SMSes for Friday 16 July 2010

* I TAKE my hat off to the woman who has the confidence in admitting she has an alcohol problem. The only way one can be helped is by admitting the problem. My advice to her is to join AA meetings in her town while trying to stay away from bad habits as well as join prayer groups if possible. I wish her all the best and that she will be free, not just from alcohol abuse, but free from abusing yourself.

* TO the lady addicted to alcohol in Wednesday’s sms page. There’s no magic cure or pill for any addiction. The answer lies in your willpower to change. Visit any social worker’s office at the Ministry of Health closest to you for a referral to an AA or rehabilitation centre plus counselling. Good luck.

Food for Thought* WHY do Namibians starve while we have millions of dollars lying in the GIPF coffers? Why can’t one be given even five percent of his/her pension money while young? As employees we are always hurt by seeing our colleagues’ money being kicked into the air after they have died. The beneficiaries never think that we made efforts in order for this money to be made available. Reaching the pension age is not guaranteed. So we should be given this money to put it at good use while young. What does it help to have a million at the age of sixty? Our leaders please rescue us.- Concerned citizenNote: Having a pension is very important for the elderly and if these monies are used up, it leaves people very vulnerable when they are older and maybe even reduced to beggar status.- News desk * TO the Namibian Government. Since South Africa will bid to host the Olympic Games, get involved! That way you can create opportunities for the country!* JUST a thought. All females are women but not all are ladies. Namibians please learn the different meanings of words you use everyday. ‘Were’ is not equal to ‘where’ or ‘woman’ and ‘women’ etc! There are so many other examples. Although no one is perfect, at least try.Note: You are correct. The use of the word ‘women’ or woman’ is preferable to ‘lady’. A ‘lady’ is a woman of particular attributes, but these are niceties of the English language not familiar to everyone.- Newsdesk* TO the people that constantly suggest that alcohol should be banned. Did you know that NBL (Namibia Breweries Ltd) is one of the biggest companies in our country and its products are internationally recognized? Think economically!
Bouquets and Brickbats* Mr Kazembire Zemburuka of NBC. I like the way you kill the cat with One on One. Keep it up. That is the way to go. What a hard-hitting set of questions!* MY hat off to the Master, Mr Harold Pupkewitz for his N$10 million donation! Let this be an example to others. If you have, share with others. Especially when educating them!- SheyouyuniIn and From the Regions* WHAT a shame! Traditional chiefs demand their cut from legitimate tax-paying businesses in Caprivi. They demand for their bank accounts. So how many Governments are we having in this country? I only foresee a gradual demise of businesses and regression in development in those areas if the Government does not step out and pronounce itself on this matter immediately.- Tony (Oshakati)* I would like to express my views about unfair payment at the communal waterpoint of Otjiwalongo branch in Okahala village. We as the community members discovered that the chairperson at the tap point used to forced some of the members to make unfair payments. Hence as the community we appeal to rural water supplies to come and pay a visit urgently. We are tired of drinking contaminated or dirty water.- Thirsty * WHICH is the most scarce resource and a basic human need between water and electricity in Namibia? Water, of course. Electricity is not a basic human need but a luxury yet Namibia has an Electricity Control Board to regulate electricity prices. However there is no authority that regulates water prices and cost of water supply. Poor in urban areas are not protected. Rural communities have effectively been dumped to fend for their own water supply through the socalled community-based management programme. If you don’t believe me, just visit Grootberg area in the Kunene region.* LEADING the people does not only mean to keep peace. It also means to give service. Mr President you are our father and our saviour. So please make Namibians earn more to contribute to 2O3O.* THERE is a shortage of staff in Onandjokwe Hospital. It is mostly in the maternity unit although this hospital is now at level B2 and thus an intermediate hospital. There is a high record of births yet your balance is 2/3 or 3/2. They must create posts before they kill their overworked staff.* TO the Minister of Home Affairs. Maybe you should put a complaint book at every border post or alternatively publish an complaint cell number or an e-mail address where people can air their grievances. It is just disgusting how your employees are treating their fellow beings. Maybe they need to be trained by the neighbouring countries on how to be professional.* OKAHANDJA Piet’s Biltong. Please address the issue of beggars at your gate. They are harassing and annoying your customers.* TO Telecom Namibia. Did you respond to the query regarding One Africa television not broadcasting in Mariental due to your frequencies which interfere with their signal? We want to also enjoy their services like most of the towns in the country.City Fathers Please* TO the City of Windhoek. If you cannot do something about all the car wash facilities in Evelyn street (Katutura) than you may as well maintain the bumpy roads damaged by the water. I can foresee a serious accident.- Concerned Goreangab resident* NAMING streets in Freedom Square after heroes of the struggle is completely misplaced. These heroes fought against forced removals. Putuse & Emil Appolus are a case in point. How now do we name streets after them in a place they abhorred? I mean really!Struggle children* TO the socalled children of the liberation struggle. If you go around with an attitude that everyone owes you a living, you will never progress even an inch. So start digging your mine as no one owes you anything.Responses to SMS* I SENT many messages about Kamuandy School teachers in Henties Bay. They come to school drunk. What do others want to tell us? And you The Namibian? What are you doing about it?* I FULLY agree with the writer of a message in The Namibian of the July 13 on brides cheating on their bridesmaids. Truly speaking, the wedding feasts are sponsored by bridesmaids. Other families are burdened with heavy responsibilities on top of their own. Some people go to the extent of borrowing money from others to afford such expensive attire which creates further problems. People also need to learn to say ‘no’ to what they cannot afford. By the way, what does one benefit from such expensive weddings?* I AGREE with the reader complaining about MTC-Samsung phones. I am experiencing the same problem. MTC, that is daylight robbery.Palace* IS the next President also going to stay in the new State House or will he or she build a new one? Please I am confused.* PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba should go and spend a night in the home of an unemployed person with no income and experience what those people are going through especially with the current weather conditions. Maybe, just maybe, he might change his opinion regarding the Basic Income Grant! It’s amazing how quickly we forget the past when we are warm and comfortable in a newly built mansion. I like the first lady (meme Pohamba). She is empathetic and has a big heart and that’s how a leader should be. President Pohamba, put yourself in the common man’s shoes!- DannyEducation* CAN the Catholic Church please do something about the boys’ hostel of St Joseph (Dobra) because we are living in unhealthy conditions. Please Mr Hans, do something or close it down.- Concerned learner* IT is disgraceful that VTC trainees throw their manuals away that were bought for them with taxpayers’ money. Send them home and take new students who are willing to learn. What kind of staff members allow this behaviour at a Government institution? They should also be dismissed!* MINISTRY of Education do something! We want quality education for better life. Even us in National Youth Service (NYS) don’t want Namibia Training Authority (NTA). We want the old system NTTCC back.* POLYTECHNIC of Namibia pressurises students to pay tuition fees on time but when it comes to them paying out the student refunds then they take their time. Why?- KLN* WHY don’t the Unam SRC have a representative at each regional centre? That way they can know the problems experienced by distance education students and also keep them informed on latest developments. Please consider this.- Distance student* MINISTER of Education please help us parents with children at HTS taking the subject Design and Technology. What will our kids benefit from this subject if it doesn’t have practicals and what happened to all the equipment previously used? Do you just keep them in the locked workshop for Vision 2030. Please you must give us feedback because it’s very urgent!
* NAMIBIAN soccer players and fans. What are you doing with regard to the 1GOAL Education for All petition? It would be great to hear how the soccer fraternity responds to this initiative. Kenako!- Liu* WINDHOEK High School please be more consistent with your dress code and considerate to your learners. Blue is just blue and any blue scarf can keep you warm. Stop making a business with the school. Why do you insist that kids buy a N$80 scarf when there are warmer ones that cost four times less. Scarfs are not uniform as long as they are plain and of the same colour.* WHAT an example. School principal drunk and fighting in a shop each weekend.- Concerned Sesfontein parentFunerals, feasts and RIP* CAN someone explain. Why must the bereaved family feed people who go to memorial services and funerals? We must eat at our own houses before we go to their houses! Why burden them more?* I AM so sad to read about the passing of young Almaze Beukes due to cancer. She was so energetic and had big dreams for the future. She was so determined to beat the cancer and concentrate on her education. She was a real brave warrior. RIP fighter Almaze.* MAY the soul of the hippo haunt the poachers for ever and ever- Waltraut* TO the person having a fit about the photographer who took the picture of the trapped hippo and not freeing it. I’d love to see you try! You do realize the hippo is considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa! It kills more people annually than any other animal and runs faster than a human. Reporting it was the correct thing to do as the relevant authorities have the means to free the hippo.- Not the photographerTransport* PASSENGERS must be fined N$300 for stopping a taxi at an unauthorised place and getting out of a taxi at an unauthorised place, just as passengers get fined for not wearing seatbelts.- Natangwe* THE uncontrolled chaos caused by taxis in Werner List St is delaying doctors responding to emergencies between the Catholic and Medi Clinic hospitals. Does the Traffic Department have the ability or will to do their job?Advertising* WE need a board to control advertisements. In Europe an advert like Netman won’t be allowed because it’s misleading. Luckily Netman is not a Netlady otherwise she would have been too naked for television. No! 3G is not faster then ADSL in Namibia yet. If we have a board, before buying the best as advertised, the consumer can first call the board’s hotline. If you are not happy with an item bought, make use of your return guarantees. Namibia needs a control board that also test cheap toys that could even kill our newborns.- PAATraining* HELP me because I am confused with the National Youth Service programs. Must they just keep the youth in the camps or what is their aim with the youth? We are the fourth intake but all previous three intakes are still in camps and they will still take the fifth intake. I’m confused. Please help.- BenAdvice* I got my pension payout from Old Mutual Pension Fund in 2007 but they failed to deduct the right amount of tax for the Government. Now I owe the Government N$10 856.78. I have no more money to pay back. What must I do? I also feel it wasn’t my fault but Old Mutual’s. Please advice me!Service Please* To MTC. I got your much-cooked LG Cookie on my connect 100 active. The phone is with your repair centre since March this year. What a pathetic service you offer. Stop copying Leo and improve your service. I want what I pay for right away! You are useless. I am now carrying a cheap Nokia loan phone around. Mr Aoxamub, those are the real issues to tackle, not your spin doctoring.- C. Mutambo* POLYTECHNIC of Namibia! Your online registration process is incomplete. One is given an option to add a subject but you cannot remove online and have to go all the way to Poly just to be told gthe amendment forms are finished, come tomorrow h. All the hassle can be avoided if systems are properly designed.- Frustrated student
* CAN someone at Natis or the Transport Ministry please tell if the numbers on taxis are only meant for taxis in and around Windhoek only. If not, when is the due date for the rest of our country’s public transport to have the numbers on them?- Moses* HOW long does it take for a house to be sold? Is there a company where one can report real estate agents for not complying?* FNB Swakopmund. Can you please stop putting torn money in your ATM machines because no shopowner or cashier wants to accept the notes.- Toyin Owolabi* TO NBC and One Africa. We are aware MTC has the capital to advertise its Netman a billion times on your channels in a day, but please consider us the viewers too. It has become really irritating.- Irritated TV licence payer* WE the Otsandi community in Omusati region are crying for an FNB ATM to be installed even at the Post Office which is a safe place.- Chimoto* TIME to cull Ndeshi & Jakes. Please take them out of their misery. Pathetic!Lost and Found* I found a document for Angulah Monica Kaapula. She stays in Windhoek North at erf no 99. Call 0814251038* I, Claudia Malan, lost my documents. ID, bank card and social security card lost. Contact me at 0816018170* I, Renathe Thomas, lost my keys and Unam student card last Saturday in a taxi. Drop at Polytech library or sms 0812509933.
* I lost my wallet Sunday at Katutura Pick & Pay area with all my documents. I am Dusnelda Kahure. Contact me at 0814858373.* I, Namupembe Mateus, lost my national ID. If found please contact me at 0814345089.* I, J N Iita, lost my documents . If found please call or text me at 0813338718/4785590.* I’m looking for my car’s number plate N101-687W in areas like Onyaanya, Ondangwa, Omuntele and Omuthiya. Contact me on 0812068911.- Sem Radical KatetaLabour Issues* NAC management should rather fulfil their employees f demands than deal with unnecessary things. They want the employees to complete their daily tasks while they turn a blind eye to things that matter to the employees. ACC do something.- Concerned employee