SMSes of Thursday 14 January 2010

* IF reading is defined as the capacity to understand, use and reflect upon written texts, then our teachers do not teach reading at all. They only ask children to read aloud and disturbingly correct pronunciation errors (including intonation especially in African languages). This is the main reason why children fail. The Ministry of Education should re-train all teachers in the teaching of reading.

Food for Thought* CHINA, the world’s fifth-largest economy four year ago will shortly overtake Japan to claim the number two spot. Why? Because their leaders make quick decisions, implement and always monitor the global market. Namibia, create a pool of young leaders in Parliament to steer us in that direction.Power to the People* PREDICTABLY the Zimbabwe Energy Minister has slapped Namibia in the face on the electricity issue! I wonder about that contract, perhaps NamPower did not read the fine print. We should be getting 150MW, that is why we agreed to invest N$300m in the then defunct Hwange. We should get the first 150MW not what ever is left!* THE Hwange Power Station is no longer supplying Namibia with electricity. So please our Government or NamPower tell the nation what will happen with the taxpayers money which was invested in this project?- LHUNBCMatthew \\Gowaseb* MR \\Gowaseb you have proven what you are made off! People like me do not turn a blind eye to changes that have taken place at the NBC since you took over! You are better off somewhere else where you can perform to the best of your ability. The NBC Board lacks vision and are incompetent. You are a great man, don’t let them destroy your career. Viva \\Gowaseb!- Operi, Omaheke Region* MR (Matthew) Gowaseb is what the NBC needs and needed. The board and management are dead wood, useless. Losing him will be the biggest mistake ever made!* THE NBC Board is incompetent and senior management equally incompetent and the board have allowed themselves to be influenced by a so-called executive that cannot deliver and act like kindergarten bullies when faced with true leadership. Matthew, it is our loss and we blame the board for the continued idiocy and lack of courage to discipline an unruly and incompetent management, and the Minister for entertaining their malicious gossip. Useless lot.* GOWASEB made positive changes to a company that was going down the drain. Certain managers are used to doing nothing.* SAD to read NBC voted against undisputed excellence. Luckily the rest of Namibia are not fools and appreciate Matthew’s skills and creativity.- Pro excellence Namibian* THE NBC board should also resign with immediate effect. We the taxpayers were happy with Mr. \\Gowaseb’s work.Bouquets and Brickbats* KUDOS to the Kamselle Entertainment Centre and Tate Buti Carwash for donating school shoes to underprivileged children, other businesses should follow suit.* I WOULD like to ask the editor of ‘telling it like it is’, how many newspapers do you distribute to Shoprite and Pick n Pay’s shops this side of Katutura and all service stations starting with Windhoek North down to Khomasdal on Fridays? Just before 13h00 each Friday, all The Namibians are finished. Don’t force us to buy other newspapers in 2010 pls!- The Circulation Department is looking into this.- NewsdeskElection Challenge* THE Devil’s Advocate’s SMS of Jan 12 is fraught with fear and that is not good. The lawmakers foresaw that there will be situations when the intent of free and fair will be violated to such a degree that courts have to step in to restore democracy. Certainly this law spells out the degree of error which the irregularities required for a legal action. Why are you so tormented by fear? Let the truth set you free. Trust the courts!* TO the writer who quoted two million potential voters in Wednesday’s paper, please bear in mind that more than half the population is below voting age.Politics* As a member of the Swapo Party, I request the Head of State to get rid of all the elders from Cabinet. Those over 60 should not be appointed. They have done their part and we are indebted to them and thank them, but it is time for young blood with new ideas* I WAS shocked to see that a Swapo flag was attached to the mirror of a silver Toyota Camry at the mall with a GRN number. I thought that vehicles belonged to the Government and not the party.And Justice for All* CAN the Stock Theft Act be amended please. Murder is not considered more serious then theft of those that produce milk (cows). I suggest a fine might be much better than 30 years behind bars!* STOP criminality. Any person in possession of stolen goods bought from our thieves should be treated as a criminal because they motivate theft and murder. Stop now!City Fathers Please…* HELP remove dogs roaming day and night on Mersey Street in Wanaheda. Introduce a policy directly to the dog owners: Two months in jail or N$250, if your dog is found moving outside your yard. We are fed up removing dogs’ excreta in our yards.* WINDHOEK City Council it is not safe in Magdala Street, Maroela, Katutura, because the street lights are off.Education* UNAM lecturers please come to your offices. Your students are writing supplementary examinations and they need your guidance.- MakafaIn and From the Regions* MR (Helmut) Angula (Minister of Transport) please take note that the gravel roads here in the North are very high and narrow and that poses a danger when two cars pass each other. Please make the roads wide enough in order protect lives and damage to property.- Mekupi, Oshakati.* REALLY can’t Government do something about witchdoctors flooding the country. These fraudsters are ripping off the ignorant of their possessions. I have many people who want to make a special appeal to the editor and owner of paper which provides space for them like ‘Herbalist assistant behind bars’ The Namibian January 12.* FOOTBALL for an HIV free generation in Namibia, life skills and HIV prevention training is good for the youth. Can you please come and train in the Oshana Region also?- Oshana girl learner* PS of Education and ACC are you aware of a newly-built school in Luderitz that has been empty for the past two years? Who is the real building contractor? Pupils are suffering.
Service Please* STANDARD Bank Account Support Department in Oshakati, when you promise to call a client back, the process entails picking up the one line in your department and dialling the client’s number to provide service. We may be in the regions, but we do expect adequate service please!Sporting* CAN NPL resolve the game between E\Arrows and U\Stars before the league resumes for the second round.- Bicrob* NSSU please inform all regions about the new IAAF rule re false starts. Parents also need to be informed as they are quick to disrupt athletics meetings through ignorance.* NFA stop infighting and concentrate on developing soccer in Namibia. Benin and Malawi were losers to Namibia but they dramatically changed and improved their soccer, where Namibia is the last to achieve that standard.* THE Puma brand is worn by 12 of the teams playing in the African Cup of Nations. Why don’t we have a Puma Cup of Nations for Under 20 or Under 23 players for the 12 nations under your brand to develop African players in the next four to six years.- Harry J.Lost and Found* I FOUND documents for Pieter Johannes Gouws dob 060645. Contact Steven at 081-385-8779.* HAVE you lost your keys? I found a VW key plus two extra. Please contact me on – 081-341-1849.* I LOST my passport in Walvis Bay in the name Otniel Kakero. If found call 081-388-3889.* I PICKED up the ID of Herculano Domingas born 1990-04-25. Contact me at 081-201-1523 to collect it.* CAR No plate N102-638W found. Call Tos on 081-221- 0952 after 17h00. Thanks.* I LOST papers from Home Affairs in a taxi on January 12 for SS de Leeuw. If found, please contact Cathy at 081- 410-4343Labour Issues* CAN Namfi please stop wasting our money by claiming that they are training Namibians to take up positions occupied by non-Namibians. Thee DMA and the Government are granting work permits to non-Namibians while we’re roaming the streets with Namfi papers. Please somebody save us!* SOME employees of Novanam have not yet submitted their tax returns for 2008, because of no PAYE 5s for that year. Who is going to be punished for this?- George.