SMSes of the Day : Friday

* EVERY day when you watch NBC news there is a new bilateral agreement being signed by either Mr President himself or one of his Cabinet ministers. But my concern is, when are we going to enjoy the fruits of those agreements signed every day? Or is it another way of the top brass to enrich themselves? Please, we are hungry. Do not bribe us with millions of State visits or bilateral agreements. We want something material, just to live. – Kambishi Kateka Ombunda.

* THE drought is beginning to take its toll. If only our elected leaders will reduce travel and provide us with fodder and lick for our cattle. But who is listening? * I WELCOME President Dos Santos to NAMIBIA. It is a honour to have one of the TEN richest men on earth in my country. Mr President, you seems to be the sole owner of the wealth of Angola. You own 20 farms in Brazil, your 21-year-old daughter is in charge of the diamond industry in Angola not to speak of your wife and the hundreds of lorries she owns. To ask you sir, when elections will take place in Angola is simply a waste of time – yours and mine. But sir welcome again to NAMIBIA* WE always hear and read about the previously disadvantaged and BEE companies. I’m wondering whether (socalled) ‘Coloureds’ and ‘Basters’ were also not disadvantaged by the previous dispensation and still are. When these two groups apply for work, they are always put on the list last. Our Government, as well as country, is and will always be stuck in the the past. With us also referring to the past, will we ever move forward and be one nation. We need all the groups in the country. Wake up and stop living in the past for the past will prevent us from moving forward.Food for thought* YES,voters’ education must be done on a regular basis, councillors must report to the community on set objectives and activities. We also need a community body which will evaluate whether the councillors are working towards achieving their set objectives. Community members must also be part of the planning and implementation of projects. Development should be participatory not co-option.* IS the Minister of Education aware that Namibian second year students doing Bakery Studies at Bulawayo Polytechnic, with GRN sponsorship, are not doing their eight-month attachment because there is no flour in that country, and bakeries are closed? Is the Namibian Government just interested in bailing out the Zimbabwe government, while we get a raw deal? For God’s sake, the students are not even provided with meals despite fees being paid. Hon Minister, please intervene, even if it means arranging for attachments in Namibia for them, they have already lost two months doing nothing in Zimbabwe.* WHY is Government not considering making the retirement age 50 years? At least 100 grade 12s out from the thousands on the streets might fill the gap left by retired staff every year. Young people are used only as a election tools. They are promised jobs, but always end up on the streets.* I’M immensely humbled and amazed by the generous and prompt donation of N$270 000 by the people of Iceland, responding to the plight of and building a shelter for pregnant women sleeping in the open in front of Engela district hospital. These women are prone to contracting the deadly malaria pandemic or being raped by unruly gangs in the area. To the people of Iceland, your effort and sacrifice will not go unnoticed. We thank you wholeheartedly. To the Namibians, let’s start addressing social evils head on collectively like unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease and not wait for others to do it for us. Every citizen has a social responsibility towards our communities. There is so much joy in giving. Let’s stick to the proverbial saying that says charity begins at home. – Joe, OshikangoEducation* I JUST want to ask the Minister, PS and the regional director of education in the Kavango whether the regulation on impregnating schoolgirls only applies to certain teachers. A certain principal known to me and in the Kavango Region impregnated a schoolgirl in 2005 and nothing was done about it. Why? Is this because the principal in question is from the same tribe as those in the management of regional education? I bet you they even advised him to marry the girl this year. Please ACC investigate because this principal did not start with this particular girl, neither will he end with this one.* WE teachers here in the Karas Region have a problem with our salary office. We never get our payslips on time. – Concerned teacher, Keetmanshoop* THE Finance Office of the Ministry of Education in the Oshikoto Region, please improve your service delivery for teachers. How can my cheque be sent to a wrong circuit office while all the details about the pay point are correct on the cheque itself? Had it not been for my constant enquiry with the headquarters in Windhoek, my cheque would have been either lost or stolen. – Solo* MINISTRY of Education, please let our innocent sons and daughters start school in Grade I even if they are four or five years old, as long as they are capable of doing the school work, which is reading, writing and counting. You are just delaying our kids while you send yours abroad where there is no limit.* WHY can’t Unam allow students who are GRN loan holders to write their exams? Unam must please allow us to write because most of us can’t afford to make personal payments. – Joan, OshakatiPolitics in general* IT was amazing to see Former President Nujoma and Hidipo Hamutenya talking and laughing today (Thursday) at parliament. Please, for the sake of the country, they must reconcile!!* WESTERN hypocrites? “Australia does not need new leadership neither does it need new leadership. It needs right leadership,” the words of (John) Howard campaigning for his fifth term in office. Our Nujoma’s third term attracted a tirade of columnists lashing out as if he had committed a crime against humanity. I wonder what Mugabe thinks of Howard? – Monica* I DON’T agree that water is a problem in our country because a lot is passing through our country almost every year from Angola to the sea. The problem is the GRN who is not serious. Just build dams to contain the water. Please don’t say there is no money.From the regions* THERE is a serious shortage of clean water at Nasisangani village near Isize School in the Caprivi Region. Two boreholes which used to provide water to over 200 inhabitants of the village became defunct three or four years ago. The village committee initiated some donations but lack the capacity and tools to rehabilitate the boreholes, which were not in use for a long time. The village currently depends on the water source at the nearby clinic, which also supplies the Grade 1-10 Combined School. This situation demands urgent intervention from the Department of Rural Water Supply.* IS the NBC’s GMN show at six o’clock in the morning there to promote conferences and meetings of institutions. For us outside of Windhoek to listen to those panellists is useless. We want to see an hour full of national, international, sports and economic news. NBC why not follow the example of DWTV and CCTV. – APD, Mariental* CENORED, please rectify the unit reduction of electricity. I bought prepaid electricity twice for 40 dollars and received only twelve units. What happened to the remaining units. Please help, the cashiers are unable to rescue the situation. What happens if you buy only for 10 dollars?* OHANGWENA Regional Councillors should not be told about who to vote for as a new Governor, let them choose the leader whom they think can bring development in our region. The current Governor has expired, please we need a new Governor.* TO the Managing Director of MTC: Can you please do something about the network at Ruacana. We experience difficulty in our reception.* WE are asking the Governor of the Karas Region to help us connect electricity at Rosh Pinah’s Tutungeni. People want to make business but the problem is electricity or should we go and steal. We are tired of being in the dark.* I WENT to pay my TV licence at a satellite post office at Ondangwa around 10h50 am yesterday. To my surprise, I was given my N$16,00 change in coins because I refused to take a fake N$10 note, which did not even have a silver lining. Is it not a crime if one gives you fake money in such a way or what? These people are serving big institutions something needs to be done.General* I AM disappointed to learn that Agnes Samaria scooped the Sportswoman of the Year Award AGAIN. When will we recognise the other achievers like Beta Nyambe, Hilaria Johannes and the list goes on, if we keep praising one person? Yes, Agnes has achieved a lot over the years, but she is not the only achieving female athlete in Namibia. I must say it’s a common problem we have at awards ceremonies in our country. Look at what happens at our music awards! – Patience B* WHY are some people so shameless. City of Windhoek’s bakkie registration number N33664W is always parked at the back of a house in Khomasdal almost the whole day and then taken back when its knocking off time. The person than expects a salary month end.* TO the Permanent Secretary in OPM, please rotate the cleaner from one department to another, because they become when working at one place for too long* NAMPOWER, the floor of my house is always covered with small particles of black soot. Please install filters at your Van Eck chimneys. We have a right to clean air!* ADMINISTRATORS of Maerua Mall: When are you going to put up maps to direct us to our favourite shops? I spent 30 minutes around the mall looking for The Body Shop.* MTC, please improve on your service regarding your GPRS and MMS settings before your loyal customers move to CELL ONE! – Oubaas* TAX! Tax! Tax! I’m very much concerned about the public servants’ tax, which is very, very high. It must be reduced so that we can also be left with something. Annual bonus mustn’t be taxed at all! We are sick and tired of this soaring tax!! – Alweendo* I’M a 26-year-old lady and I’m expecting my third baby. My first two babies were stillborn because of tension and stress. I want to go for pre-natal classes at Central Hospital, but all pregnant ladies have issues with one particular senior nurse, who is always shouting and insulting us. please help! – EMJ* NOW that Air Namibia is proudly announcing additional flights due to increased demand, I also hope they will announce a slight reduction in losses at the end of the financial.* IS NBC TV obliged to report on every event involving President Pohamba? Certainly not each of these events is worth reporting on. Viewers need a variety of news items.* CAN Namibia Wildlife Resorts make any more ludicrous decisions regarding Etosha? Who was the genius who decided to make offices out of one of the most popular spaces in the park? Has this person any business or tourism experience at all?* PLEASE tell me if those vehicles donated to Government by the UNHCR are not luxury Land Cruisers that Namibia cannot afford to service and repair. Please tell me that they are utility vehicles and are cheap to run.On the ball* NAMIBIA’S sexiest man is Wakazuvaka Kazombiaze. Someone please run a survey. Bye bye Stephan Ludik and Ronnie Kanalelo.* TO all the All Blacks supporters at Keetmanshoop, stop being angry at the SPRINGBOK supporters and stop saying that it’s because luck was on our side that we won the World Cup. Just accept the fact that we won and that we are the number one rugby team in the world!!! – SPRINGBOK Supporter, Keetmanshoop* ‘ALL BLACKS best team in the world?’ Please give credit where it is due. The All Blacks choked again on the big stage – remember 1999, 2003 and now 2007? History remembers champions, not teams with brilliant players. SA deserved the cup more than any team, and that’s the bitter truth. The All Blacks and their fans must learn to accept. – Osho Offbeat* NWR’S management of Namibia’s resorts has become a bad joke. We suggest that they be renamed ‘Namibia’s Wasted Resorts’. – John and Barbara Paterson* I AM a worried Tassenberg drinker. I would like to ask why Tassies are not designing competition and promotions like other liquor companies? Please let me hear from anyone who is in charge of the Tassies brand. – Walusa* SO 55 got sick after eating a dog, the man’s best friend. Sounds like nature’s retribution to me. We give thanks* THANK you Lord for saving our lives from the car accident that I made on September 29, when my car overturned but we all escaped without any injury. What you did for me also do it for other people who may end up in the same situation. AMEN. – Sam Hamunyela, Ongha* TO the NBC Oshiwambo Service radio DJ Remind Ekandjo, thanks for giving a fitting tribute to the late Lucky Dube. Keep up the good work DJ. – Aantu ya’ Lukonda* I WELCOME President Dos Santos to NAMIBIA. It is a honour to have one of the TEN richest men on earth in my country. Mr President, you seems to be the sole owner of the wealth of Angola. You own 20 farms in Brazil, your 21-year-old daughter is in charge of the diamond industry in Angola not to speak of your wife and the hundreds of lorries she owns. To ask you sir, when elections will take place in Angola is simply a waste of time – yours and mine. But sir welcome again to NAMIBIA * WE always hear and read about the previously disadvantaged and BEE companies. I’m wondering whether (socalled) ‘Coloureds’ and ‘Basters’ were also not disadvantaged by the previous dispensation and still are. When these two groups apply for work, they are always put on the list last. Our Government, as well as country, is and will always be stuck in the the past. With us also referring to the past, will we ever move forward and be one nation. We need all the groups in the country. Wake up and stop living in the past for the past will prevent us from moving forward.Food for thought * YES,voters’ education must be done on a regular basis, councillors must report to the community on set objectives and activities. We also need a community body which will evaluate whether the councillors are working towards achieving their set objectives. Community members must also be part of the planning and implementation of projects. Development should be participatory not co-option.* IS the Minister of Education aware that Namibian second year students doing Bakery Studies at Bulawayo Polytechnic, with GRN sponsorship, are not doing their eight-month attachment because there is no flour in that country, and bakeries are closed? Is the Namibian Government just interested in bailing out the Zimbabwe government, while we get a raw deal? For God’s sake, the students are not even provided with meals despite fees being paid. Hon Minister, please intervene, even if it means arranging for attachments in Namibia for them, they have already lost two months doing nothing in Zimbabwe.* WHY is Government not considering making the retirement age 50 years? At least 100 grade 12s out from the thousands on the streets might fill the gap left by retired staff every year. Young people are used only as a election tools. They are promised jobs, but always end up on the streets.* I’M immensely humbled and amazed by the generous and prompt donation of N$270 000 by the people of Iceland, responding to the plight of and building a shelter for pregnant women sleeping in the open in front of Engela district hospital. These women are prone to contracting the deadly malaria pandemic or being raped by unruly gangs in the area. To the people of Iceland, your effort and sacrifice will not go unnoticed. We thank you wholeheartedly. To the Namibians, let’s start addressing social evils head on collectively like unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease and not wait for others to do it for us. Every citizen has a social responsibility towards our communities. There is so much joy in giving. Let’s stick to the proverbial saying that says charity begins at home. – Joe, Oshikango Education * I JUST want to ask the Minister, PS and the regional director of education in the Kavango whether the regulation on impregnating schoolgirls only applies to certain teachers. A certain principal known to me and in the Kavango Region impregnated a schoolgirl in 2005 and nothing was done about it. Why? Is this because the principal in question is from the same tribe as those in the management of regional education? I bet you they even advised him to marry the girl this year. Please ACC investigate because this principal did not start with this particular girl, neither will he end with this one.* WE teachers here in the Karas Region have a problem with our salary office. We never get our payslips on time. – Concerned teacher, Keetmanshoop * THE Finance Office of the Ministry of Education in the Oshikoto Region, please improve your service delivery for teachers. How can my cheque be sent to a wrong circuit office while all the details about the pay point are correct on the cheque itself? Had it not been for my constant enquiry with the headquarters in Windhoek, my cheque would have been either lost or stolen. – Solo * MINISTRY of Education, please let our innocent sons and daughters start school in Grade I even if they are four or five years old, as long as they are capable of doing the school work, which is reading, writing and counting. You are just delaying our kids while you send yours abroad where there is no limit.* WHY can’t Unam allow students who are GRN loan holders to write their exams? Unam must please allow us to write because most of us can’t afford to make personal payments. – Joan, Oshakati Politics in general * IT was amazing to see Former President Nujoma and Hidipo Hamutenya talking and laughing today (Thursday) at parliament. Please, for the sake of the country, they must reconcile!! * WESTERN hypocrites? “Australia does not need new leadership neither does it need new leadership. It needs right leadership,” the words of (John) Howard campaigning for his fifth term in office. Our Nujoma’s third term attracted a tirade of columnists lashing out as if he had committed a crime against humanity. I wonder what Mugabe thinks of Howard? – Monica * I DON’T agree that water is a problem in our country because a lot is passing through our country almost every year from Angola to the sea. The problem is the GRN who is not serious. Just build dams to contain the water. Please don’t say there is no money.From the regions * THERE is a serious shortage of clean water at Nasisangani village near Isize School in the Caprivi Region. Two boreholes which used to provide water to over 200 inhabitants of the village became defunct three or four years ago. The village committee initiated some donations but lack the capacity and tools to rehabilitate the boreholes, which were not in use for a long time. The village currently depends on the water source at the nearby clinic, which also supplies the Grade 1-10 Combined School. This situation demands urgent intervention from the Department of Rural Water Supply.* IS the NBC’s GMN show at six o’clock in the morning there to promote conferences and meetings of institutions. For us outside of Windhoek to listen to those panellists is useless. We want to see an hour full of national, international, sports and economic news. NBC why not follow the example of DWTV and CCTV. – APD, Mariental * CENORED, please rectify the unit reduction of electricity. I bought prepaid electricity twice for 40 dollars and received only twelve units. What happened to the remaining units. Please help, the cashiers are unable to rescue the situation. What happens if you buy only for 10 dollars? * OHANGWENA Regional Councillors should not be told about who to vote for as a new Governor, let them choose the leader whom they think can bring development in our region. The current Governor has expired, please we need a new Governor.* TO the Managing Director of MTC: Can you please do something about the network at Ruacana. We experience difficulty in our reception.* WE are asking the Governor of the Karas Region to help us connect electricity at Rosh Pinah’s Tutungeni. People want to make business but the problem is electricity or should we go and steal. We are tired of being in the dark.* I WENT to pay my TV licence at a satellite post office at Ondangwa around 10h50 am yesterday. To my surprise, I was given my N$16,00 change in coins because I refused to take a fake N$10 note, which did not even have a silver lining. Is it not a crime if one gives you fake money in such a way or what? These people are serving big institutions something needs to be done.General * I AM disappointed to learn that Agnes Samaria scooped the Sportswoman of the Year Award AGAIN. When will we recognise the other achievers like Beta Nyambe, Hilaria Johannes and the list goes on, if we keep praising one person? Yes, Agnes has achieved a lot over the years, but she is not the only achieving female athlete in Namibia. I must say it’s a common problem we have at awards ceremonies in our country. Look at what happens at our music awards! – Patience B * WHY are some people so shameless. City of Windhoek’s bakkie registration number N33664W is always parked at the back of a house in Khomasdal almost the whole day and then taken back when its knocking off time. The person than expects a salary month end.* TO the Permanent Secretary in OPM, please rotate the cleaner from one department to another, because they become when working at one place for too long * NAMPOWER, the floor of my house is always covered with small particles of black soot. Please install filters at your Van Eck chimneys. We have a right to clean air! * ADMINISTRATORS of Maerua Mall: When are you going to put up maps to direct us to our favourite shops? I spent 30 minutes around the mall looking for The Body Shop.* MTC, please improve on your service regarding your GPRS and MMS settings before your loyal customers move to CELL ONE! – Oubaas * TAX! Tax! Tax! I’m very much concerned about the public servants’ tax, which is very, very high. It must be reduced so that we can also be left with something. Annual bonus mustn’t be taxed at all! We are sick and tired of this soaring tax!! – Alweendo * I’M a 26-year-old lady and I’m expecting my third baby. My first two babies were stillborn because of tension and stress. I want to go for pre-natal classes at Central Hospital, but all pregnant ladies have issues with one particular senior nurse, who is always shouting and insulting us. please help! – EMJ * NOW that Air Namibia is proudly announcing additional flights due to increased demand, I also hope they will announce a slight reduction in losses at the end of the financial.* IS NBC TV obliged to report on every event involving President Pohamba? Certainly not each of these events is worth reporting on. Viewers need a variety of news items.* CAN Namibia Wildlife Resorts make any more ludicrous decisions regarding Etosha? Who was the genius who decided to make offices out of one of the most popular spaces in the park? Has this person any business or tourism experience at all? * PLEASE tell me if those vehicles donated to Government by the UNHCR are not luxury Land Cruisers that Namibia cannot afford to service and repair. Please tell me that they are utility vehicles and are cheap to run.On the ball * NAMIBIA’S sexiest man is Wakazuvaka Kazombiaze. Someone please run a survey. Bye bye Stephan Ludik and Ronnie Kanalelo.* TO all the All Blacks supporters at Keetmanshoop, stop being angry at the SPRINGBOK supporters and stop saying that it’s because luck was on our side that we won the World Cup. Just accept the fact that we won and that we are the number one rugby team in the world!!! – SPRINGBOK Supporter, Keetmanshoop * ‘ALL BLACKS best team in the world?’ Please give credit where it is due. The All Blacks choked again on the big stage – remember 1999, 2003 and now 2007? History remembers champions, not teams with brilliant players. SA deserved the cup more than any team, and that’s the bitter truth. The All Blacks and their fans must learn to accept. – Osho Offbeat * NWR’S management of Namibia’s resorts has become a bad joke. We suggest that they be renamed ‘Namibia’s Wasted Resorts’. – John and Barbara Paterson * I AM a worried Tassenberg drinker. I would like to ask why Tassies are not designing competition and promotions like other liquor companies? Please let me hear from anyone who is in charge of the Tassies brand. – Walusa * SO 55 got sick after eating a dog, the man’s best friend. Sounds like nature’s retribution to me. We give thanks * THANK you Lord for saving our lives from the car accident that I made on September 29, when my car overturned but we all escaped without any injury. What you did for me also do it for other people who may end up in the same situation. AMEN. – Sam Hamunyela, Ongha * TO the NBC Oshiwambo Service radio DJ Remind Ekandjo, thanks for giving a fitting tribute to the late Lucky Dube. Keep up the good work DJ. – Aantu ya’ Lukonda