SMSes For Tues 24 Feb 09

* The taxis in Windhoek are completely out of control – why should I obey the rules of the road if they don’t have to?
 – All drivers and pedestrians must obey the traffic rules and that includes taxis. – Newsdesk
 
 Food For Thought
 * THE global weather has changed and Namibia is not an exception to this.

* The taxis in Windhoek are completely out of control – why should I obey the rules of the road if they don’t have to?
– All drivers and pedestrians must obey the traffic rules and that includes taxis. – Newsdesk

Food For Thought
* THE global weather has changed and Namibia is not an exception to this. We should start becoming proactive rather than reactive when it comes to floods. Why don’t we build dams to preserve water and build bridges? This might be a costly infrastructural investment, but in the long run we will save lives, land and our agricultural activities.
* CAN we please introduce a rule for all cars to switch their headlights on when travelling on our main roads because some of these modern colours aren’t visible when you are approaching them on a tarred road, example grey and dark blue.

Floods
* WITH the rains and floods re-occurring in the North, some of us would like to know what happened to the thousands or maybe millions of dollars donated by different organisations, companies and individuals? It is also interesting to note that many of the residents affected in the Oshakati/Ongwediva area refused to be resettled last year. – Jdhatutale
* FLOODS! Floods! What we need is to build a dam between Angola and Namibia. The other dam we need to build is in the Caprivi Region, then the problem is solved. Please Swapo administration, walk the walk.
* WHEN is NamWater going to build a second dam, the flooding destroys people’s homes and property. We get good rains but the water goes to waste while continuing to pay high prices for water. Some of us are even willing to help you build it for free since it will benefit us all.

Bouquets And Brickbats
* PLEASE Editor, can you help me find the Taxi (Quantum Bus) driver who helped us from the accident scene we had between Omthiya-Oshivelo road to Onandjokwe Hospital on February 20, at around 00h00 to contact me at 081-251-0534, and also to thank the nurses who were on duty that night at the said hospital for their professional help. Lastly we urge our NamPol to have each and every station’s contact details at any Police station countrywide. – Fikameni Haiduwa
* WALVIS Bay water. It is a disgrace that NamWater cannot get their act together. Every time the Kuiseb River flows the residents of Walvis Bay are without water. – Tobias
* WHAT is wrong with NBC? They fail to broadcast an important Premier League match between Eleven Arrows and African Stars. What is going on?

Democracy
* I WAS always under the belief that the Office of the Prime Minister is delaying the finalisation of the BEE policy, it appears I was wrong. Can we, the people of Namibia, get an explanation why the policy was delayed as the absence of clear policies opens the doors for indiscipline, corruption, uncertainty and injustices. Can the responsible ministry post all Government policies and also the absence thereof on the outdated Government web page. This is transparent governance.

Politics
* HON (Hage) Geingob, you had talks with the intelligent rich; now consult with the wise poor. – Rev P Strydom
* MS Lister, with reference to your ‘Political Perspective’, note that the entire public sector, save very few exceptions, consists of party patronage-dependent incompetents, and is – hence – irreformable. We are, alas, an idiocracy!
* ONCE again I remind the NFA and PSL and lower leagues to remind the team officials, supporters and spectators of soccer that, according to Fifa rules and regulations, it’s illegal to promote and to do marketing and promote political activities at soccer stadiums. Things like wearing RDP or Swapo caps or T-shirts or shouting political slogans or singing political songs are not allowed in or around soccer stadiums during soccer games. NFA tell your people that soccer activities are apolitical according to Fifa. Wakotha Penduka
* ADDRESSING staff members at the Swapo offices recently, Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana accused ‘racist English, German and Afrikaans media of an unholy alliance with the RDP’. I do not particularly care about alliances in life, holy or otherwise. But to call the media ‘racists’ for reporting the facts is dangerous and highly irresponsible, especially in the current tense political environment. All too often, people who harbour racist feelings towards others are quick to impugn such others. It is of paramount importance for Ms Ithana to moderate her intemperate outbursts which are inconsistent with the high office she holds.
* THE statement from the Minister of Environment and Tourism last week was long overdue. Please remove your non-performing senior officials now. Period.
* NBC must create a platform for political parties to come to the studio and debate issues which affect our people. If NBC can’t then One Africa come up with a programme please. We are sick and tired of the four minutes given to political parties during campaigns. We need an environment where the public can participate live.
* SHAME on you (NBC) for advertising the Director General post in The Namibian newspaper of February 20 but forgetting to say only Swapo members must apply. You fired Mr (Ponhele) Ya France and Mr (Bob) Kandetu for allegedly no longer being Swapo members?
* NICE to see the SPYL’s little friend J(ulius) Malema on the receiving end for once. Quite a feat to be brought to heel by both governing party and opposition. Mamparra of the year?
* GOVERNOR Himarua we know that it is hard now for you to fight to retain your post, but the question is whom are you referring to as enemies? They are not your enemies. Do not mislead the nation with cheap political campaigning. – Lukas, Swakopmund

General
* I JUST want to find out whether the public roads belong to traffic officers, because whenever they meet friends or colleagues they just stop in the middle of the roads and start having fun there. – Simon
* THE unemployed suffer so much. I salute Mr Ellis Tjueza on his letter to The Namibian of 20 February under the title ‘Objection to Cumbersome Job Application Processes’. We spend much money on making copies, taxi fare to and from Police station to certify our copies, envelopes and stamps. But at the end you are not successful. Please, private companies return our copies or ask only for CVs which are only one to two pages. – Mushimba
* Mr President please do something to reduce the tax. This is too much.
* THE awarding of a Unam tender to a company with directors in high Government posts is pure corruption at its highest level. President (Hifikepunye) Pohamba should remove those people involved as an urgent matter. Amnesty international and even the International Court of Justice or some force from the outside should intervene as our ACC is the one who gave the same people the green light in the past to continue with their corrupt ways. It is really a shame!
* TO win tenders fairly is good but ethics wise don’t you guys feel that you are corruptly winning? Why are there always questions? I would rather die poor than live corruptly rich.
* 95 Unleaded petrol in Windhoek costs N$5.83 a litre but when you go to Caltex in Rehoboth you pay N$6.01 per litre. Why? Can someone please tell me why?
* SHEBEENS should be compelled to display and sell seeds and seedlings and promote agriculture instead of condoms and femidoms. It seems this is the only place they are held in high esteem
– Shouldn’t we be selling or swapping seeds and seedlings at all sorts of venues and trying to grow a few vegetables for our own use? – Newsdesk

And Justice For All
* WHEN I see the relaxed and happily smiling face of Mr Shipanga, one of the accused in the Fellinger murder, I know what is so sick in Namibian society. We have become people who are utterly heartless and lack even the
slightest trait of compassion or remorse. No doubt Mr Shipanga smiles like this because he knows our prosecution machinery is likewise a non-caring administration. Two years until then trial starts? So much for our authorities’ desire to prosecute serious crimes. Shame on the PG.

Customers Please Note …
* NO client should pay more for prepaid electricity than the actual value. If you are overcharged, please contact SmartSwitch at 061 379 400 with the details so that we can take action. – Rob from SmartSwitch

Not On!
* I COULD not believe my eyes this morning when I passed the new office building corner Nitzsche and Koch streets. The irrigation system was in full swing!

In And From the Regions
* WE are very happy to get drought relief food from Government and we are unhappy about paying for expensive water. Where are we going to get money to pay for water if we do not have money to buy food? Give us free water and free food because we do not have money to pay for your expensive water.
* EMERGENCY. In Ondangwa the Police have become selective in rescuing people who are affected by water. I was told to go to the town council office knowing that they do not work on Sunday. Until when are we discriminating against the poor like this?

Education
* WE are tired of poor performance in our schools. Learners always remember the 5 Ps, which stand for Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance, so be prepared!
* WHAT a mess! NQA and Ministry of Education must rescue teachers. We learn lately with dismay that AC E course offered by IOL is not recognised by NQA. How true is this? We pumped a lot of money into this and strongly request the ministry to go deep into this matter.