Wednesday SMS responses

* WILL our society please de-stigmatise ex-offenders with criminal records who want to join the labour market. Some are rehabilitated parents who want to live meaningful lives. Give them a chance to restore their dignity. – Productive ex-offender

Food for thought * HMMMMM. This Kobi Alexander case makes one think. Is his defence so powerful that they run the show?* IS it true that MTC always blocks the network in the North when the so-called VIPs such as former and current presidents are here? Because we always a experience a network breakdown when they are around or is it mere coincidence in all instances? Such a pathetic service!! – Washanga* THERE can be no reconciliation, forgiveness and healing without the truth being exposed. Perpetrators must admit guilt or set the record straight and victims express their hurt and loss. Anything less is face value while the core is rotting away! Because these issues were not addressed, people smile with one face and hurt with another.* LET’S be ACTIVE in development and stop silly politics that causes division and poverty. LET’S CRITICISE THE LOCAL COUNCILS and OURSELVES. – From GibeonFrom the regions* WE are concerned about electricity being switched off at night at Tsumkwe. What if someone is about to give birth or is seriously injured and needs help? Should we tell that person ‘sorry there is no electricity, don’t give birth now’, or ‘sorry you can die’. Please Government help us and do something.* WE are all people of Namibia – black and white, but at Keetmanshoop the people do not respect each other, especially Namas and Owambos. They are fighting and discriminating against each every day and yet they say we are all Namibians. What are they fighting for?* OKANKOLO CONSTITUENCY. This is from we people who stay very deep in the constituency, like at OTYOLO, OSHANA SHATEMBA, OSALOMO, etc. Councillor, Minister (GOVERNMENT) they only count us when it come to elections but when the elections pass, they don’t know us. Our children they don’t get immunised, pregnant people don’t get assistance, schools we don’t have. We also want to enjoy and eat the fruit of INDEPENDENCE. When will we be counted by the GOVERNMENT? – VNNT Jazony* OLYAVAHENGE is a village in the Etayi constituency in the Omusati Region which is reeling under poverty. There is no development to talk about. The main problem is the availability of water. The only water point for all villagers is at the school and most of us just survive on well and this 17 years after Independence. Councillor Shekutamba for how long will we wait on your office to realise that we need development at the village? We are situated between Okalongo and Odimbwa, which have electricity and water.* OPUWO is the capital city of Kunene, but the education regional office (hq) of Kunene is still at Khorixas. What happened? Please, the director Mr Kamwi, give us answer.* THE mobile Police station at Groot Aub needs a car.* WHY is the gravel road of in southern Caprivi not tarred? Stop politics and tribalism. What are we going to benefit from the Government of the day?* I’M not happy with the Ondangwa Town Council refusal (refuse) department! Rubbish bins are overflowing and stand for three weeks at our houses. Please, I can’t take it any more. We’re paying money for nothing.* THE ACC must visit Gibeon village and audit the financial books of the AME Community School on funds donated to the school in the 1990s by donor organisations such as SIDA. Also, it is not clear whether the school belongs to the community, the Witbooi royalty or the AME Church.* I WANT Bakgalagari Namibians to unite and be proud of what they are, and hope that one day they will choose the headman who will unite them. The current one doesn’t visit the regions to meet people and talk to them. He is a man of his region only.* HONOURABLE Ya Kasita, when are you going to give up the position of Okaku Councillor to someone who has time for the people of the constituency? Do you really think you have 48 hours in one day to carry out your duties as a Deputy Ministry in Windhoek and your council work at Okaku?* CAN someone help or do something about the Okahandja Municipality? Before our garden town is downgraded to a village, please come to our assistance.* THE Government appears not to care about the health status of public servants. Our medical aid seems not to have a value, is it cannot be used in some hospitals across the country, never mind outside the country. When will it be recognised by all health facilities in the country. I know we contribute very little to the medical aid, but why not increase it for us to get better medical treatment.* WE need a Home Affairs office at Okahao. Our elders are travelling long distances to obtain IDs and the necessary national documents. – E Iinane* COMRADE President, go and visit Omusati Region, more especially the Okaloko area – to be honest you will see that those people are suffering from thirst. There is no water point since Independence up to now. I am sure that if you go there your conclusion will be just to fire the Governor responsible.Let’s get real* I THINK Mr Kaaronda must not understand affiliation to Swapo as a Holy pact cast in stone. We understand his reasons as being political as you might have been promised a position like many of the NUNW leadership before you. If you can criticise the NSHR why are you also not taking a stance on PERTINENT NATIONAL ISSUES like the health crises, the housing crises, etc, which are in any event directly affecting the majority of the Namibian people. The issue of Phil ya Nangoloh is probably legitimate in the sense that it is alleged crimes committed against our own people by those we are glorifying. Namibia, for God’s sake, belongs to everybody with their ancestral roots here. We know the occupation of Namibia was illegitimate and as such those atrocities were committed. Imagine your own brother takes your life! So finally I strongly suggest that you pay a visit to our brothers in Cosatu and learn a little bit about moral and principled leadership and what the mandate of the Unions are.* THE NUNW must be a true union umbrella. The NSHR’s donors are also funders of most Government projects, where money is misused. Why fear the ICC? I pity Kaaronda who doesn’t know that, there is no policy of national reconciliation policy. – EVMThanks* I WOULD like to thank Honourable Councillor Fillemon Ndjambula of Olukonda. We have enough water and electricity at schools, at cuca shops and we expect more development.* I’M a resident of Onakasino village in the Omuthiya district and I want to thank everyone who was involved in bringing water to our village. I also appreciate the transparent way in which our councillor and Governor are conducting their business. Without any doubt, I trust that electricity is on its way to our village.* I WANT to thank the City Police for the job they are doing. Guys you are doing a great job, keep it up. But please, your undercover presence must be increased, as the criminals use your visibility to avoid you. – Nocks* TO Hugh Paxton, welcome back! I am a great fan of your short stories. Keep on writing. – A.A.Education* PLEASE, Mr Director of Education, in the Karas Region our pride – NAUTILUS P.S. LÜDERITZ – is going down. Help us as soon as possible. PLEASE. – Concerned resident* EDUCATION in rural areas is seriously neglected. The state classrooms have their roofing sheets blown off and others are hanging loose, exposing learners to danger. Despite reports for three years, the floors are potholed. The teachers houses are deplorable. How do we expect quality education to come out of such an environment? – Kasok* MINISTRY of Education, please introduce uniforms for teachers and let it be compulsory for every teacher. This is because they don’t know what to wear. Teachers are scaring the kids with tight clothes, open-backed tops, mini skirts, etc. Please do something.* AS a teacher what I teach my learner is more important than the jeans or trousers I wear. Focusing on important things will build the nation.* WE lecturers at Colleges of Education are highly underpaid compared to Unam and the Polytech. Nantu has been playing a delaying tactic with us for years now. It is high time that we need to organise ourselves and fight our own battles at colleges of education. Our own graduates are even laughing at our salaries as they are paid better after five years. Nantu is just taking our membership money and keep on lying to us. Please let’s wake up and let our voices be heard. Enough is enough.* I WOULD like to know why the Government is giving half loans and not full loans? And would like to state what’s the use of getting half of the loan while we are in financial need and need the whole loan in order to further our studies and contribute to Vision 2030 because we are running out of time.* WHY does Government not allow those who fail Grade 12 to repeat? It’s our money. Most of the failers are still young and they just end up on the streets.* THE Oshana Education Region should stop giving promotion positions to WEAK and INCAPABLE people who cannot deliver. All the BEST teachers are now targeted by other regions. I’m glad I have left that region before I got frustrated like most of the teachers!* THE Institute of Open Learning (IOL) is totally disorganised here in the North. They need to call a meeting or a conference to hear the concerns of their students urgently!General* HAS the Development Bank lost its vision. Instead of funding emerging industries, it funds established institutions like Cell One, NamPost and the likes.* HEALTH, PLEASE….? WOOO! Shinyungwe Clinic hasn’t had a nurse for a month now. The Ministry must please do something.* TO compel the ladies at security checkouts to stand for eight hours is unconscionable. Please capitalists, have a heart and provide some seating respite e.g., a stool.* I’M very sad at what seems to be a certain death for LIBERTY (insurance), a small company, WHICH never failed me like some big insurance companies did. What about Government coming to their rescue?* I ALSO agree. Magistrates must be guarded 24 hours because they are in danger.State of the nation* IT’s with great concern that the public servants have lost confidence in the Public Service Commission. In a local magazine, chairman Eddy Amkongo spoke about Public Service Act. Does it exist and is it in force? If yes, one wonders how it operates. It’s for many years now that some Permanent Secretaries have been abusing their powers and running Government institutions like their own cuca shops. Namibia needs a strong team to execute Government programmes, instead of being remote controlled by the well known syndicate!* WHY have our leaders lost the right path of leadership? They preach about serving the nation daily. But only self-enrichment is prevailing. THE ACC IS WEAK. WHY ARE THEY LETTING THE BIG FISH SWIM AWAY FREE IN FRONT OF THEIR NAKED EYES AND CATCH ONLY THE SMALL ONES. – Very Exhausted* THE Namibian SMSes are our news. Please, some of these are things crucial to some of us who are directly affected. Why should incompetent officials be made ambassadors. It’s unfair. Also, what’s the job of State Security and the ACC?* PLEASE let honourable Pohamba lead us. We love him. Let him rule. – Josua* NAMIBIA cannot go the Zimbabwean way? Are we sure? It has happened before in the DRC, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, etc. Now Namibia and RSA are racing to overtake them. Take note, in the 1980s, Zimbabweans were saying they would never fall in the same pit. Do not laugh. God is watching.* HMMMMM. This Kobi Alexander case makes one think. Is his defence so powerful that they run the show? * IS it true that MTC always blocks the network in the North when the so-called VIPs such as former and current presidents are here? Because we always a experience a network breakdown when they are around or is it mere coincidence in all instances? Such a pathetic service!! – Washanga * THERE can be no reconciliation, forgiveness and healing without the truth being exposed. Perpetrators must admit guilt or set the record straight and victims express their hurt and loss. Anything less is face value while the core is rotting away! Because these issues were not addressed, people smile with one face and hurt with another.* LET’S be ACTIVE in development and stop silly politics that causes division and poverty. LET’S CRITICISE THE LOCAL COUNCILS and OURSELVES. – From Gibeon From the regions * WE are concerned about electricity being switched off at night at Tsumkwe. What if someone is about to give birth or is seriously injured and needs help? Should we tell that person ‘sorry there is no electricity, don’t give birth now’, or ‘sorry you can die’. Please Government help us and do something.* WE are all people of Namibia – black and white, but at Keetmanshoop the people do not respect each other, especially Namas and Owambos. They are fighting and discriminating against each every day and yet they say we are all Namibians. What are they fighting for? * OKANKOLO CONSTITUENCY. This is from we people who stay very deep in the constituency, like at OTYOLO, OSHANA SHATEMBA, OSALOMO, etc. Councillor, Minister (GOVERNMENT) they only count us when it come to elections but when the elections pass, they don’t know us. Our children they don’t get immunised, pregnant people don’t get assistance, schools we don’t have. We also want to enjoy and eat the fruit of INDEPENDENCE. When will we be counted by the GOVERNMENT? – VNNT Jazony * OLYAVAHENGE is a village in the Etayi constituency in the Omusati Region which is reeling under poverty. There is no development to talk about. The main problem is the availability of water. The only water point for all villagers is at the school and most of us just survive on well and this 17 years after Independence. Councillor Shekutamba for how long will we wait on your office to realise that we need development at the village? We are situated between Okalongo and Odimbwa, which have electricity and water.* OPUWO is the capital city of Kunene, but the education regional office (hq) of Kunene is still at Khorixas. What happened? Please, the director Mr Kamwi, give us answer.* THE mobile Police station at Groot Aub needs a car.* WHY is the gravel road of in southern Caprivi not tarred? Stop politics and tribalism. What are we going to benefit from the Government of the day? * I’M not happy with the Ondangwa Town Council refusal (refuse) department! Rubbish bins are overflowing and stand for three weeks at our houses. Please, I can’t take it any more. We’re paying money for nothing.* THE ACC must visit Gibeon village and audit the financial books of the AME Community School on funds donated to the school in the 1990s by donor organisations such as SIDA. Also, it is not clear whether the school belongs to the community, the Witbooi royalty or the AME Church.* I WANT Bakgalagari Namibians to unite and be proud of what they are, and hope that one day they will choose the headman who will unite them. The current one doesn’t visit the regions to meet people and talk to them. He is a man of his region only.* HONOURABLE Ya Kasita, when are you going to give up the position of Okaku Councillor to someone who has time for the people of the constituency? Do you really think you have 48 hours in one day to carry out your duties as a Deputy Ministry in Windhoek and your council work at Okaku? * CAN someone help or do something about the Okahandja Municipality? Before our garden town is downgraded to a village, please come to our assistance.* THE Government appears not to care about the health status of public servants. Our medical aid seems not to have a value, is it cannot be used in some hospitals across the country, never mind outside the country. When will it be recognised by all health facilities in the country. I know we contribute very little to the medical aid, but why not increase it for us to get better medical treatment.* WE need a Home Affairs office at Okahao. Our elders are travelling long distances to obtain IDs and the necessary national documents. – E Iinane * COMRADE President, go and visit Omusati Region, more especially the Okaloko area – to be honest you will see that those people are suffering from thirst. There is no water point since Independence up to now. I am sure that if you go there your conclusion will be just to fire the Governor responsible.Let’s get real * I THINK Mr Kaaronda must not understand affiliation to Swapo as a Holy pact cast in stone. We understand his reasons as being political as you might have been promised a position like many of the NUNW leadership before you. If you can criticise the NSHR why are you also not taking a stance on PERTINENT NATIONAL ISSUES like the health crises, the housing crises, etc, which are in any event directly affecting the majority of the Namibian people. The issue of Phil ya Nangoloh is probably legitimate in the sense that it is alleged crimes committed against our own people by those we are glorifying. Namibia, for God’s sake, belongs to everybody with their ancestral roots here. We know the occupation of Namibia was illegitimate and as such those atrocities were committed. Imagine your own brother takes your life! So finally I strongly suggest that you pay a visit to our brothers in Cosatu and learn a little bit about moral and principled leadership and what the mandate of the Unions are.* THE NUNW must be a true union umbrella. The NSHR’s donors are also funders of most Government projects, where money is misused. Why fear the ICC? I pity Kaaronda who doesn’t know that, there is no policy of national reconciliation policy. – EVM Thanks * I WOULD like to thank Honourable Councillor Fillemon Ndjambula of Olukonda. We have enough water and electricity at schools, at cuca shops and we expect more development.* I’M a resident of Onakasino village in the Omuthiya district and I want to thank everyone who was involved in bringing water to our village. I also appreciate the transparent way in which our councillor and Governor are conducting their business. Without any doubt, I trust that electricity is on its way to our village.* I WANT to thank the City Police for the job they are doing. Guys you are doing a great job, keep it up. But please, your undercover presence must be increased, as the criminals use your visibility to avoid you. – Nocks * TO Hugh Paxton, welcome back! I am a great fan of your short stories. Keep on writing. – A.A.Education * PLEASE, Mr Director of Education, in the Karas Region our pride – NAUTILUS P.S. LÜDERITZ – is going down. Help us as soon as possible. PLEASE. – Concerned resident * EDUCATION in rural areas is seriously neglected. The state classrooms have their roofing sheets blown off and others are hanging loose, exposing learners to danger. Despite reports for three years, the floors are potholed. The teachers houses are deplorable. How do we expect quality education to come out of such an environment? – Kasok * MINISTRY of Education, please introduce uniforms for teachers and let it be compulsory for every teacher. This is because they don’t know what to wear. Teachers are scaring the kids with tight clothes, open-backed tops, mini skirts, etc. Please do something.* AS a teacher what I teach my learner is more important than the jeans or trousers I wear. Focusing on important things will build the nation.* WE lecturers at Colleges of Education are highly underpaid compared to Unam and the Polytech. Nantu has been playing a delaying tactic with us for years now. It is high time that we need to organise ourselves and fight our own battles at colleges of education. Our own graduates are even laughing at our salaries as they are paid better after five years. Nantu is just taking our membership money and keep on lying to us. Please let’s wake up and let our voices be heard. Enough is enough.* I WOULD like to know why the Government is giving half loans and not full loans? And would like to state what’s the use of getting half of the loan while we are in financial need and need the whole loan in order to further our studies and contribute to Vision 2030 because we are running out of time.* WHY does Government not allow those who fail Grade 12 to repeat? It’s our money. Most of the failers are still young and they just end up on the streets.* THE Oshana Education Region should stop giving promotion positions to WEAK and INCAPABLE people who cannot deliver. All the BEST teachers are now targeted by other regions. I’m glad I have left that region before I got frustrated like most of the teachers! * THE Institute of Open Learning (IOL) is totally disorganised here in the North. They need to call a meeting or a conference to hear the concerns of their students urgently! General * HAS the Development Bank lost its vision. Instead of funding emerging industries, it funds established institutions like Cell One, NamPost and the likes.* HEALTH, PLEASE….? WOOO! Shinyungwe Clinic hasn’t had a nurse for a month now. The Ministry must please do something.* TO compel the ladies at security checkouts to stand for eight hours is unconscionable. Please capitalists, have a heart and provide some seating respite e.g., a stool.* I’M very sad at what seems to be a certain death for LIBERTY (insurance), a small company, WHICH never failed me like some big insurance companies did. What about Government coming to their rescue? * I ALSO agree. Magistrates must be guarded 24 hours because they are in danger.State of the nation * IT’s with great concern that the public servants have lost confidence in the Public Service Commission. In a local magazine, chairman Eddy Amkongo spoke about Public Service Act. Does it exist and is it in force? If yes, one wonders how it operates. It’s for many years now that some Permanent Secretaries have been abusing their powers and running Government institutions like their own cuca shops. Namibia needs a strong team to execute Government programmes, instead of being remote controlled by the well known syndicate! * WHY have our leaders lost the right path of leadership? They preach about serving the nation daily. But only self-enrichment is prevailing. THE ACC IS WEAK. WHY ARE THEY LETTING THE BIG FISH SWIM AWAY FREE IN FRONT OF THEIR NAKED EYES AND CATCH ONLY THE SMALL ONES. – Very Exhausted * THE Namibian SMSes are our news. Please, some of these are things crucial to some of us who are directly affected. Why should incompetent officials be made ambassadors. It’s unfair. Also, what’s the job of State Security and the ACC? * PLEASE let honourable Pohamba lead us. We love him. Let him rule. – Josua * NAMIBIA cannot go the Zimbabwean way? Are we sure? It has happened before in the DRC, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, etc. Now Namibia and RSA are racing to overtake them. Take note, in the 1980s, Zimbabweans were saying they would never fall in the same pit. Do not laugh. God is watching.