SMSes of the Day : Thursday

* THE Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare’s comment that the newspaper (The Namibian) committed an offence by publishing pictures of minors in a Police cell and could be fined is out rightly ignorant and embarrassingly stubborn. To me it seems the Minister is just bitter, because she was caught unexpectedly sleeping on her job. Of all people she should have been the first one to know about the rounding up of these kids. Would she have known of these minors if not for this newspaper? See, this is why we need The Namibian, otherwise those minors would have been forgotten, like all other innocent detainees. Remember, the minor who was detained at Hardap prison – who reported that?

* I’M a full Swapo member and call on my comrades to behave, including my leaders. The Okongo incidents are a sign of violence instigated at recent rallies against the RDP. If we are mature, let’s demonstrate it. Otherwise worse is to follow. – Emvula Food for thought* WHEN are we going to reform Namibian society now that the Independence honeymoon is over? Are we still going to depend on Cabinet retreats, Permanent Secretary workshops, captains of industry talk-shops, foreign consultants etc, or we are going to do comparative studies with Canadian, British and French reforms in key sectors adapting them to the Namibian situation with a social responsibility element? Or are the roadmaps of NDP 1 to 3 enough? No politicking please.* MR Abraham Iyambo (Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, where is the Namibian tinned fish? There is none in the local markets, especially the small tins, which are not only convenient but a little bit affordable! Why do we have to go fish hungry in our own country as if we are non-fish-producing country? You only export while we go hungry or resort to rare but also expensive South African tinned fish which is not available either? Why import that money-wasting, low-quality tomato tinned scaly fish from Thailand as if we have no fish in this country? Myself, I like the old pilchard fish in tomato or chilli sauce but there is none in the shops in the North, I don’t know about other areas! We want plenty and affordable Namibian fish, both fresh and tinned! I want feedback to all my questions!Politics in general* THE RDP announcement to publish its list of membership is ill-advised. Doing so will be playing in the hands of Swapo. The utterances by Mr Penda ya Ndakolo to marginalise the RDP membership, including businesses, should be taken seriously, as it is a Swapo intimidation strategy endorsed at a higher level. RDP has nothing to prove about the tribal accusations of its origin. Let Swapo daydream. They are doomed anyway and will not gain from their tribal game fallacy. This nation is far too intelligent than that. Let the RDP ghost hound them by suspecting even their shadows to be RDP members.* SWAPO and the RDP are all hungry for power, that’s the truth. I am 16 years old and ashamed to see my parents vote for these parties. Swapo and RDP are like twins fighting for the throne of their father.* IT is unacceptable to call those who left the Swapo Party Judas Iscariot. Why did President Pohamba not discourage the former President from marginalising some members in the party? What is the President saying about the more than 20 members of the central committee from one region that is Omusati and more than seven Politburo members from the same region. Does it mean others are not trusted enough to serve in these positions? RDP members never betrayed the revolution, we are ex-freedom fighters and no one will erase that. We know that we liberated Namibia.* SWAPO has failed over the last 18 years to transform our society. We are still hungry and unemployed. Your struggle rhetoric is stale and can’t feed us, but does feed our hunger for change! Quality change is preceded by quality planning! RDP, tell us your plan!* MR Shirumbu try to learn how to respect the President even though he’s from Swapo. You can’t say that the President should hang his head in shame and resign. You are the one who should hang your head in shame first. – Lona* PRESIDENT Pohamba, as the president of Namibia, you are responsible to, at all cost, protect and guarantee us peace. I urge you to lead by example and refrain from making provocative statements. Peace and stability will be good for RDP and Swapo.* I WOULD like to advise Erongo RDP supporters to stop blaming the Swapo Party, as there are visible good developments that can be seen by all democratic-minded Namibians.* THE RDP leaders had been saying that they would bring some changes when you are voted into government. My question is why they didn’t bring those changes when they were in the Swapo leadership?* MR Prime Minister not all of us who are supporting RDP are Kwanyamas. So please spare us the lecture on the Kwanyamas, otherwise you are instigating tribalism. No wonder the majority of Namibian ambassadors are from one ethnic group. Every one who appears to harbour ambition is seen as a tribalist. Stop tribalism within your ranks then you will not see others as enemies of peace. Let the people make their own choices.* WHY is everyone so excited about tribalism when for the past 18 years it was and still is committed against tribes from regions other than the four O’s.* I’M a young Swapo supporter, but am disappointed with speeches of our leaders at public meetings. Please leave the RDP alone and tell us about the future and the vision for the youth in Swapo. RDP is a good opposition for development. Remember Hidipo Hamutenya was also in exile, so avoid fighting each other. – AJ* I DON’T see anything wrong with Swapo trucking in members from Ondangwa to Omuthiya because RDP did the same, transporting their members from as far as Omungwelume and Ohangwena. Just leave our mighty Swapo alone, because we are here to stay.* WE are still waiting for the Swapo Government to arrest (Hidipo) Hamutenya for the DBC and ODC scandals. What are you waiting for, or are there culprits that we don’t know that are involved?* WHILE Swapo and the RDP are fighting, can other political parties take advantage and win the Omuthiya election?* IF SWAPO wants to win the coming elections, then it should educate its members to stop what they are currently doing to RDP supporters. These type of intimidations show how Swapo is afraid of this new party. Since the formation of this new party, Swapo has been holding rallies one after another, where were they all this time?Education* WINDHOEK Vocational Training College is just interested in trainees’ money and Government student loans. The management must take our concerns seriously, because they are affecting us badly. We need solutions to our problems.* MINISTRY of Education, please close Onkambadhala Primary School. The school is completely cut off from the rest of the village by floodwater. Are we waiting for a school child to drown before we take the decision? I am pretty sure that the circuit inspector is aware of the situation at the school.* I AM a frustrated nurse student at Unam. I do not understand why we should do a four-year diploma in nursing, while we can study for a degree for the same number of years, as is the case in other faculties?* MINISTRY of Education, we have a problem in particular in the adult education directorate. I’m a literacy promoter. Our monthly honorarium is just not enough to cover our basic needs. I am requesting the directorate and the officers of adult education to sit and discuss our remuneration, because everything has gone up. Just look at the price of bread, which is a daily stable. – Noah* THE Government should emphasise empowering teachers to offer quality education in all subject fields. Why are there are no heads of department for life science and agriculture in the Ohangwena Region? This is happening mostly at primary and combined schools.* IT’S almost March and most of us registered at Unam haven’t started attending classes because our faculty officers refuse to help us. Unam should close down and reconsider its mandate. They are quick to take our money but slow to assist.* HOW do you want the children to return books if they come from Grade 8? What you are saying is that all the learners that were in Grade 9c last year never hand in the textbooks, so those learners who are now in Grade 10c must not be given textbooks.From the regions* MAY I ask Unam why it is not offering law courses on distance or part-time basis. At least they should extend law studies to the Northern campus. Not everyone can afford to be in Windhoek to pursue the studies of his/her interest. Foreign universities are expensive for us.* PLEASE councillor and ministers, we are also Namibians who pay tax just like those in whose areas roads are constructed. It is now 18 years since Independence, but nothing is done to our road between Otjomatemba and Otjapitjapi. When you want votes you come all the way to Otjapitjapi, but after the elections you are nowhere to be found. The community has done their part their part and is now waiting on the Government. This mater must be taken seriously because even electricity lines are passing over us while we have a school in Otjapitjapi in the Kunene Region.* I DON’T know why the Government is still sleeping here in the South. It seems the indigenous people of the South are not taken seriously, especially in Karasburg. Those from other regions, notably from the North, are appointed in senior Government positions. However, many of them cannot read and write properly.* MRS (Netumbo) Nandi-Ndaitwah, where is the development in Caprivi that you talked about? Get reports from the NPC to see the difference between Caprivi and the rest of the country. Please note that when you talk on TV your audiences are mostly those in town who are enlightened – it’s not a rally at Ibilibinzi.* IT is painful for us the, residents of Otjimbingwe, to see how we should make a living.There are two big rivers running through the village but potable water is rationed to us.The old regional office was last renovated in 1985, but we want to build a new office.The current clerk at the local office is only selling electricity.Health* AT the Walvis Bay State Hospital you must count yourself lucky if you see two nurses per shift in the casualty department. With such skeleton staff we have to attend to emergencies, screening, receiving calls, receiving patients’ payments and registering them, issuing medicine, transporting patients to wards, which also only have one or two nurses per ward. Thanks to The Namibian for letting our voices be heard through the SMS service.Food for thought * WHEN are we going to reform Namibian society now that the Independence honeymoon is over? Are we still going to depend on Cabinet retreats, Permanent Secretary workshops, captains of industry talk-shops, foreign consultants etc, or we are going to do comparative studies with Canadian, British and French reforms in key sectors adapting them to the Namibian situation with a social responsibility element? Or are the roadmaps of NDP 1 to 3 enough? No politicking please.* MR Abraham Iyambo (Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, where is the Namibian tinned fish? There is none in the local markets, especially the small tins, which are not only convenient but a little bit affordable! Why do we have to go fish hungry in our own country as if we are non-fish-producing country? You only export while we go hungry or resort to rare but also expensive South African tinned fish which is not available either? Why import that money-wasting, low-quality tomato tinned scaly fish from Thailand as if we have no fish in this country? Myself, I like the old pilchard fish in tomato or chilli sauce but there is none in the shops in the North, I don’t know about other areas! We want plenty and affordable Namibian fish, both fresh and tinned! I want feedback to all my questions! Politics in general * THE RDP announcement to publish its list of membership is ill-advised. Doing so will be playing in the hands of Swapo. The utterances by Mr Penda ya Ndakolo to marginalise the RDP membership, including businesses, should be taken seriously, as it is a Swapo intimidation strategy endorsed at a higher level. RDP has nothing to prove about the tribal accusations of its origin. Let Swapo daydream. They are doomed anyway and will not gain from their tribal game fallacy. This nation is far too intelligent than that. Let the RDP ghost hound them by suspecting even their shadows to be RDP members.* SWAPO and the RDP are all hungry for power, that’s the truth. I am 16 years old and ashamed to see my parents vote for these parties. Swapo and RDP are like twins fighting for the throne of their father.* IT is unacceptable to call those who left the Swapo Party Judas Iscariot. Why did President Pohamba not discourage the former President from marginalising some members in the party? What is the President saying about the more than 20 members of the central committee from one region that is Omusati and more than seven Politburo members from the same region. Does it mean others are not trusted enough to serve in these positions? RDP members never betrayed the revolution, we are ex-freedom fighters and no one will erase that. We know that we liberated Namibia.* SWAPO has failed over the last 18 years to transform our society. We are still hungry and unemployed. Your struggle rhetoric is stale and can’t feed us, but does feed our hunger for change! Quality change is preceded by quality planning! RDP, tell us your plan! * MR Shirumbu try to learn how to respect the President even though he’s from Swapo. You can’t say that the President should hang his head in shame and resign. You are the one who should hang your head in shame first. – Lona * PRESIDENT Pohamba, as the president of Namibia, you are responsible to, at all cost, protect and guarantee us peace. I urge you to lead by example and refrain from making provocative statements. Peace and stability will be good for RDP and Swapo.* I WOULD like to advise Erongo RDP supporters to stop blaming the Swapo Party, as there are visible good developments that can be seen by all democratic-minded Namibians.* THE RDP leaders had been saying that they would bring some changes when you are voted into government. My question is why they didn’t bring those changes when they were in the Swapo leadership? * MR Prime Minister not all of us who are supporting RDP are Kwanyamas. So please spare us the lecture on the Kwanyamas, otherwise you are instigating tribalism. No wonder the majority of Namibian ambassadors are from one ethnic group. Every one who appears to harbour ambition is seen as a tribalist. Stop tribalism within your ranks then you will not see others as enemies of peace. Let the people make their own choices.* WHY is everyone so excited about tribalism when for the past 18 years it was and still is committed against tribes from regions other than the four O’s.* I’M a young Swapo supporter, but am disappointed with speeches of our leaders at public meetings. Please leave the RDP alone and tell us about the future and the vision for the youth in Swapo. RDP is a good opposition for development. Remember Hidipo Hamutenya was also in exile, so avoid fighting each other. – AJ * I DON’T see anything wrong with Swapo trucking in members from Ondangwa to Omuthiya because RDP did the same, transporting their members from as far as Omungwelume and Ohangwena. Just leave our mighty Swapo alone, because we are here to stay.* WE are still waiting for the Swapo Government to arrest (Hidipo) Hamutenya for the DBC and ODC scandals. What are you waiting for, or are there culprits that we don’t know that are involved? * WHILE Swapo and the RDP are fighting, can other political parties take advantage and win the Omuthiya election? * IF SWAPO wants to win the coming elections, then it should educate its members to stop what they are currently doing to RDP supporters. These type of intimidations show how Swapo is afraid of this new party. Since the formation of this new party, Swapo has been holding rallies one after another, where were they all this time? Education * WINDHOEK Vocational Training College is just interested in trainees’ money and Government student loans. The management must take our concerns seriously, because they are affecting us badly. We need solutions to our problems.* MINISTRY of Education, please close Onkambadhala Primary School. The school is completely cut off from the rest of the village by floodwater. Are we waiting for a school child to drown before we take the decision? I am pretty sure that the circuit inspector is aware of the situation at the school.* I AM a frustrated nurse student at Unam. I do not understand why we should do a four-year diploma in nursing, while we can study for a degree for the same number of years, as is the case in other faculties? * MINISTRY of Education, we have a problem in particular in the adult education directorate. I’m a literacy promoter. Our monthly honorarium is just not enough to cover our basic needs. I am requesting the directorate and the officers of adult education to sit and discuss our remuneration, because everything has gone up. Just look at the price of bread, which is a daily stable. – Noah * THE Government should emphasise empowering teachers to offer quality education in all subject fields. Why are there are no heads of department for life science and agriculture in the Ohangwena Region? This is happening mostly at primary and combined schools.* IT’S almost March and most of us registered at Unam haven’t started attending classes because our faculty officers refuse to help us. Unam should close down and reconsider its mandate. They are quick to take our money but slow to assist.* HOW do you want the children to return books if they come from Grade 8? What you are saying is that all the learners that were in Grade 9c last year never hand in the textbooks, so those learners who are now in Grade 10c must not be given textbooks.From the regions * MAY I ask Unam why it is not offering law courses on distance or part-time basis. At least they should extend law studies to the Northern campus. Not everyone can afford to be in Windhoek to pursue the studies of his/her interest. Foreign universities are expensive for us.* PLEASE councillor and ministers, we are also Namibians who pay tax just like those in whose areas roads are constructed. It is now 18 years since Independence, but nothing is done to our road between Otjomatemba and Otjapitjapi. When you want votes you come all the way to Otjapitjapi, but after the elections you are nowhere to be found. The community has done their part their part and is now waiting on the Government. This mater must be taken seriously because even electricity lines are passing over us while we have a school in Otjapitjapi in the Kunene Region.* I DON’T know why the Government is still sleeping here in the South. It seems the indigenous people of the South are not taken seriously, especially in Karasburg. Those from other regions, notably from the North, are appointed in senior Government positions. However, many of them cannot read and write properly.* MRS (Netumbo) Nandi-Ndaitwah, where is the development in Caprivi that you talked about? Get reports from the NPC to see the difference between Caprivi and the rest of the country. Please note that when you talk on TV your audiences are mostly those in town who are enlightened – it’s not a rally at Ibilibinzi.* IT is painful for us the, residents of Otjimbingwe, to see how we should make a living.There are two big rivers running through the village but potable water is rationed to us.The old regional office was last renovated in 1985, but we want to build a new office.The current clerk at the local office is only selling electricity.Health * AT the Walvis Bay State Hospital you must count yourself lucky if you see two nurses per shift in the casualty department. With such skeleton staff we have to attend to emergencies, screening, receiving calls, receiving patients’ payments and registering them, issuing medicine, transporting patients to wards, which also only have one or two nurses per ward. Thanks to The Namibian for letting our voices be heard through the SMS service.