SMSes Of Thursday 12 November 2009

* POLITICIANS of political parties who claim to support democracy, but then encourage violence and physical confrontation against any opposition, do they understand what democracy means? These individuals should be reprimanded and educated!

* WHEN are we going to learn the meaning of tolerance in a true democracy? To all party supporters I would to say when the law catches up with you, you face the consequences on your own and don’t place an unnecessary burden on your family.- S MoyoFood For Thought* DURING the past weekend I attended a national debating competition hosted by the MVA at Gobabis and I am yet to see any news coverage on it. Yet a simple political rally appears on the news that same day. Should we the youth think that politics is much more important than education. Please media and Government, education is a priority that should be put first.- Concerned youth, Michael Nauta* A PROPOSAL to the Namibian Government to reduce trucks on our roads. All goods and materials entering Namibia by sea must be transported by railway to all towns with a railway network. There are too many trucks and they are driven carelessly.- Nailoke, WindhoekBouquets And Brickbats* AS a teacher I know that our education system is really at stake. Mr Tom Alweendo did a brilliant job by urging the nation to look at and invest in education! * I AM very impressed with the exceptional and friendly service I got from Brendan of Home Building Centre at Swakopmund. Thank you and keep it up!- A satisfied customer!* GAL Level, you are real role models. I’m proud of you for scooping the two Channel O awards.- Magano* THANK you to DStv for adding more programmes to the Audio Bouquet but please try and show more Champions League games. And try to give us a holiday channel! – David * I MUST express my disappointment in the sports journalists and editors who failed to give recognition to Unam with a proper article with recognition to club rugby when they won the Day of Dolphin Cup in Swakopmund. Be fair and do not get trapped in local sports politics. – Nicolette Bessinger- Our sports department was not informed of this event. We try to cover as many events as we can and, where we can’t, we invite clubs to submit results and pictures of good quality for publication. – Sports DeskPoliticsPolitical temperature rises* IF your newspaper is ‘telling it like it is’, why are you not reporting about a number of weapons found on RDP supporters at Outapi? Your reporters and the newspaper itself report only on negatively on Swapo supporters, while RDP came to Omusati with many weapons, to use them for what and against whom? I wonder why someone goes to a political rally with a pistol? Other newspapers took pictures of these weapons. How did you miss that? To us it is a headline story. Report accurately please.- Evari- We reported that weapons were confiscated from supporters of both political parties, Swapo and the RDP. I personally do not advocate the carrying of weapons to a political rally, etc. I can only speculate that people carry weapons when they are afraid or when a climate of fear is prevalent. However, carrying a weapon is not a green light to attack someone. – News Editor* NAMIBIAN politicians stop fooling the nation. During elections, you pretend to love the nation. After elections, you hibernate.- Political analyst* THOSE who truly want peace in Namibia will never give racist speeches, they will never instigate the people.* DEAR Editor! I think our traditional leaders and political leaders in Omusati Region should meet with the regional commander of NamPol in order to amend the law that can stop the violence which is going to affect that region!- Cde E. Shuundeni at Walvis Bay * I DON’T understand Swapo and RDP. They are both saying that they want peace but they are fighting. What kind of nation do you think we will have in future if we are behaving like that? We are confusing the nation. Election Fever* ECN how do I vote if I work 24/7 on those election days? Can’t those days be made public holidays?- Thys- All employers, by law, are required to give their staff time off to vote in elections. Polling stations are open from 07h00 until 21h00 on the two days. – Newsdesk* AWAITING-trial suspects shouldn’t be on a party’s list until such time as their trial is finalised. They paint a negative image.- Concerned voter* BROTHERS and sisters, militancy is not the way to go. What are you benefiting by hurting your fellow countrymen, the result is only you ending up jail and the political party you were inspired to commit that crime for will not be there for you against the arm of law. I do not understand why the regional councillors are not pronouncing themselves on the incident? The mayhem could be avoided if law enforcement and local leaders joined forces, consulting on the way how to avoid another crisis. Lastly I would like to commend the Police for being able to contain the violence but they are supposed not to let it occur.- Michael, WindhoekBIG issue* I AM starting to doubt that the persons that must take the decision to implement the BIG project can read or see what happened at Omitara.Labour Issues* THE Government should explain to the non-exiled Namibians why all the vacancies in the public service should be reserved for struggle children.* NANTU should pronounce itself on the issue of teachers in Ohangwena forced to work eight hours without lunch and no overtime paid to them by the region. Are we not teachers like those other regions? * LAST year the national [exam] markers registered their dismay and frustration through Nantu regarding the long hours (07h00 – 22h00) that we are working, taking into account the Labour Act stipulation on overtime. Frankly speaking the work is too demanding and one needs to concentrate 120 per cent as the future of our Grade 10 and 12 learners is entrusted in the hands of markers whose work and effort are not valued. The remuneration one would receive at the end of the day is pathetic. The S&T cannot sustain you in a city like Windhoek – transport, food, accommodation etc. Compared to the daily allowance of the Ministry of Education, one is puzzled at the huge difference. The worst of it is tax. The little one receives for the work done is taken up by tax. Nantu, as a bargaining agent come to our rescue or what we are doing is tantamount to exploitation in a free and independent Namibia. Chinese Bursaries* WHAT a coincidence? Bursaries are ‘advertised’ and only ministerial children are successful in obtaining these? Uhh!* THE main concern with the awarding of Chinese bursaries should be whether those students are academically deserving or not. Scholarships should be awarded on academic performance. The Government has failed dramatically when it comes to this aspect, as they continue to award scholarships or study loans for people to go study medicine, engineering, geology and other courses in Russia. Most of these students do not even have the grades to qualify for any course at our own institutions of higher learning, while we have students at Unam and the Polytechnic who do not have study loans and bursaries. What kind of a university trains someone to become a doctor who has failed matric anyway? It’s not fair that some students work so hard to get into Unam or the Polytechnic while those who have failed matric go to Russia to study professional courses at government expense. Please someone investigate.General* PLEASE, I suffer so much. I am disabled and I don’t have relatives. What can I do? I don’t have a wheelchair. Who can help me?* SINCE criminals took over in our suburbs, can citizens of Namibia organise themselves against these criminals supported by the State with the necessary crime-fighting equipment?In And From The Regions* OPUWO we need a sports officer urgently. The office has been shut for the past six months and the athletics season is around the corner.* SELCO Keetmanshoop our street lights in the new extension in Tseiblaagte have been out of order for almost two years now. This is dangerous. Please replace the bulbs.* PLEASE can someone tell me why we at Onesi in
the Omusati Region cannot have Omulunga radio while even Ruacana in the far north is enjoying it?- Shaende S N, Onesi* RCC please try to put that nice stony soil from Engela to Omaborta. Did you see what happened on that first rainy day? Repeat again please.- Wana road user!Education* ETSIP, this programme is failing this nation at Onepandaulo CS in Endola circuit as the school management bought themselves computers with Internet but no learners have access to these facilities, no extra mural activities.- Concern parent