SMSes Of Monday 2 November 2009

* YES, the elephants were here first. I wonder whether we don’t have commercial or plastic conservationists who advise Government to cull, hunt or auction off wildlife. We don’t need fair and equitable land reforms for humans only, but we also need to extend animal habitats countrywide. If wildlife disappears so will humans. We need a new generation of true conservationists and unwavering green life campaigners!
– Whale Wars fan

Food for Thought* IT’S month-end and many Namibians will spend their hard-earned salaries at casinos. Good governance is easier said than done. Could the Government explain what mechanisms are in place to regulate the gambling industry? Does Government even know how many casinos operate in Namibia, who is in charge of checking the winnings and losses ratio of these gambling machines, or is Government’s responsibility limited to issuing gambling licences? The uncontrolled gambling industry is cause for serious concern in Namibia: families driven by desperation risk their last penny on gambling machines without a regulated win-loss ratio. Casino owners make a killing, while the poor regress from desperation to hopelessness and suicide. Democracy* I AM sorry I am not Namibian. I am from one of the West African states. I have been living here for the past five years. My main aim in writing is to share with all Namibians a few points on democracy. You are a blessed nation that you speak freely, you even write about the President in the newspapers with a picture next to the article. In my life, I have been searching for my dream country and I have finally found it. The other thing you should be proud of is the fact that your former President is a very humble man, so is the current President. I attended a wedding in the north. Amongst us was a minister who shook hands with everyone. I was so impressed as in my country, most of us only see our Ministers on television. In my country, if a minister is visiting a relative, for example, the street is closed three hours before and after the visit. Bouquets and Brickbats* I AM over the moon that Gal Level and Lady May won. All my efforts have been put to good use. Gals keep ruling Africa and may you all be blessed. * THANKS to Ohlthaver and List group of companies for offering job opportunities to final year students. You set good example to others to help students who have no years of experience. I hope you continue with such good work in years to come.- IUM student* TO all Namibian musicians, thank you for the music. I cannot believe the amount of talent in this beautiful country. You are all amazing. I am truly proud of you!- Saartjie* CHURCHES in Namibia are equally to blame for the current political violence, corruption and fraud. They have also lost direction and vision.- Pandu* WELL done Mr Moses Katjiuongua. Like The Namibian, you too still keep telling it like it is.* CONGRATULATIONS Mr Katjiuongua on an outstanding letter on October 30 (Friday).* REGARDING the ‘Guest Perspective’ of Friday: Great! Thanks a lot! However, our real issue is corruption in all its materialistic and mental forms. Think about it, please. * THANK you, Jonathan, for writing what’s in the hearts of many Namibians! Now Namibians must show their feelings in voting!
* HOORAY and a gold star to Trustco’s Quinton van Rooyen for his amazingly refreshingly honest answers to The Namibian’s questions. Politicians and other large companies should take a leaf out of his book. Well done Quinton. – Tim, Eros * CAN’T wait for Alfredo T Hengari’s eye-opening political analysis, second part. Congratulations on a brilliant lesson to the nation. We are grateful.- Another angry citizen * THANK you, taxi driver, for being honest on Saturday and trying to find the owner of the bag. May God bless you abundantly!* TO the gentle and honest taxi driver for informing the owner about the forgotten items. I’m a civil servant and find many lost items. I usually hand them to the receptionists but your honesty will bring you more rewards. Keep up the good gestures!
* WHY are so many afraid of using a dictionary to check spellings? Or to ask someone else when you translate? You send a negative image when one reads your product with mistakes!
* AM I the only one who finds the CTM advert depicting the fly in and out the nostrils rather ‘out of line’! Frankly, I think it’s disgusting!
* THE Independence Memorial: surely no one who is, in his heart, a proud African can identify with the design of the monument, which is as non-African as can be! Do the people who were responsible from the beginning not know that there are Namibians who would have designed a much more beautiful monument, with which most Namibians could identify? How sad to just take from foreign countries without giving our own architects and artists a chance!* I TAKE the strongest possible exception to the slanderous utterances of laziness made by a Chinese national against Namibians. Namibians have been responsible for the construction of all these buildings which still stand till today long before the Chinese knew where Namibia was. Politics* THE President must set the example by obeying the country’s rules. Correct? Does he do it? For example: speed limit. Follow correct procedures. No nepotism.
* WHY is Swapo donating soccer balls with ‘Vote Swapo’ to schools if we are told not to wear party colours at schools? The donation of balls was for Epembe C S in Ohangwena region. – Confused teacher* FEEDBACK: Whoever wrote that the SMS page is ‘used to insult our leaders and the Founding Father’ must be utterly confused and labouring under the politicians-are-holy-cows syndrome. I can’t remember ever having come across an insult being published in The Namibian’s SMS pages!* I ADMIRE the programme ‘Hardtalk’ on BBC, the intensity, detail and above else the straightforward way issues are raised and discussed makes it a marvel to watch. Wonder how our own politicians will be able to hold their ground without using words such as colonialism, imperialism…etc, or be able to talk at all.- NT * WHY are people are not given a chance to ask the main speakers at the rallies [questions], if we have democracy in Namibia?- Concerned citizen! Be Warned* WARNING to FNB cardholders! I urge all FNB cardholders not to accept any help from strangers when drawing money at an ATM as there are a certain four or five men trying to help at ATMs. They change the ATM cards after they see your pin number. Take note please.- Concerned cardholderRoad Safety* THE selling of liquor at service stations is encouraging drinking and driving because the only people that really buy at these places are drivers and travellers. Government should reverse the law that permits this.- Concerned citizenHealth Matters* I’M really disappointed to note that the MOHSS is only reacting now before the elections by thinking of putting aside N$10 million for State patients, an outcry which we had raised since 21 March 1990. This is electioneering! What about this baby with the growth in the face? – M General* THE parents of a 14-year-old Dutch girl, who apparently want to make history by allowing her to sail around alone the world, should please let go of this ambitious but dangerous idea. The Somali pirates are at work and won’t show mercy. Please don’t expose this innocent girl to danger, I plead with you.- Pastor Ben Araeb * WHY are women not given six months of maternity leave since it is beneficial to children if they are exclusively breastfed for six months. Three months is ridiculous, especially with the benefits Government gives! In and From the Regions* THE Bukalo Health Centre in Caprivi has been experiencing water problems for the past three years. The Minister was there and promised to do something but up to now the situation is unchanged. Pregnant women are unable to be assisted, patients cannot use toilets, even nurses have to fetch water about 150 metres away from the centre. Talk about healthcare delivery!* WHY is Agribank quiet about loan applications from resettlement farmers?* WHY do family members have to wash corpses at Katima Mulilo mortuary without the presence of any nurse, no masks, gloves or soap provided and the smell is horrible. Why did nurses take the oath?- Concerned Health* I THINK Grootfontein has the highest electricity tariffs – for N$170 you get 117 units only.* EDUMEDS Rundu please put some air-conditioners in the shop. It’s a bookshop where customers spend time looking for books to buy and it’s very hot in there. I feel pity for the workers who spend the whole day there! – Concerned customer
* PLEASE finish the Build Together houses in Otjimbingwe, the process is taking so long. We are tired of waiting. Please. -Saloo* I WONDER why the Engela -Okalongo road construction should be like that. Are those tender holders supervised? Constructing a road with clay soil! * THE rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. One kilo of white sugar is almost N$11. Please can the price controlling board come and look into the prices of goods at mini-shops in Kalkrand.- Concerned resident City Fathers Please* CITY of Windhoek, it’s almost four months now since the auction at Khomasdal Ext 16 took place, but up until now no structure has been erected. What seems to be the problem? * WE the residents of Windhoek are targeted by criminals. We have lost confidence in the Namibian Police and the criminals are aware of this. That is why they now enter our private places and commit crimes. There is no police presence in our suburbs day and night. We are being delivered to the mercies of thugs. Government take up this concern seriously please. * IT is almost our examination time and we are really being disturbed by one of churches close to the gift shop at Maroela near the Single Quarters in Katutura. We are not against them but can the management do something please to turn down their high volume. We are students and cannot concentrate any more. Please help. NBC* THE NBC Acting DG (Matthew Gowaseb) must inform Sesfontein and its area residents when will they have NBC coverage. Nineteen years of waiting is enough. – Mubasen * NBC goes digital again for the tenth time. We hope this time it is for real, technology not older than five years, it’s a first-hand tender and no commission to technical staff. The poor corporation was swindled in the past as a result of deliberate manoeuvres to sell it incomplete and outdated technology. Can the NBC tell its viewers the kind of digitalisation they are installing and why it’s special? * NBC had an interesting topic on Monday on gambling! But I just want to add that gambling is a choice, it just differs from individual to individual. If you decide to drink, smoke or gamble with your hard-earned salary, without thinking of your family’s needs, then you’re all in all a very irresponsible person in every aspect of your life. Such a person will easily engage himself in unprotected sex, because he does not have a life plan. So, in life, plan before you do something you will regret. At the end of the day it was your choice to gamble. The same applies to drinking, smoking, adultery, prostitution. Only you can change it around. Education* I THINK some of the schools are just cashing in on us by giving hundreds of applications and then rejecting admission to our kids. I think they should give applications for the kids they need for admission the next year! Let’s wake up…
Labour* MY advice to the Deputy Minister of Labour: The workers are afraid to unite against the ill treatment by well-connected Chinese bosses. The workers will end up in the streets like the diamond polishers, Ramatex, Rosh Pinah, NHE… General* CAN the Government bring back the culture of knocking off around 13h00 for all Government Officials on Friday. Service Please* MULTICHOICE Namibia please help us, why are you repeating one movie more than five times. We pay you in full. Please, they must do something.* PLEASE FNB in Tsumeb improve your customer service and please have more staff available to assist us. Thank you.- Disappointed client * HOW is it possible that a well-known panel-beating place in Khomasdal takes up to three months to repair a vehicle?* WOERMANN Brock Goreangab is probably the busiest of all the branches. At month end all cashiers should be operating because there are long queues and two or three cashiers only. And you can’t even get fresh boerewors because there’s no proper butchery like even in Katutura.* TELECOM. So many people are complaining about your 3G EVDO. It is not working at all! Surprisingly, you charged me N$400 extra for a month. I could not open it for the whole month! Last week, so many people were at your counter with the same problem. Can’t you stop making people pay for services you do not provide? If you need proof, call me at (061) 246825.* NAMPOST Windhoek, Main Branch. I’ve witnessed this for the past five years: Your branch is the slowest of all post offices, banks and municipalities in Namibia! Sporting* I WANT to wish a bright future to the boxer Titus Aiyambo. -Wozani Shambula* WE fans of the Brave Warriors completely disagree with Corry’s negative views about the team and coach. The team is doing better than it has in many, many years. Corry should stick to writing about things he knows about. Go Brave Warriors!