* NABTA please place suggestion boxes with ready-made cards at long distance bus terminals. We the commuting public want to report bad drivers. Or else create a toll free hotline which we can call.
Food for Thought* I AM 26 years old. I have perused your insert on the 25th anniversary. I’m perturbed by the hostility toward this newspaper by our Cabinet. It’s confusing young people.- Alugodhi* I AM disappointed to learn that President H Pohamba and Dr Sam Nujoma declined the invitation to congratulate The Namibian on its 25th anniversary.- MHappy 25th Birthday* THE Namibian newspaper and Ms Lister in particular deserve credit for the imperative role they played during our liberation struggle. I was born 34 years ago but I never knew you had such a wonderful history. I followed your history in the book you provided on your 25th anniversary. The Namibian people must support you against the unjust ban.* CONGRATS to Gwen Lister and her dedicated and loyal staff. The birthday magazine is a true reflection of our history. Let us all honour the sacrifices of that time with due respect for democracy and a free press.- Waltraut.
And Justice for All* COULD someone with a legal background please explain to us how a murderer and wife batterer could get away with murder by simply paying a fine? What is this? An insult to our intelligence! Are we ever going to win the battle against domestic violence in this country? It is shocking to say the least.* IS the problem with the system Roman Dutch Law. Or with the practitioners? * DO people tell the truth in courts or do they design stories to be acquitted? Just a question.- EMPK* SHADUKA’S sentence is a joke! Why did the other judges turn down his bail appeals for nothing? Kato van Niekerk the men at work are joking that they are saving N$27 000 to get rid of their wives! Harry Simon went to jail for culpable homicide, why not Shaduka? The State should appeal, the sentence has opened the doors for more women to be abused and killed by their husbands. What a setback!* STEAL a minister’s goat and you get 20 years in jail, take a person’s life and you only pay N$27 000. Nice justice system?* IT is once again proven that our justice system is something to be worried about which is evident from the Shaduka case. Human life is proven to be less valuable than the life of a goat. But what can we expect if the Minister (of justice) does not comply with the laws of the country.* LAZARUS Shaduka is free! How do you fine a person who was responsible for the death of another?* I ONCE heard of a saying: ‘The survival of the fittest’. Once again in Oshiwambo there is a saying that says: ‘Omukengeli i halu nomufyoona’ which means that a rich person doesn’t fight with a poor person. Are all these sayings true? To find the answer get to know what happened in Shaduka’s final judgement. Let us join hands and people because together we can do better .* I LOST trust in our judiciary. I am a man but I cannot understand the fine of Mr Shaduka.* THE laws of Namibia must be changed. Shaduka was supposed to be sentenced for life. We are not satisfied.* CHIEF Justice, Prosecutor General please allow the Goverment to interfere with the justice system. How can Shaduka defeat the Namibian nation?* I REALLY don’t understand the Namibian laws. How is it possible for someone to take away a person’s life and get a year in prison? What happened to human rights? Doesn’t everybody have the right to life? I do not agree with the sentencing of Lazarus Shaduka. Why couldn’t they give him 10 years in prison instead of taking away his gun for 10 years?* MINISTER of Justice with due respect – a fine for killing a wife! Then our poor unemployed get many years in prison for stealing a goat, a sheep or a cow! This is not fair or just! You know it! So please change this and make Namibia a better place to live in!* IS the life of a goat more important than that of a human being? What is happening in our justice system is ridiculous. Something must be reviewed as matter of urgency.
* SHADUKA you are a hero who fights poverty and unemployment in this country. No need for you to stay so long in jail. May God forgive you for what you’ve done and bless you to have a successful business.* I AM one of those saddened by the death of Selma Shaimemanya. I also wanted to know what happened. The evidence before the court led to the sentence as it stands. To question the court verdict especially is not logical.* IT’S a pity that the family of the late Sheimemanya has to suffer for the loss of their daughter. At the end the so called husband was given one year and two months in prison – is this fair? The poor family lost their daughter forever.* MR Shaduka’s sentence. Does this mean that a life of a woman in Namibia only worth 1 year and 2 months in prison or N$27 000? What went wrong? What are you trying to promote? Does this mean that rich people in Namibia can get away with cold-blooded murder? Come on law makers be serious! This is what I call a miscarriage of justice.* WHAT a shame for the judiciary. Rich people pay and go free while poor ones have to suffer long sentences for the same crime.* IN Namibia the laws protect the rich. You steal a goat to feed your family, it’s 10 years in prison. You kill your wife you pay N$27 000. What a crazy world we are living in!* THE light sentence passed on Shaduka is shocking, scandalous and a serious disregard for women’s lives. He is basically walking away scot-free. Sisters let us speak out against disregard for women’s dignity.Note: We have received a huge number of messages on this topic, many of which cannot be printed. It should be kept in mind that although Lazarus Shaduka was charged on a count of murder he was in the end not convicted of the intentional killing of his wife. The court found him guilty of culpable homicide on the basis of negligence. There is a marked difference between the offence of murder and that of culpable homicide, which would explain the sentence the court decided to impose in this case. It should also be kept in mind that deciding on a sentence is a very difficult task facing any judge or magistrate. They have to consider not just the interests of society, but also the nature of the offence and the personal circumstances of the convicted person, and must try to strike a balance between these often competing factors. In this case, for instance, the judge also took into account that Shaduka spent over two years in custody before his trial was finalised.- News DeskBouquets and Brickbats* THE Namibian paper cost 50 cents in 1985 and 25 years later it costs 3 dollars. And you keep on telling it like it is!- Loyal reader.
* WHY did The Namibian newspaper not publish a story on the paralympic team’s achievement while other paper did? Please promote paralympic sport in Namibia.Note: We have passed on your complaint to our Sports reporter to take up – News Desk* MY airline ticket to Cape Town cost N$2 700. N$1 300 went to Air Namibia to obtain and maintain an aircraft, fill it up with fuel, pay the pilots and cabin crew, manage flight schedules and take the risk of a flight that might not be fully booked. N$1 400 went to the airports to put me and my suitcase on that plane (exposing very bad customer service at Hosea Kutako International might I add). What a shocking state of affairs. I am starting to think that Air Nam is not the problem but the Namibia Airports Company! * WHY does The Namibian bother with support of the 4444 SMS line? No one I know has had any luck with it.Running the Show* PRESIDENT (HIFIKEPUNYE) Pohamba please pardon some of the sick prisoners awaiting trial in the Caprivi case. The death toll is increasing.- LiwenaCity Fathers Please* EVERYONE can see how crime has been reduced since the establishment of the City police. Please City of Windhoek give these hard workers (police officers) a place where they can build their houses. Some of them even rent houses of criminals.* WHEN are we getting a taxi rank and bus stop in 8ste Laan? Imagine the distance from the shops to 8ste Laan?- HacksoHealth Matters* DOES Mediclinic charge the full daily rate when an infant is hospitalised? The reason for asking is that the patient doesn’t get a meal and neither does the parent staying over. Just curious.In and From the Regions* VERY good Fluksman (Samuehls) and Mr (Angel) Tordesillas and the waterfront company. It’s your type of minds that will bring progress to Lüderitz.* ITS been 20 years since Independence but our schools still don’t have access to electricity but what I find surprising is that most of the shebeens do!- Odimbwa resident* WE were almost killed in Ondangwa over the weekend when two GRN vehicles came speeding behind us. Luckily our driver got off the road. We then followed them just to find the two drivers completely drunk and not even able to stand on their feet. When they saw us taking their registration numbers they swore at us saying there was nothing we can do because they are government officials. Whoever is in authority please deal with these people. It was a bakkie and Quantum, (numbers supplied).Labour Issues* G4s Swakopmund we are tired of working with empty hands during the night. Some places are very dangerous. Do something please.* NATIONAL Union of Namibian Workers, was our membership fee not enough to retain an advocate?- Dismissed Cymot employees 2005.Service Please* I EXPERIENCED a problem with the people at the Legal Aid office at the Ministry of Justice. Please let there be someone to answer calls and help us. I called the whole morning on Tuesday but didn’t get answered.* PLEASE Netman is fooling us! You recharge for N$50 but within 30 seconds credit is off! No, MTC make some changes.* WHEN is MTC going to bring BlackBerry settings?* I THINK the DStv service in Namibia is pathetic. They have become just like NBC. All they do is repeat programmes we have seen years ago over and over and yet we pay N$530 each month. That is so unfair.* CAN you send out a Supa Strikas book with The Namibian every week?Sporting* NAMIBIAN Football Association please do something. We understand that there are 3 – 4 positions for Okahandja soccer teams in Otjozondjupa second division but until now there has been no response from Lee Hangula, the spokesperson for Okahandja teams and Marten Tsaoseb, chairman of Otjozondjupa second division. There are teams who want to play in the league so please give us an answer. Please chairman and committee we have big teams like Colo Colo, B Boys, Volcano, VD Bucks, Okahandja Eagles, Five Dollar United, Young United and many more. At least two teams must play in the league and the leagues start in Namibia on September 26. So please tell us what is going on.Lost and Found* I TOOK a hike in a silver car on August 29 from Ondangwa to Otjiwarongo and I left my whitish jacket in the car. Inside the jacket there is a bunch of keys. Driver please contact me on 081-315-2019.Note: See the SMS below. Must be the same jacket.- News Desk* TO a man who came with a Mazda sedan going to Windhoek, you forgot your jacket in the car. You jumped out in Otjiwarongo because you were going to Walvis Bay. Please contact Michael 081-230-9328.* I FOUND the ID belonging to Shilongo Niclaas. Contact me at 081-233-4594.Responses to recent SMSesFrom NBC* CAN someone from NBC tell us what happened with the English Premier League games being shown on NBC?English Premier League is getting more expensive every year to the point that no national broadcaster can afford it. While we are committed to keeping our viewers entertained through sport, it is worth noting that some of these leagues (EPL) come at a very high cost. However, NBC is still in discussion with all the parties involved to have the EPL back on the screen soon.Ilke PlattCorporate Communications Officer* RESPONSE to 2nd last SMS of August 30. Even when I’m not educated, I can think! Correct? So when baby No 1 came and I struggled to take care of her, I decided no sex until marriage, a house, a job, furniture etc. Anyone can see how expensive and tough life is!* BERNAB, ‘Ndeshi and Jakes’ of Friday the 27 September was trying to show that although God exists and always answers our prayers; most of us don’t recognise Him when He responds. Don’t pray only when you have problems. God bless Namibia.- Zila.
