SMSes for Mon 26 Jan 09

SMSes Of The Day
 * DEAR fellow Namibians, let us not treat politics like a football club that we support for the sheer excitement of it. We must take it as a chance to positively contribute to change for a better tomorrow.
 
 * NAMIBIANS at all levels, let’s defend what is right and deny what is wrong no matter from which side. Leaders, let’s try feed our hungry minds.

SMSes Of The Day
* DEAR fellow Namibians, let us not treat politics like a football club that we support for the sheer excitement of it. We must take it as a chance to positively contribute to change for a better tomorrow.

* NAMIBIANS at all levels, let’s defend what is right and deny what is wrong no matter from which side. Leaders, let’s try feed our hungry minds. Pray God heals our so called leaders selfish minds, jealousy and modest political point of view.

Food For Thought
* I AGREE totally with Timo Mufeti and Ben Beytell – the coast matters. So sad that those of us who love every bit of our beloved Namibia so dearly, have to pay for the irresponsibility of others. If that will keep ‘thugs’ away – it has my blessing !

* PLACING restrictions on passport applications is Government’s way of telling us that they can’t do their job. 30 days before you travel? Could they issue a passport within that time frame? It is your right to have a passport. Who voted for these guys?

* IF a black man can become a president of a predominantly white nation, then Namibians have to accept that leaders from any tribe can surely become president of this predominantly Oshiwambo-speaking country.

Salary Debate
* THE 24% salary increment is totally selfish. Look at police officers, NDF, etc. They are the ones risking their lives day and night to make Namibia a better place, while our leaders sit in airconditioned offices signing papers and making speeches about vision 2030. If I ask them who is responsible for making that vision happen, it’s the teachers but they are paid peanuts. Who is responsible for the safety in this country? It’s our NDF and Police officers but they are also being paid peanuts while they risk their lives. As a young Namibian, I think it’s not fair. This decision should be reconsidered.

* FOR how long will the public servants fold their arms and do nothing about their plight? It is high time to do something about it. Where on earth can you rent a flat or room for N$400 and no 10% increment annually? 24% is the only solution and let us not allow it to be spread. The time is now for us to demand what we really deserve.

* THE story of low payment to soldiers is not a news in the ears of the Government. But all it (the GRN) does is to take advantage of the fact that soldiers don’t boycott nor make demonstrations. But remember that they are just human beings like others and pain they feel.

Politics
* THANK you Hon McHenry Venaani. You are a people’s representative. Because of your action, civil servants are going to get more than 20% increment. Keep it up.

* MAY I respond to the SMS that linked the ‘right to vote’ to the ‘paying of tax’. If people who don`t pay tax are barred from voting, it will mean the following: violation of the supreme law of Namibia – excluding those who earn salaries that are below the cutline of qualifying to pay tax – excluding the unemployed youth who are 18 years and above – excluding pensioners and many other potential voters. My party (yours too) can’t afford losing so many votes.
– Amkoshi

* TAX on savings, 24% salary increment, stopping issuing new passports and many more. All these are only coming when we are heading for elections, thus making the president unpopular with the public. Mr President must think twice of these tactical games Swapo is playing on him.

Passport Pains
* THIS is the most ludicrous decision on the new Namibian passports! Why not let everyone have two or three foreign passports thereby alleviating any work done at Home Affairs for Namibian passport holders seeing that now it is not a national ID card. How cool would that be?

* I AM certain most people studying abroad never heard about manual passports being phased out. Now they may be stranded in foreign countries with invalid passports. If one has to apply for passport for a specific trip, does it mean the passport would only be valid that particular destination and duration?
* IN a democratic government, elected by its people, it is every person’s fundamental right to own a passport without justification. If a government is not capable of issuing passports to its fellow beings, then that government is incapable of doing anything in a democratic society. How then do we define our Namibian Government, since in this case it is no longer the government that we voted into power?

* DOES Home Affairs want more work or not? It is very unclear with phasing out old passports next month already! Nobody has a clue what is happening? Home Affairs please explain urgently!

Bouquets And Brickbats
* THANKS Corry Ihuhua for your comment about the questionable necessity of the Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta accompanying our Moses ‘The Hitman’ Paulus on his trip around the country. As if he had any part in the magic of Moses and as if there are no other sport heroes in Namibia. And also probably at the cost of the taxpayers. We want to see our hero ‘The Hitman’, his trainer, but no politicians who might try to tell us b.*..#..t about how Government supports all.

* I WOULD like to commend Oshakati Pharmacy for the way they dispense and package medicine. I am an AIDS patient who has been on ARV treatment for five years and this makes me feel protected. I always come back to them no matter which town I am in in the North. Keep it up and I hope other pharmacies copy your good ethics.

* I HAVE always and will always continue to enjoy your weekly editorial. I am an Obama admirer. Let’s say a terrorist attacks USA now? How would you react if you were him? Should your reaction be in contrast to Bush, how could the American people rate you? Thanks.
– Matty

* DEAR Editor, can you tell me what’s the difference between Friday and other week days, because here in the North your paper arrives very late, if it arrives at all, every Friday. What’s the delay? It’s frustrating really. We miss some important announcements

General
* N$200 million profit for NamPower. Decrease the electricity rates please, because money is in the hands of the GRN.

* HOW many people must die before the Government takes crime seriously? Innocent people fall victim while our children have to witness the murders and robberies!!Whoever is responsible please do something!!

* THE newspaper reports on ELCRN pastors is a result of a lack of a platform where members can raise concerns without themselves being put on the spot. ELCRN also needs to rid itself of cliques!

* ON the one hand Government decreases VAT on certain basic foodstuff and on the other hand it taxes us on interest earned on savings. Who is fooling who?

* MANY people have lost their jobs through bad decisions, victimisation, rumours, having them taken by people in high positions etc. When it ends up in court taxpayers pay for these poor decisions in thousands and millions of dollars. To ensure no such poor decisions are taken hold them accountable to.

* I THINK that the coastline should be made a national park as it will bring in more money for the government to spend on infrastructure during this tough economical period and there may be job opportunities for young people.
– Tanswell, Rehoboth

Man Of The Moment
* US President Barack Obamba has raised the leadership bar to a level so high that one wonders how other political leaders, including our Namibian leaders, are going to match this high standard. Most if not all of our current leaders should benchmark themselves against Obama and resign with immediate effect if they find themselves to be too light for the job. The Namibian nation has seen and tasted quality leadership by merely watching Obama’s inaugural speech. From now on I will switch off my TV whe
n I see any one of our leaders reading a useless speech with no meaning and emotion. Politicians: watch President Obama and learn or else get out of leadership and allow true leaders to emerge in Namibia. Long live Obama and Mandela.

Education
* PLEASE can the date for registration at Unam Northern Campus and colleges just be postponed because the results are coming on January 29 and the due date is January 30.

Labour Issues
* PLEASE we are all Namibians and we want jobs. Why don’t ministry(s)/department(s) employ people who have Grade 10 with good results? This issue should be discussed.

* DE BEERS Marine’s retrenchment is tricky and secret. Management why do you keep it a secret? In December last year you told us we have achieved the Bhag. Automatically you froze the promise. How can we count on you and how can we accept a fair retrenchment that way? You keep it a secret and want the blame to be on the union . Please come up with names affected we want to know the truth.
– John John

* THE Government of the day is gradually killing the geese that are laying the golden eggs; by unjustifiably and systematically cutting down on our salaries and overtime. This will lead to exodus of foreign medics that make up 70 per cent of the country’s hospital workforce, leading to the collapse of our health sector.

In And From The Regions
* PLEASE Governor for Otjozondjupa, come to Grootfontein to hear our problems and we’d like to hear from town councils in other towns. Thanks.
– Grootfontein resident

* WENELA Border Post is in a mess: One immigration officer serving both arrivals and departures at the same time contributing to frustrating long queues. It leaves a poor impression on everyone – tourists, visitors among others. Home Affairs PS, please do something.

* CAN the Government bail out Katima Mulilo. Buy them earth moving equipment at least. It’s a risk to drive your vehicle there. What are plans to solve the problem? Where is the development that you preach on the media, if all we see is people crying for their cars every year. And the politicians get 24%, and taxpayers 0%. That’s poor leadership.
– Dickuh

* WHILE educating the armed forces about the dangers of HIV and AIDS certain high ranking officers at Okahandja Military School are impregnating young girls a third of their ages and forgetting their wives and kids.

* KAVANGO Regional Council Drought Relief for the poor and vulnerable has been stolen. Some villagers did not even receive their food. Let’s wait and see what will happen to those responsible.

Service Please
* AN urgent call to Permanent Secretary (Kahijoro) Kahuure to improve service at Katutura Hospital. People are waiting too long for treatment no wonder people are dying while they wait.

* ON January 20 I paid my municipal account to the Okahandja Municipality only for it to be disconnected two days later by mistake. Now I have to wait a day before they reconnect it. Shake up or ship out with this service.
– VM van Wyk

Disconnections
* LAST Friday M-Web customers received the following warning: ‘Mweb Namibia could experience service problems due to current weather conditions’ (Sic!). And sure we did – no mail, no net! All on account of a mere 20 mm of rain! Thank goodness it doesn’t snow here. MWeb?

Media Mirror
* MTC and Cell One I challenge you to open the network in order to help the Kamholo family. I did not see the story. But I wan to help. And the bank account is not near to me in case if they have to open one. Make the connection my choice.
– Tuufiilwa