SMSes for Wednesday 29 June 2011

SMS Of The Day
*THE Republic of Namibia is classified a middle-income country. How does the international community expect perfection in our education system as a main engine for economic growth and catalyst in our economic growth? We must build an education system fit for this vibrant nation. We must have an all-inclusive programme comprised of all stakeholders where all put in their contributions and chart the road map forward. This endeavour is paramount to the existence of our Republic and must not be politicised.

Food for ThoughtCause of the problem?*PEOPLE must stop blaming shebeens for their failure. I grew up in my father’s house where he had a shebeen in order to support us. All 10 of us got degrees and are now pursuing top professions. It all depends on how parents raise their children. If a child has no discipline or will to work hard from home, no matter how good the teacher is, that child will not learn.
Bouquets and Brickbats*AN outstanding performance by the teacher and learners of Duinesig School at the National Education Conference on Monday. Bravo.*WHERE in Namibia is the Duinesig Combined School? They did a wonderful introduction for Minister Iyambo and the President at the National Education Conference. Never have I seen it done like that. Note: The school is in Walvis Bay.- News Desk*WE from TransNamib are very thankful to our management for the 10.6% and upwards increase. Thank you Mr Haimbili CEO of TransNamib for making a change in this company. – Happy TransNamib worker *MISS Namibia participants should not be allowed to wear wigs or these hair extensions when making it to the semi-finals. We want to see originality in the pageant. Viva to the Miss Namibia Pageant organisers.*GAZZA I’ve seen photos of your Hilton Hotel party where you pour champagne on to a model’s body while the infamous Mr Sushi Kunene drinks it. How degrading for an Education Ambassador. You have just lost my respect. Good thing you had the party after the Namas, you would have lost my vote. And people say The Dogg misbehaves?RIP*TATE Nankudhu was a real hero who fought for the freedom of this country without demand for compensation. You died materially poor but compassionately rich. May your soul rest in peace.*AS a war veteran I think late Comrade Nankudhu should be buried at Ongulumbashe where he fired the first bullets against the South African regime. Rest in peace Comrade Nankudhu.- Oholondo*HENNIE Smith made me emotional with what he said. It’s not your fault. There is nothing you could have done. My condolences to the Smith family.- KamatiFrederick Chiluba*CONDOLENCES to the people of Zambia for the passing away of Frederick Chiluba. Zambia remains a sorry state without Chiluba.Education*I WOULD like to thank the Ministry of Education for organising such a conference to relook at Namibia education. It is in fact puzzling, if not surprising, to find teachers who could not express (themselves) satisfactorily in languages or subjects they present instruction in. What products will they produce for the Namibian labour market and with what capacities and competencies? Furthermore, experience should be drawn from sister countries in SADC that were subjected to colonialism and international experts.*I’M saddened and in disbelief at the status of our high schools and education system. OMG! Where did we go wrong? Twenty-one years of downhill trends! How did we not see that? I seriously hope and pray to God the National Conference on Education makes a radical change in our education system! Minister of Education, it’s all in your hands.
*THE Ministry of Education must open a cellphone programme for the community to forward their comments please.The noble profession*ARE the Russian qualifications recognised by the Government? Nowadays you hear everyone is studying in Russia, even those who did not meet Unam or Polytech requirements as long as they have money to pay. Why are Unam medicine requirements so high? Is it not the same course of study we are talking about here? *IUM must release the results of examinations at school, and not just tell students to look on the Internet. Not every one has access to a computer with Internet. Otherwise they must provide free Internet use for their students at the centre. We are paying a lot for the fees and now for the Internet because of our results. Why? Especially Walvis Bay IUM please. – A concerned adult *IUM please be serious. Your response in the article of Monday that the situation was solved is not true. Up until now most of us did not get our results. Especially the second years. *WE want the education conference to tackle real issues, not to blame teachers. Discuss how to inspire the learners, how to reduce the administration burden from teachers. How to create another stream for non-perfoming academic learners.*THREE Directors of Education in Kavango Region, but no improvement in the results of Grade 12 and 10 in this region.*IF some people say the vocational training centres are mediocre and praise NIMT that is an insult to us who have studied at vocational training centres. Let them assess some of us and we will show them. The Ministry of Education must do their homework properly. *DR Namwandi Deputy Minister of Education if you don’t employ the right staff at your school then things will never be good there. What is happening now is terrible.Politics*OPPOSITION parties in Namibia should learn from the DA Party of South Africa how it grew strongly for many years while here opposition parties grow weaker. I suggest our opposition parties establish a SADC or African permanent forum to share experiences on success stories. Political competition is healthy.*PEOPLE like the MP Shixwameni need to be commended and applauded and not cursed and targeted for telling it like it is. Obviously this country is not doing well, because our politicians have so far failed to adequately address the plight of our poor people (e.g. shelter, health, education etc).Running the Show*MINISTER responsible for sport, please give us one reason why Namibia does not have legislation governing sport. No wonder the administration of sport is very poor, especially soccer which is disappointing*YES Mr Prime Minister, you and all your Ministers definitely should be paid according to your responsibilities – but based on actual ‘performance’! This will save the nation and the taxpayers many millions per year! You as the PM must be aware that many of your colleagues are simply not performing, not applying themselves to their duties and only working ‘part time’ and running their private businesses etc using and abusing Government resources plus travel and S&T claims etc. PM do what you must do and very, very soon. Most urgently please!- Local pensioner on N$500 pm.Health MattersMuch needed medicines*MINISTER of Health please come to the Oshakati State Hospital. The pharmacists here are not serious with patients. They go for lunch at 12h30 and come back at 15h00 and allow the patients to enter at 16h00. To me they don’t really care about patients, some even need medication very urgently. *MINISTER Richard Kamwi what do you think about community councillors? Why are you not taking them as Government workers? They help us a lot at hospitals after all the New Start Centres closed.- Maria, Karibib All in a Name*WE want streets named after our heroes, the same way you named them after flowers and themes. The street is being named after Joseph not Pendukeni. Don’t hate the wife for her heroic husband!*ITHANA wins street fight. What a cause for jubilation in the National Assembly. The ministry has won yet another worthless battle in renaming streets after our deceased fathers. I am sure The Namibian sales reached record sales for the day as each government employee was issued with a copy with a note attached: be proud for what we stand for – equal opportunities for all. This Government is a farce!
*TO answer the question: ‘Why must street names be changed?’ The answer is simple: To boost someone’s ego. The people that are responsible for changing street names just do not give a hoot about the cost involved. All they care about is their inflated ego, just like their inflated stature.In and From the RegionsPower to the people*COMRADE Nekongo of Onayena, do we have to wait for 100 more years to get electricity at Onekayi?- Concerned citizen*MUNICIPALITY of Otjiwarongo. Please pay also attention to the roads in Etambi area and Karundu main street. There is no rain anymore to worry about.*WHAT is going on with the residents of Karibib, especially the so-called ‘concerned group’? They are staging unnecessary demonstrations, causing confusion, starting rumours and misleading the elders. Instead of coming up with ideas and projects to uplift the community, they are causing the destruction of the town. They are not only hindering development , but also tarnishing the image of the town and turning investors away. I am tired of always seeing Karibib in negative reports in the media. Regional councillor Xoagub it has been 8 months since you were elected and you haven’t held any meetings. Please hold a community meeting and call these people to order. No more demonstrations. We want to see development in Karibib.Lüderitz*WHAT happened to the Lüderitz Waterfront extension development which Mr Fluksman Samuels was so vocal about a couple of years back now? All that is visible currently is a lousy fire brigade. Or has the money that was put in place for this handy development, like elsewhere, already disappeared into some fat cat pockets. I am sure ‘Buchters and the nation at large would be glad at some enlightenment on this subject.*ROADS Authority please try to spray water at Ompundja road at 09h00 and 16h00. People’s health and lungs are being affected at Evululuko location.*GOVERNOR of the Karas Region, we the residents of Ariamsvlei are very disappointed by the way erven are allocated for shebeen purposes by the officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Our local people are suffering because of the uncontrolled shebeens on residential erven. This border town is too small for four shebeens which promote only poverty and misery. Help us out of this mess. We also want peace and stability in our lives namely for our schoolkids and senior citizens. Hear our cry and visit us and see the reality.Libya*THE ICC has to issue a warrant of arrest to President Obama, PM David Cameron and President Sarkozy for crimes against humanity against the Libyan people.*DOES one become a wanted man by the ICC if he commits inhumanity towards own people? What if a ‘man’ orders his troops to kill and maim thousands and destroy infrastructure in another country? I am thinking of Japan, Libya, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, etc. More people in the given countries were killed by foreign troops who came to their countries. Why is the ICC very biased towards African leaders? Look at the reports in Libya. The destructive bombings are being carried out by Nato, not Gaddafi. Would Nato heads of state and governments be tried for that? When? Palestians are being killed and forced out of their land by Israel. Nothing tangible happens, only lip service. This selective condemnation of unwanted leaders by the powers that be must see an end and true unbiased justice must prevail!General*CAN someone explain to me why the Government is opposed to dual citizenship. Lots of countries allow it so what is the big deal? I don’t understand the problem – surely they should be glad not to be solely responsible for some people?Labour Issues*WHY is Tsumeb Municipality underpaying the casual workers with N$5.5 per hour. A labourer’s rate is N$9.60. And do the municipalities not fall under the Ministry of Local Government. Please help us in Tsumeb.- GG Taxing Times*IS it possible for an income tax return that was handed in last year in June not to have been worked out? Madam Kuugongelwa please do something.Sportingn WHY is One Africa and NBC not showing the Women’s World Cup? Service Please*I FAIL to understand the work of the GIPF specifically in the Rundu branch. When it comes to the completion of a pension fund claim, it takes 3 to 4 years for a person to get his/her claims done.- Kandingili Response to recent SMS*AN SMS of June 28 suggested the country hold ‘an election for those anti and for those in favour of the release of the GIPF report’. Unfortunately, the Namibian Parliament has not yet enacted a Referendum Law that enables the citizens to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on critical issues of national concern. In or around 2008, President Hifikepunye Pohamba promised this nation that a Referendum Bill would be initiated and passed into law. Now we witness how Parliament is too busy passing the laws that promote the interests of a few, such as the Veterans Act of 2008, the Spy Bill (2009); the Appointment of Governors’ Act (2010) and the current Conferment of National Honours Bill (2011). The nation’s priorities seem to be not that of the leaders.- Steven Mvula, human rights activist