis, what is the treatment? How long before the person is given a clean health bill. We need the information of what happens after positive diagnosis. Can The Namibian give us this info? – The majority have recovered. So far there’s been only one fatality. – News EditorRunning The Show* NOW what do the MPs in the Namibian Government say about fake soap from their untouchable Chinese babies? Our country and its poor people are being taken for a ride.* IT’S a shame Home Affairs and Immigration installed brand new computers in an old office with dirty floors.* MR Abraham Iyambo (Minister of Fisheries), what’s the result on the meeting we had in Swakop on July 8 2008 about Namfi graduates?City Fathers Please …* THE two firefighters on Friday that were trying to extinguish a fire at the Eros Mountain were not wearing any sort of protective clothing. (The Namibian, September 11) Isn’t it safety before anything else? City Council please look into the matter and rectify. – JTB * IS prostitution legal in Namibia? Just go behind Checkers after 19h00, but don’t make the mistake of going with your kid. Surely City Police know about this.- Kudzi General* THERE’S nothing wrong if a minister or a Government official buys a copy of The Namibian as an individual with his or her own money. But not with government money. – Toivo* WHY is it that children are often victims of physical abuse? Please parents, don’t beat your children because they will believe that physical abuse is justifiable. And if it’s illegal, why is it still common in some schools? * PLEASE Editor can you publish my question? I am a born-free and I have heard that there was a great man by the name David Sheehama. Can someone tell his story? In And From The Regions* OKONGO Town Council, we want a pumping machine at Oshisogolo please when we get development at Oshisogolo. We want to enjoy Independence. Please why are you only working at Oshikukuta and Opuwo? We are a lot of families here without water.* WE the people of Lüderitz are still in the dark over municipality services all over our town. Government please intervene. Not a single meeting has been held since the strike started. * THE water problem in Ondangwa cannot be solved by relocating people. This is not floodwater from Angola but just heavy rains. Build canals because more natural water flows are blocked by buildings and roads.* NO! The situation in Kalkrand needs to be addressed urgently. Awaiting-trial Namibians are allegedly beaten and goats slaughtered in the Police Station? No!! Service Please* I HAVE a problem with FNB ATMs. One can easily be deceived by card swipers because if the ATM is out of service it doesn’t close and they should introduce a mobile number we can contact for assistance. Please FNB, we are victims of these scams.- A concerned Namibian Disconnections* MTC Free Calls. MTC I appreciate your good offers, including free calls. However, I suggest that free calls or SMS offers be suspended until after the end of year exams. Most teenagers/children are preparing for exams. Hope you will consider this humble request in the best interest of our leaders of tomorrow. – Concerned parent Labour Issues* THE Public Service Commission of Namibia, please check out for candidates who are competing for vacancies while they are already employed on that level / Grading. How will unemployment be reduced if people are just rotated in the same ministry or Council? This should be monitored at Hardap and Karas Regional Councils please. Education* MINISTRY of Education, just the following questions regarding marking of Grade 10 and 12 end of year scripts: 1. What are the requirements and procedures to be followed, 2. Why are people allowed to mark both grades? Is that not the reason why Grade 12 results come out late? 3. Is it fair anyhow that this markers are paid extra for marking and others at school should stand in for them without pay for this extra load? 4. Why don’t we receive letters if we are unsuccessful or is it perhaps because principals don’t forward applications but receive letters to invigilate for no extra money? * MINISTRY of Education should please check IOL (Ongwediva). We are tired of paying our money for nothing. I’m a Grade 12 improving at IOL but there are no books. The teachers are not being paid at all thus they stopped giving us lessons. Imagine paying N$3 965,68 for two subjects, we are suffering. We are waiting for exams next month but nothing has improved. IOL will you refund us or will you give us marks for free? Shame on you!- Maggy, Omusheshe * IN education there is one research finding that highly educated academics refused to accept without research findings to the contrary. That is: the mother tongue facilitates teaching and learning better than a second language. * PLEASE Döbra, do something about the boys hostel, our children don’t have a TV they can’t even watch news! What is this now? Please do something!!* MR (Vitalis) Ankama (PS in Ministry of Education) and your regional directors, why are most of the BETD-inset teachers employed temporarily in vacant positions? When will they receive their transport and rental allowance money? Your ministry must also respect the Labour Act and stop hiring teachers. Check in these regions and find out: Kunene, Omusati, Oshikoto and Erongo regions.* NSFAF must make sure that everyone who used a loan has paid it back. We are working with colleagues who haven’t paid even a cent back yet. They must trace all graduates starting from the year 2001.* OTJIKOTO SSS hostel superintendent, please change your reaction to the learners. How can you suspend all those grade learners while you know they are about to write their external examination and they are quite a lot. Can’t you punish them with something else please.- Concerned parent.Lost And Found* MY dog was stolen on September 14. Its colour is tan (light brown) with white feet. Its a big boerboel puppy, well nourished and energetic. Please call or SMS to 081-363-7337 / 081-124-5676. Will identify it myself and will reward. The Education Ministry Responds* Can the Ministry of Education please make it official whether the schools are closing early or not due to elections. Because it’s very important that the schools needs to know for planning purposes.All Government schools should stick to the school calendar for 2009. The only adjustment to make is not to schedule a test or examination on Friday 27 November 2009. A circular to all schools regarding this matter is on its way. – Public Relations Office