SMSes For Wed 15 Jul 09

Mother and child

* I AM the mother of three children and love them more than anything in this world. Baby dumping is something that makes us all gasp in horror. What kind of mother is our first question. I however think of just how alone, desperate and lost that poor woman had to feel to do something like that! She probably had no support from anyone. My heart goes out to her and her baby. And for the public, just remember condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance!

* RECENTLY there was an interesting article about baby dumping. Unfortunately no words were said about the careless, disrespectful and indecent way women are treated as a possible reason for child dumping. And why are only mothers tried for murder? Isn’t the father responsible, too?- ThiloFood For Thought* WE are always reminded how small a population Namibia has. The question is, do we have so many elderly people that need social grants that we can’t give them more than N$450? How about we pay CEOs and politicians reasonable salaries, curb corruption a bit, so we can afford to look after our senior citizens? Good governance! That’s what President Obama says Africa needs. We have the resources, we just need good leaders. We don’t need strong men but strong institutions … ideals, he said and I agree with him. Every month of every year we hear of abuse of public funds, 30 million, 100 million, now 120 million … and these are the ones we know about. How many more vanish without a trace? Please Namibia, please Africa, we need change, that’s why we young people are discouraged from being involved in politics. It’s time our older leaders gave way for young fresh ideas. We respect the ones who won us freedom, but now it`s about economic emancipation and we younger people would like to get involved but you just don`t want to give way. Africa awaken! 50 years ago, Kenya’s economy was much stronger than that of South Korea, President Obama says, but today South Korea is a million years ahead of Kenya in terms of development. Why? Poor governance, simple as that! For how much longer should we continue to suffer Africa? I cry for my beloved land!- TK, WindhoekDomestic violence – a critical issue* DOMESTIC violence, school initiation, all blamed on colonialism and apartheid. Parliamentarians please use the time that we pay you for to debate issues on the development of the country.Scanners* THE corruption in Namibia is well embedded and the latest scam at the Ministry of Finance is clear testimony. The PS of Finance must answer the question, how is it possible that he signed off the total price of the project in one go? He was negligent and that’s incompetence at best. If he was under pressure he should tell the nation and from who? * MR [Calle] Schlettwein [Ministry of Finance] needs to explain more on the procedures and controls of the scanners` purchase. And why the Chinese loan if the Ministry of Finance could, and did, budget for the scanners? * NAMIBIA is going through cycles of corruption and poor governance. The recently revealed multi-million dollar scam underpins the need for a capable state with strong institutions promoting public interest. Bouquets And Brickbats* MINISTRY of Home Affairs, Rundu. Excellent service from Lydia and Appollonia. I waited only 15 mins for my passport on Friday, July 10. Keep it up ladies, we admire your effort. – Hannes, Rundu Shark Island at Lüderitz* THE writing is the wall, well done and congrats Luderitz Secondary School for scooping 1st prize on a well researched and interesting chosen subject on the sad past reality of Shark Island.- Fluksman Samuehl* I WANT to thank Multichoice Namibia for donating DStv to Namibian schools, especially rural schools. May God bless you!* CAN NBC please change that music that plays during economic news. It is very noisy and boring. I would be happy to hear how other fellow news listeners feel.* DOES the NBC give us the correct amount of US dollars per barrel of oil, I doubt, because it has been US$69,60 for the past two weeks or so, while One Africa shows otherwise.* SHAME on you The Namibian newspaper, why don’t you want to report the truth about the refugees that where kidnapped and dumped away by Ya Nangoloh. Please Namibians we need peace, you are not a Namibian if you don’t care.- Concerned citizen – Thank you. We would appreciate it if you could let us know what you feel we are not reporting, as we are not sure what your are referring to. – News Editor* MY favourite paper can you please get us responses on our SMSes especially if the question is directed to a specific person, get in touch with them and they must respond. For example, why President Pohamba uses his official trips to campaign for Swapo?- We welcome responses on queries and comments from readers and commend those ministries and organisations that do respond and help readers better understand issues. In this instance we have a response from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information on how they see the President’s duties and responsibilities: ‘This same constitutional responsibility makes it impossible for the President to separate his party political responsibilities from his official government responsibilities’. You can read the full response on the letters page on Friday (July 17). Running The Show* PEOPLE please it’s not the Prime Minister, blame the NQA for the ACE issue. I don’t blame the Ministry of Education either for not recognising it. No wonder even the Ministry of Justice doesn’t recognise NQA evaluations when appointing magistrates. * TO the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement. Farm Hartbeesmund No 108 Warmbad district was communal land. According to the latest map it is a commercial land. When and how did it become commercial land?* THE Minister of Finance should resign else President Pohamba should dismiss her. Now and then the State’s funds are squandered without tangible actions. – Kwayelakwasha* I WISH to request our leaders to be national leaders not party leaders as soon as they became public office bearers. I say so, because, I expect them to address the national interest which includes the other members of different political parties. We know which political party they belong to. During their political rallies, is acceptable to be in their party colours.- Alex General* I AM appealing to our Namibian Government to negotiate with the Zambian government so that our Plan combatants buried at Oshatotwa be remembered and a tombstone be erected there. I even suggest that their remains be brought home for proper burial in the land they sacrificed their lives for. Their blood waters our freedom.* PLEASE publish the allowances of town councillors. It is one reason they don’t want new faces through years in council.- Concerned ratepayer * TO the person who was looking for Bag-a-Kid`s telephone number on June 30: try 081-128-5995* THE Namibian team, is it not possible that you give us motivational success stories of Namibia’s youthful entrepreneurs like Tobie Aupindi, Knowledge Katti, Johnny Doeseb, etc. A story on their phenomenal rise to the top and what gives them motivation. Some of us are inspired by them. I’ve currently enrolled for a Masters of International Business, but would like to draw inspiration from them. Please!- Young ambitious Namibian* MICHAEL Jackson was the global icon, a creative man and a genius and a legend too. He raised money for charity and in our country he contributed to the hospitals in the North and he was the one behind the 800 Chevrolet vehicles bought by our Government. He was a good friend and a true King of Pop. For that reason, I’m suggesting that we name something after him to show our appreciation as Namibians. For instance we can name one of the busiest streets in one of the Namibia’s biggest towns after him, or anything good and big that will be known to the whole Namibian nation and future generations. His name must be left behind in Namibia and be remembered by all. Rest in peace brother.- Prince EfissPolitics* IN response to the SMS of the Day on Monday: the DTA has been urging Government for
the past 10 years to decommercialise Namwater as water is essential to all life.Education* MR Nangolo Mbumba, the N$33 million from Germany, which is contributing to education, you must spend it on 2009-2010 study grants and study loans. We don’t want our kids in the streets while there is money in the MoE. – Worried mom Politics In GeneralPresident Barack Obama* DURING his speech in Ghana, US President, Barack Obama, said ‘No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end’. Well said and very true, grandson of the soil! We need ‘a change we believe in’.- Steven Mvula, human rights activistCity Fathers Please …* WE in Hochlandpark are also paying rates. Road markings in Barbet and Osprey Roads have faded. Roads in Katutura look good. * THE crossing at Otjomuise and Bonn streets is becoming dangerous during peak hours. Near misses and accidents are becoming the order of day\week. A three way stop will be more than welcome at that junction. Drivers from Bonn will be given some relief. Please officers observe and review that junction.- Theo In And From The Regions* WHAT is wrong with our electricity print machine here at Karasberg? Always, after a few days, it’s out of order and it’s very expensive. Why?* ECN, the assistant voter education officers are still waiting for the transport or transport money that you promised us since last year. Why should we use our salaries to travel the whole constituency?* MARIENTAL Municipality, we are still standing in long queues, and yet you increased the tariffs. When can we start buying electricity at other outlets other than the municipality? Just start doing something. * I HAVE a concern about private cars transporting people from Rundu to Windhoek every Sunday. It seems to me there are two taxi ranks at the same place, one is SADC Square and the other one is at the filling station with its loading masters. Now my question is: do those private cars have transportation permits? I would like to call on the owner of the service station to do something about the illegal loading masters at the service station. * HOW on earth does Erongo Red justify their price increase for electricity this month? The rate for pre-paid went up from 97.60c/unit to 167.60c/unit. That’s just too much.* AT least Ongwediva Town Council provides bins, Oshakati Town Council has no bins at all. Drive to Klein Angola behind the state hospital and see all the household refuse lying around. This problem has regularly been brought to the council’s attention but to no avail!All aspects of cleaning* MINISTRY of Labour in Oshakati, I don’t know what you have a budget for each year, if you cannot use it to employ cleaners to clean up your yard and remove the grass. I don’t know why you do inspections on other companies’ food while you have dirty yards. Do something first at your building. – Mrs HygieneHealth Matters* DR Kamwi, a child was diagnosed with meningitis at Karasburg Hospital. Act now.* WHY is there only one doctor that attends emergency patients and that same doctor also has to attend other patients that are not seriously sick at Katutura State Hospital? * AFTER watching Open File I realise that I must appreciate the little I have. Minister Richard Kamwi what are your plans to help that family? You responded immediately to the incident that happened at Oshakati Hospital where a Policeman lost his life (may his soul rest peacefully). Please minister, help these people.- Taina, Windhoek* CENTRAL Hospital eastern wards are private? A joke! No bedding, no private nurses, no special food, no warm water! Relatives have to take care of their sick members and go and buy medicine. I am sick!Service Please* ON June 21, I travelled from Oshakati to Windhoek between 08h00 and17h00 on a NCH yellow bus and I was very disappointed. The bus was very dirty. The gold curtains on the windows were also dirty. On the ceiling where passengers put their small parcels was so dirty. The driver played only one scratched CD of Oliver Mtukudzi from Oshakati to Windhoek. Please NCH, improve.* SMILE condoms are [allegedly] of poor quality. They are putting a lot of people’s lives at risk who can’t afford other brands. Mostly they burst. GRN look into this.- B EinoLost And Found* LOST ID of Ms Djava Victoria Nghaamelenga call 081-408-7617.* IF you lost a key for Mercedes Benz, probably Kompressor model, I picked it up on Saturday morning. Please contact Mr Vilho. Cell: 081-127-6377* STEFANUS Negumbo contact 081-273-4803 in connection with your ID found.* IF you forgot your Edgars plastic bag in a taxi (Windhoek) please contact 081-223-6038. * MILTON Eiseb is looking for a stolen wallet that included Standard Bank credit cards x 2, medical aid card, Unam student card, FNB debit card, ID, etc, grabbed along with laptop. Just return documents. Please.Labour Issues* WE Police officers for the High Treason Unit at Windhoek Central Prison have a problem with our S&Ts, which have not been paid to some officers since 2004, though some are paid. We want to know where our money is and who is responsible for that? We need the answers because we have been patient enough.- Frustrated Police officer* IS it true that the Ministry of Defence does not have money to pay instructors’ allowances? If so why do they recruit? Since January 2009 instructors have not been paid up to date.- Concerned instructor* A QUESTION was raised on the legal and ethical responsibility of the MoE towards officials who have been waiting up to six months for their pension payouts. If payouts are not done inside the first month of retirement can anybody suggest what can be done?* GOVERNMENT cleaners need to be given training on how to clean. What they do is just empty dustbins from offices.SportingGame for all seasons* IS or isn’t soccer a winter sport? If so, why is Namibian soccer on holiday since it’s winter now? * ORLANDO Pirates last season won the league, they were left out of the awards. Again they won a major cup of N$500 000, and they are again left out of the awards. Oh my God what`s going in the NFA/NPL.* HOW on earth can you overlook Klaas Blom, national call-ups and award nomination. That boy plays well every year and he wins cups for the team. Yesterday it was the NFA and today it’s the NPL. Guys get real, please.