SMSes for Thurs 15 Jan 09

* THE claims by Cabinet ministers that Bob Kandetu should be fired make you think. Do they just talk or consider various issues before spitting fire? If Bob Kandetu was on approved leave, is it legally possible to hold him responsible for anything that happened during his absence? Ministers Ekandjo and Kawana please obtain a legal opinion in this regard, but I think you must obtain Cabinet authority to outsource this one as the Attorney General cannot apply his mind objectively on this one. Leaders must know there is a thin line between wisdom, stupidity and arrogance. Please, in future don’t react, be proactive. Show us you are intellectually sound.

* NAMIBIAN air space is dangerous and is Government going to wait until there is a major air disaster before they install the required safety equipment? What is being done with the exorbitant airport taxes that are being charged each time a person flies and why are those millions not being spent on making our airports and airspace safe? Pay the piper what is due to him!

* 100% in support of the Medicines Act: Doctors should decide, either to run a pharmacy or remain professional physicians. For now, because doctors are into the profession in order to make big money, they will do everything to challenge a statute whose intentions are bona fide. In many places, doctors have syndicates with pharmacists and there are whispers within the medical fraternity that [some] doctors [allegedly] over-prescribe medicines in order to give their counterpart’s business – the spoils are later shared. I hope Govt has a means of verifying such claims. For now doctors in private practice cannot be trusted because the desire to make money takes precedence.

Food For Thought

* NAMIBIA should take note of the success story of Mauritius. In the 1960s it was purely a sugar economy. On my recent trip there I noticed the economy has moved from producing sugar only to being a textile, clothing, tourism and now an IT and property economy. The country is even importing workers for its sugar and clothing industries, because Mauritians have moved up the value chain themselves. They are the only non-oil producing country in Africa with a higher per capita income than RSA because of the way they’ve gone about reorganising their economy. Namibia can also do it. ‘Yes we can too’. – Kamati

* STATE hospitals might be the main source of spreading TB in Namibia. How on earth do you keep TB and general patients in the same ward? Why does Opuwo hospital not have a separate TB unit like other health facilities? Ministry of Health are you really fighting or promoting the spread of TB? The ministry must be held accountable for the uncontrolled spread of TB.

* COMRADE Peter Nevonga of Napwu, the nurses are feeding you but you never join them in their struggle.

* TEACHERS working in far remote areas are tired of waiting for improvements to come. No proper accommodation is provided and we live under iron sheets. Not enough teaching materials are available for learners. What is the Swapo government doing? Just satisfying ministers and MPs. It’s not fair, we need bush allowance this year or we are not going to vote. We need reasonable salaries to work hard and effectively.

Politicians’ Salaries

* COME on Namibians – politicians, economists, farmers, rich and poor, the 24% salary increase for ministers is a clear indication of how greedy and selfish the Government is. This is nonsense. How do we close the gap between the rich and the poor?

* IF the percentage for public servants’ salary increase for this financial year should be less than that offered to Members of Parliament, then the Swapo government should forget about obtaining a clear victory during this year’s election. At least Swapo as a governing party should expect to forgo about 35% of its envisaged votes in favour of the opposition parties. It is no wonder the opposition in Parliament are quiet about the salary hike.

* PLEASE Namibians, the issues of MPs’ salaries increment has nothing to do with RDP and Swapo – be realistic. It is now a matter of thinking about us the civil servants.

* I THINK it’s time for soldiers to take action. Many times we have spoken and asked President Pohamba about the salary of the disadvantaged NDF members (our soldiers), but until today nothing had been done to improve the living standard of these guys. Why? Everybody knows that soldiers are not allowed to participate in a strike or demonstrate or even join trade unions. To make matters worse they are not allowed to complain because once they start to complain they are said to be indiscipline and never stand a chance to be promoted. Therefore, those on top are taking advantage of the situation. Our soldiers are really suffering in silence. If you check in the cash loans you will find that majority of people borrowing money are soldier.

Politics In General

* WHAT is a Swapo home? A home where rich are getting richer, poor poorer, Grade 10 and 12 learners are condemned to the streets, home of unemployment, a home of poverty. No, I don’t want to go there. I want a democratic home, a home for all Namibians.

* TO the misinformed fellow citizen: Swapo leaders have national duties to fulfil and don’t always expect them to be at each and every party rally that’s addressed by the State President.

* HAPPY New Year to all Namibians. Let me start by saying what will make me a happy and proud Namibian this year. Well some people (politicians) can start referring to the Namibian Government as the Namibian Government and not as the Swapo Government (President’s speeches) these are two different entities. Secondly let us concentrate on critical social and economic issues and not which political party’s flag was on TV.

* WHILE appreciating the President’s advice and counsel to the youth to respect the elders let’s point out that prominent elders have set a bad example nationally.

* EVEN President Pohamba said Sam Nujoma is a human being prone to make mistakes, why should Bob Kandetu be crucified for someone’s mistake?

* I HAVE passed a vote of no confidence In the Swapo-led government for overall inefficiency.

Bouquets And Brickbats

* DOCTOR Smith (dentist) and his anaesthetics team including Diana and Rina are doing a great job at Keetmanshoop. Keep up the good work.

* CAN the City of Windhoek please do something about the long queues at their enquiries desk. Get more staff to help! Your clients have no patience anymore!

* NEW, revamped KFC! But unfortunately still poor service, drive-through not always available and the cherry on top, impractical parking!!

* I HAVE stopped watching NBC over the weekend, because of their unreliability with EPL matches. They started showing the matches late, then resorted to broadcasting old games and to cap it all now there are no more EPL matches at all. They don’t even bother to give excuses! Namibia Breweries get your money back and sue NBC Sports.

From The Regions

* I APPEAL to the Ondonga, Uukwambi and Ongandjera traditional authorities as well the Government to control the communal grazing area (Ombuga) where some people have erected houses and fenced off big portions of land for cultivation.

* IF President Pohamba is not happy with the poorly constructed bridges between Engela and Okalongo it’s only that he did not see those between Okalongo and Outapi. They are worse.

* I WONDER what happened to Lydia Kandetu, the CEO of Karibib Municipality? Did the Ministry let her go in order for the councillors to do more harm to the council and the community. Things came to a standstill since she was suspended for the second time. The sewerage is running, the acting CEO is never in the office. Is this the best we could get? Now the Mayor runs the administration of the council. Line Ministry, I am a taxpayer and I need to deal with people who have an understanding of a Town Council please. How long should we wait?

* WHY is Kalkfeld excluded from the rest of Namibia in terms of development? Swapo government, do you really care about poor Namibians? Just comp
are Kalkfeld to Omuthiya and other villages in the North – you will be shocked. We will withdraw our vote from Swapo, because it would appear that we have voted to enrich politicians and their families. Kalkfeld had been demoted to a settlement area without consultation. We plead with the Government to bring back Kalkfeld Village Council.

* EENHANA Town Council, particularly the CEO and Health Inspector, must be realistic and do their work. When you visit Eenhana Open Market, which is basically shacks made out of old dirty plastics and boxes, the place is very dirty and people consume a lot of bacteria through food, which has put health of many people at risk.
-Viduka

Education

* GRADE 10 repeaters and their parents are being exploited by distance learning institutions owners. I would really urge the Ministry of Education and ACC to investigate all of them! How can you pay N$500 for one subject and a lot of other stuff? They don’t offer quality teaching at all. Please, close down some of these colleges and build more schools with the 24% increase you have given yourself. -Sophy

* THE principal of Okalongo Junior Secondary School is still holding learners’ result because they either lost textbooks or did not pay school fees. Some are not allowed to re-register. What does the policy say?

* DOES the Ministry of Education feel happy when lot of qualified teachers are in the streets? If not, why does it let these qualified teachers suffer, instead of employing them? It’s a pity to see a person suffering for three years without appointments. BETD graduates are the victims of this suffering. The ministry must do something.

* I AM a concerned student from Okakarara Secondary School. I am urging the Ministry of Education to visit this school, because there is no teaching taking place at the school. Most of the teachers are just relaxing but at the end of the day they will still receive their monthly salary, which i think is very unfair to the learners because they will be the ones who will fail. One of my greatest concerns is the catastrophic failure rate of the Grade 10 and 12 at this school. I am asking the ministry if it wants us to be the future leaders of this country to demand for quality education.

* THE service of getting your exam results via SMS (2929) is not really accurate. Do they predict or give actual results? I got 23 points by SMS and 18 points on my statement. The Ministry Of Education please explain?

* THE Ministry of Education together with the Namibia Qualifications Authority should tell us if Triumphant Colleges and Monitronic is registered with the Ministry of Education.

* WINDHOEK College of Education, you have send me a letter stating that I did not pitch for the aptitude tests, which is a lie. I wrote that test and I came across other students who are sitting with the same problem. Please check your things again and stop that story of the SRC doing everything.

General

* HOMOSEXUALITY in Namibia. Most people have been saying cruel things about gays and lesbians, because they believe that they are abnormal people or that God has punished them. But punish them how? Well that’s not the case. No one can convert homosexuals into heterosexuals and vice versa. It’s high time we accept this because homosexuals are there to stay and need to be accepted either way.
-Issove O, Fransfontein

* HOW can the Government allow penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment for theft of livestock, but much lesser prison terms for the rape of our daughters and babies?

* DO the Permanent Secretaries have special authority to appoint daughters, nephews, cousins and in-laws in their ministries and promote them by disregarding long serving and experienced staff?