Letters

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Letters

Parent supports teacher for nude search

Thursday, 25 October 2007 08:30
Dear Editor, With regards to your letter published a while ago, “Teacher orders nude-search of learners”, we have been waiting for the school/school board to respond to this article and as parents we feel that the record needs to be set straight. It is a real shame that nowhere in the article is the flip file that was indeed stolen and later found but without the alleged money, mentioned. As far as we know, only one child of that class was interviewed and we can then only assume that the rest of the story was based on hearsay. It is a complete fabrication that any child was touched on their private parts and just shows that this whole incident was pulled out of proportion by your source. The “principal of fairness” was not adhered to by your reporter who by the way contradicts herself within her own article by saying that the teacher was not present during the body search and then again later says that learners (sic) claimed they had to strip in the presence of the teacher….? Did your reporter attend the parents’ meeting to get first hand information? It seems that this is just a slanderous attack by one of the school’s head of department who during the open meeting with parents used the same words as were mentioned in your article. The head of department also refused to sit with management and when she was asked by a parent that she should join the rest of her colleagues at the table, she replied that she could address them from wherever she was. She started with her “speeches of speeches” and regrettably was not called to order by the principal. She continued with her attack against the teacher after the parents had already agreed that they accepted the apology. It was further reported that two senior teachers were seen at the classroom during the incident and were fully aware of the proceedings. Why is everybody then trying to shift the blame on a brilliant teacher who at that point was highly pregnant and was only trying to stand up for a vulnerable child? Surely she could have done with the support of her management. One should be concerned about the message that has been sent out through this article – a child can steal as long as the goods are in their bags they are safe, because they are not allowed to be searched? Surely this can’t be condoned. If the schools have no authority to handle petty crimes, do we in future need to call in the police to have our children’s goods protected? We can understand the line of reporting with administrative or classroom issues, but surely in an emergency a teacher cannot be expected to go through three channels of reporting before the principal steps in, keeping in mind that the supervisors whom to report to might be busy with their own classes and not be available at that time. We agree with the principle that it is indeed a shame that certain people want to break down this teacher as she has done so much for the children, not only the vulnerable ones but also all the others who went through her hands. At least we know that there is discipline in her class and that our children are given the opportunity to learn and work in her classes on a daily basis, something which is not found in many Government schools of today. Concerned Parent
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 November 2007 10:02

LAC says prisoner Hausikus letter was received 22 days later

Thursday, 25 October 2007 08:30
Dear Editor We refer to your newspaper article of Informante of 15 November 2007 under the heading “Prisoner to sue Prisons for disability” in which article a Mr. Haitope Thomas Hausiku asserts that he wrote to us requesting legal advice, but apparently, we never replied or responded to his request. We wish to place on record that we did receive his letter dated 20 December 2006 on 11 January 2007 (our office was closed for the period between 22 December 2006 and 8 January 2007) The contents of that letter is of course subject to the attorney –client privilege, but you may obtain a copy from him, if he so wishes (we have forwarded another copy to him, in the event that he did not receive the original one). We trust that the above is in order. Yours faithfully Norman Tjombe Director
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 November 2007 10:03

Grootfontein Spar workers underpaid

Wednesday, 17 October 2007 18:40
Dear Editor, ALLOW me to express my feelings in your paper. I am concerned about the employees of Spar, as they are very much underpaid. The salaries of most employees including cashiers are N$485.00. But just imagine working shifts and only getting N$485.00 half of which, about N$ 200.00, is spent on toiletries, food and other staff at the Spar Supermarket. Tell me how is a mother or father who is a bread winner expected to survive on such an amount? We experience a lot of problems in Grootfontein with Supermarkets especially the Spa Supermarket. They know that we need work, that’s why they treat us like dirt and we are fired like nobody else business. Some of us are afraid to complain, because we don’t want to be fired but why are we treated like this? Underpaid and illtreated
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 November 2007 10:04

Music business free for all

Wednesday, 17 October 2007 18:39

Through you Editor,

Allow me to educate budding musicians. Anyone with a few bucks can go into a recording studio and come out with enough material to release a CD on an unsuspecting world. And that is precisely the point. You’ve recorded a record...so what? Everybody and their sister can rent studio time. Isn’t there a bigger question? What do you intend to do with it?
Making music and making a living from your music are not the same thing. When it comes to getting your music into the marketplace, you have entered the domain of Music Business and the first lesson is:
You have to make people aware of your music, and YOU have to create the demand for it, by getting the attention of the media who control the access areas for exposing new music (the record labels, distributors, stores, and live venues, as well as radio, TV, and the print media). No one is sitting at home waiting for you to release your music.
By saying all this, I presume that the intention behind recording your music was the intention to get your music in the hands of the record-buying public. Well, do you have the contacts and funds to properly distribute, promote, publicise, and perform that music? So many artists and bands go through the expense of recording and manufacturing their music only to find out they didn’t save any money for the marketing end of things.
There are two music worlds. There is the world of pure music, which involves the creative side of things, songwriting, rehearsing, and performing, and there is another world which must come into play IF you truly want people to hear your music...the Music Business.
Even the utterance of these words turns many people off. There is something potentially offensive about music becoming a commodity. It smacks of ‘sellout’, or a betrayal of sorts. But I feel strongly that there is a way to merge these two worlds, to not sell out, and to honour the way the business of music is conducted. For starters, keep control of your music for as long as possible. Put out your own CD and dive into selling and promoting of it.
The point is that so many bands/artists these days talk about “getting signed”, by some label. Musicians that are concerned about money before they even know anything about the business of music are doomed to eternal unhappiness and frustration.

Music should always come first, followed close behind by simply asking oneself some simple music business questions, such as:
• What is a copyright?
• What do publishers do?
• What happens when you do sign with a record label?
• Why do labels pay the royalties that they do pay?
• What is royalty, anyway?

My hopes are that by making you aware of some basic issues you will take the initiative to learn as much as you can about the music business.
If my attitude seems to be one that is at odds with you, why even bother trying to make a living from your music, you are getting the wrong idea. Through years of teaching musicians the business of music, my only concern is to be honest about the odds. Once we know what it really takes to compete in the music industry, we can at least look at the realities we must face, and decide if we want to fight the good fight, or simply go back to having our music be an enjoyable hobby. To help you get a feel for what must be done, let’s keep asking a few more questions.

• How should the artwork for the CD be designed?
•What information should be on the product?
•Should I sell my music at live shows?
•Should I consign my CD to local stores?
•What do Distributors want from me in order to carry my music?
•What price do I sell my CD for?
•Will radio play my record?
•How does radio choose what it plays?
•What newspapers,magazines, music trades might review my music?
•What clubs and other live venues might I play in?

I could go on, but I think you get the point. After 9+ years of supporting independent music and musicians, my closets are full of ‘wanna-be’ demos, CDs. I know that much of the music is good music, but that’s just the point...GOOD has very little to do with anything when it comes to the music marketplace. GOOD is taken for granted. Why else would anyone go into a studio to record, if they didn’t believe their music was worthwhile?
Think about the questions I brought up. You cared enough about your music to record it, so don’t stop there. Protect it and prepare it for the marketplace in a way that is comfortable to you.
Fidel Nambundunga is an independent music business consultant based in Khomasdal, Windhoek. He is available for private

consultations on management, agreements, promotion and marketing music independently and can be reached at +264-61-260 938/ 081 270 3821 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sanlam Music Awards are too limited

Wednesday, 17 October 2007 18:35
Dear Editor, First of all I wish to ask the question – what kind of music awards are these? For an Independent country, we can be proud to have all our different cultures and so many different artists – unique in their own right but when we come to something huge like music awards –we give a different story. The organisers say the awards are meant to uplift musicians and grow talent but it is a shame how they are awarded in a discriminatory manner. Where are the categories for Jazz, Classical and Country music, Afrikaans, Heavy metal etc? Last year I went to the office of Mr. Mulele Simata of Sanlam and was told there was no category for me to enter. I wanted to enter the competition as an opera artist in the Alternative category. Opera is a genre that has been in existence for many years, since some of us were only a twinkle in the eye. I cannot help if the other opera singers in the country are so stuck up and do not want to enter the awards. Opera is no longer just for the elite and rich – it’s unique and it’s there for everyone. Diva Dion, Artist
Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 October 2007 18:44

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