What do your think is the best option to implement the Ruling Party's 50-50 or Zebra Style policy? I am asking this question following my observation of mainly complaints and general talk about this policy without offering a solution or strategy for its implementation,

Namibians continue to amaze me. We are so good and complaining, moaning, being clear and loud that this and that will not work - but we offer little or no solution at all to a particular issue we seem to doubt of its function.

The case in point is the topical national talk of the nation of the Ruling Party SWAPO's 50-50 or Zebra Style policy - which demands equal election of candidates to the various political structures including the leadership list of the names of candidates that will be eligible for parliamentary seats next years after this year (Novembers)'s elections.

This post is not meant to go deep into the 50-50 or this zebra style policy - although it is obvious that those who gave it the blessing were wise and visionary as they catered for both sexes on equal basis, which is fair in my view as no part is neglected or advanced more than the other.

My concern is the continuous complaints, and talk without any suggestions on how to implement this policy in the best and democratic way. Why are we just saying the policy is not good or allege that it will only advance women instead of at least coming up with a method that will ensure that no particular sex is favoured?

Even fellow women just talk - instead of them proposing some ideas to find creative ways to see how this policy could work - what is wrong with us Namibians? Do we at times listen to ourselves talking - and analyze what we have just said and whether we offer some solutions or we just talked without adding any value?

We need to change for the better vakuetu, especially young Namibians - as it can only be an advantage if we have young leaders who will not nly complain, but help to solve problems -- problem solving is the way to go... the 50-50 if it is indeed a challenge for some, how do we unpuzzle that -- that is what we must all try and untangle, not to tangle it further ....

So, next time you join the 50-50 discussions, make sure that you are offering a solution to that "perceived problem (not a problem though to me, but an opportunity) and do not just talk - but walk the talk.

Infact the Ruling Party President is on record - saying there is no going back to the 50-50 policy - which means what is needed now is a strategy, method, modality, a manner to implement it without leaning on either men or women but to manage this equally.

My advice is therefore, let's be a nation that offers solutions to problems, and not "cry -babies or moaning people" what are we contributing to finding solutions to our challenges? You hold the key to this door.

My work place is the best ever! Have you ever said that loud and clear to yourself and to others? What is your contribution to making your workplace the best ever?

My work place is the best ever, second to none!

This is the hope of every employee. No employee wants to work at the workplace which is not the best ever. But what makes the workplace the best compared to others? I posed this question informally to one of my friends, and she said, the work environment must be conducive in order for me to feel happy at work. The people I work with my be good (good? in what sense) to me as a colleague - not back biting or gossip me and my supervisors too must be supportive etc. You might be adding that you need tools to enable you too work or you need a "living wage" (as opposed to dead wage??).

This post is however not focusing on the signs of being the best work place or the things that need to stand out in order for a particular work place to stand out. But, it is attempting to invest what an employee's contribution is and must be to making the work place the best ever.

Most of the time, we cry and say, my work place is not good - but who makes it not good, your boss, your colleague, the customers, the suppliers, the shareholders, or who? Where are you in this list? What role to you play to make your work place the best ever? Have you taken a minute just to find out how your actions or none action contributes to your work place being the best place or worse place ever?

I am asking these questions because it takes two to tango - what have you done to change the situation at work? Yes, I do understand that at times things can be difficult, or you give your input but there is not response or your contribution falls on deaf ears. But you have at least tried to do something, but what about those who basically just sit on the fence, and continue to moan to aging their body fabric that my work place is that and that - but they are not giving a suggestion or option to make things better.

What I am trying to bring across here to - the fact that - our actions or inactions result in how things are at the work place and even at home or wherever ... and we have to learn to do something - in an amicable way - we must stop to moan without offering options....

Your situation can only change if you allow it to change for the better... as they say, the worse pain when it comes to change is when you situation remains the same -- and this also applies to your work place - change it - make it the best place ever - speak to your supervisor, boss, colleague and find a way to improve your work place.

Well, again, this is basically just a thought - I am sure we can all find a way to put heads together to make our work places the best.

As for me, I am still convinced that my work place is the best ever - and whenever there are issues, there are most of the time, personal and temporary disagreements - issues of jealously and petty issues that do not even deserve one's attention.... that's but my view... once again, make your work place the best... you have the power to do it, regardless of the position you hold, stop blaming your supervisor, boss or your colleague, double check first if the problem might not lie with you....!

Controlling our tongues can save us so much trouble.

In the media industry, there is a saying that states that NEWS can make or break, but hve you actually thought about how much our tongues can make or break us? The sharpness or bluntness or our tongues reflect our beings and how we react to issues.

Do you actually react immedially once someone provokes you - either verbally or physically? How easy or difficult is it for you to try and hear, see and reflect the other person's action towards you? Do you react right away, and go for an eye for an eye or do you pause and think on your next action?

Do you know that being able to manage your tongue especially during the heat of the moment can mean so much in terms of your credibility, sobberness and maturity? Do you know how much trouble our tongue can save us...?

And with the latest techology, have you thought about managing the tips of our fingers on the key boards - controlling what you are just about to text? Do you know the risk such finger tips ooze each time they touch a key board?

Yes, all this power is in your hand as an individual - you can choose when to react to something with your tongue, how to react to it, when and why you opt to react like that. This is also the same when it comes to controlling what you are texting.

The aim of posting this content is basiclaly to remind you or alert you that - there is more than just reacting without thinking - or at least without proper consideration of what you have to say - you can just be happy and save yourself from so much trouble if you learn to just take a little bit of a break - reflect and think of the next action because acting implusely can always be a very big time bomb...

We have to share ideas and help one another - with the hope that our input could help change one of our friends on this platform...

Just think for a minute in what category you are when it comes to tongue-lashing - tongueling or  tongue trouble. Let's change today and make a difference, noot only in our lives, but also in the lives of those close to us and our friends and loved ones.

Enjoy tongue controlling, learn to love tongue management ! 

Do you manage the social media or does it rule you? Do you manage your phone or does it rule you?

Off late, I have been seeing many of who seemed to be managed by our social media. For instance, two or three people could be having a serious conversation, and once the Whatsup sound is heard, or once the phone rings or flickers, then the person breaks away from the conversion to the mobile phone, PC etc.

In some meetings, workshops and seminars, participants while listening can immediately jump to respond to their phone calls or vibrating indicators from their cell phones. Whether the caller or message sender is critical to attend to, that's another matter.

At times, people's attention is just so clearly and obviously diverted to social media, whether facebook or twitter or linkedin at anytime irrespective what a person was up to. My question is therefore, are we managing our mobile devices or are they managing us.

What is the courtesy of being in a conversation with another person, or while in a meeting and all of a sudden, without even asking to be excused, you just jump to your phone? Yes, may be you could be receiving a message that is very important, but what about the other person, do you think that person is not worth it or does not receive messages?

Or should we as mobile users and consumers of ICT convergence just be ready to take on whatever it comes and be tolerant especially when one is in a meeting and phones just rings - as someone perhaps are yet to know that phones can be on silence or they just want their phones to ring as they might be expecting some calls or basically want to hear their ring tones?

Yes, the internet revolution is amongst us, with great opportunities and challenges, but how to we balance being ICT people to still love our gadgets but at the same time be weary about what they can do to us if we do no manage these carefully.

What has been your experience? 

Let's change Nambia's gender-based violence trends into gender-based love and care.

Namibia has been recording incidents of gender-based violence incidents which led to the State President declaring the 06 March 2014 a prayer day against this evil.

The cases included mainly women murdered by their ex-lovers/parners/spouses or boyfriends. And while a scientific research is yet to confirm what the actual causes of these incidents were, many referred to the root causes as linked to love or intimacy related issues. Arguments, inability to manage anger or solve problems were some of the factors that some concerned people attributed to. Others attributed the root causes to the abuse of drugs and alcohol while others pointed to traditional and social aspects that put male in charge of household management related issues and therefore any female disobeying that could risk the consequences. Young females mainly suffered under this trend - especially those that were reported to have been supported by their partners probably during study time and when they are done - and reportedly finding footing and ground to argue regarding some issues - end up paying high cost in this regard, but again, not of such information was scientifically recorded, but those are some of the perceptions from many who might have been close to the victims.

Some people referred to such killings as passion kiling as it stems from love related matters, but others which disputed the passion killing description saying their is no love in such action as someone who loves another will not murder the partner.

While this post is not focussing on the root causes of the murders of female by their parners, it aims to encourage and advice namibians and any peace loving citizen of the world to help our country turn the gender-based violence to gender-based love and care.

I am pleading to especially young males - to take a lead in this drive - to take a stand and go out there and be counted as champions of gender-based love and care... we have to really make this work - e.g. starting one or two of the brave partners who go out publicaly and vow that they have taken this stand and that they will change the situation.

Young female partners must also do the same as it takes two to tango - the way to go is to learn how to communicate and solve problems facing partners in the relations, and not to murder.... pangas, knifes and guns down - and flower love up -- let's promote love among our relationship and kick out violence in our love circles.

I am relying on you to make this a success, each one reading this post must please advance this motto - and make a difference in our namibian society - kicking out gender-based violence and kicking gender-based love and care.

As a flight passanger (even sea or land transport passenger) never accept any person even a friend's goods or gifts to take with to his her her family as the content can at times cause risky consequences. If you would like to give a friend some gifts for your loved ones via airline transport, you need to first clear such gifts with the airports authority in person to ensure that such goods are free from any prohibited substances and avoid the passanger from being arrested.

It seems that as an air transport passanger, but even a sea or land transport passanger, it is a must nowadays to think twice before you accept any goods from a friend or someone you know to take with - to his or her loved ones.

The world has become so dangerous. I was watching a story on one of the international news channels today which stated that a South African National was arrested after cocaine was found in the chocolote boxes found in her langugae enroute from Thailand to her country. The passanger claimed the chocolate boxes were given to her by a friend as gifts to take with to her family. While I am not taking any side of the story at this state or even analysing what might have happened, I would like to advice both frequent and first time fliers not to ever accept any goods or gifts from anyone as language, both hand or cargo to take with from one place to another as the risk is involved is so high.

For those who have flown now and then, you will have obviously heard that at the airports - announcements are made for passangers not to leave their luggage unattended or leave them with other people or accept other passangers' goods due to the same risk involved.

However despite that obvious fact one still hears friends requesting their passanger friends to take some goods with to their loved ones at home - and while it is a good gesture to do so, it becomes dangerous when the airports authority detect prevented goods in the luggage as it can cost one's life in terms of prison terms etc.

Even recently a friend requested me to bring a long her goods from another friend in SA back home, but I was unable to do so. My daughter was recently also requested to bring with some swiss chocolates to Namibia - and again while it is a good gesture to do so, it can have serious consequences. And when the airports authority detects funny things, it becomes a big challenge and confusion as one hardly knows whether the owner of the luggage knew about the prevented substance or whether the sender tricked the luggage owner. It's such a catch twenty two situation. So many things have changed in the world - the usual good will that a person does or portrays to the next person is now being abused.

Due to incidents of this nature, I am proposing and advising that anyone who intents to send goods with a friend to another place must be at the airport and have the goods scanned and cleared in the presence of the airports authority and have them checked in instead of burding the traveller. I think that is the best way to avoid potential accusations - and rather make the traveller be responsible for his or her own luggage.

I know that at times a person is sending a very small thing or packet such as a chocolote box, but I am still advancing that such a present must equally be verified and cleared because the case that I am referring to of the SA woman was about chocolate boxes filed with cocaine.

Otherwise, no traveller must accept anything to take with as this can cause serious consequences.

This is only my piece of advice for now, but other alternatives are welcome.

A pulse signal heard - but only for one and a half minute? Could that be from the missing 370 Malaysian airline black box whose batteries are reoprted to be having only less than few hours before they could die/flat?

I am following the breakign news on the internatinal news channels about the intense search of of the missing Malaysian airline - whose whereabout has been unknown for a month now. The world's high tech advanced nations have been part of the land, air and sea search but the flight debri and the black box are yet to be located.

However, as much as the inability to find the flight debris has been a big concern, the worse has been the black box or two black boxes that were in that plane. The reason why there is reason for alarm about the black boxes not been found is the fact that those in the know confirm that batteries in a black box last for at least a month. And that flight has been missing for almost the same time.

According to information from the intent which I googled and lifted as it,  A flight data recorder (FDR) (also ADR, for accident data recorder) is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters. Another kind of flight recorder is thecockpit voice recorder (CVR), which records conversation in the cockpit, radio communications between the cockpit crew and others (including conversation with air traffic control personnel), as well as ambient sounds. In this both functions have been combined into a single unit. The current applicable FAA TSO is C124b titled Flight Data Recorder Systems.^[1]

Popularly referred to as a "black box" by the media, the data recorded by the FDR is used foraccident investigation, as well as for analyzing air safety issues, material degradation and engineperformance. Due to their importance in investigating accidents, these ICAO-regulated devices are carefully engineered and stoutly constructed to withstand the force of a high speed impact and the heat of an intense fire. Contrary to the "black box" reference, the exterior of the FDR is coated with heat-resistant bright orange paint for high visibility in wreckage, and the unit is usually mounted in the aircraft's empennage (tail section), where it is more likely to survive a severe crash. Following an accident, the recovery of the FDR is usually a high priority for the investigating body, as analysis of the recorded parameters can often detect and identify causes or contributing factors.^[2]

Now that you have some insight into what the black box is and its importance, one can imagine what it means not to find that device on time.

Today late afternon and morning hours in the American time - some news which can be good news in terms of recoering the black boxes surfaced. A chinese Vessel, that is part of the group oof internatinal experts busy searching underwater was reported to have heard a pulse signal that sounded as it if tould come from the flight boxes of the missing flight, but that sound was only heard for a minute and a half.

Although all eyes then turned to the Chinese vessel, not much could be disclosed at that state ad the experts onboard that vessels must also inform their government and then coordinate with the various commands in this operations before a lot could be said.

One of the points that caught my attention is the debate about it was possible to pick up a pulse signal from somwhere without identifying the debri field. This debate is infact still going on - but what is important at the moment is discover the black boxes before the batteries go flat so that it can be known as to what might have happened before the flight accident - and where its debri could be at this stage.

This post was meant to alert you on the current developments and I am sure you are already following these on the various international TV channels and online.

Internet addiction does it negatively affect families and friends? What's been your experience? Let's talk !

I was watching an interesting interview on one of the International Television Channels a while ago, with Jimmy Wales, the Co-Founder of Wikipedia as the interviewer on one of the world's biggest website, WIKIPEDIA.

I was happy to see that discussions because WIKIPEDIA was one of the online platforms I learnt about in late January 2014 during the Web 2.0 for development training course sponsored by CTA and hosted by the University of Namibia's Media Department. The trainer was Mr. Simunza Muyangana. The show was so easy for me to follow as I heard practically tried to edit some work on WIKIPEDIA as part of our course practical work and that is why I must still say, thank you to UNAM, CTA and Mr. S Muyangana.

Now, the reason why I am compiling this content is to briefly reflect on one of the questions that came up during that interview with Mr, Jimmy Wales, whether internet has negatively affected families due to the addiction among those who cling on their mobile devices at all times.

Personally, I am one of the internet - lovers too - but I am not sure whether I can say that I am addicted or not. However, I appreciate the opportunities the internet provides as it links me with almost everyone I need to connect with, as long as I have their correct online addresses. Internet has actually helped me to re-connect with my friends and acquintenances that have been overseas or those I was studying with for years - and now that we have facebook, linkedin, twitter and blogs, as well as vlogs and other platforms, things have become so much easier to link up - at a limited or no cost at all - through What's up or Skype.

At the family level - yes, one can say may be time seem to be dedicated to cyber friends than physical home friends and family. In my case for instance - almost all of us use the internet - or mobile phones... and I am able to link up with the children and husband through such platfoms especially during the day when each one of us has gone to school or work. When we are at home - all of us end up busy on our gadgets - but that only happens after dinner and when we are all gone to our bedrooms. But, it is true that at times, my husband and I seat on one couch, he is busy with his mobile and I am busy blogging - and we might take a few minutes wihout talking to each other, but if I need something or help like in finding an appropriate word or a meaning of something, I then speak to him, he too does the same, may be he needs a phone number of someone or so, he will also ask me - the kids are also the same - they get busy with their studies and up up googling some information on the net ...whenever we are in our rooms - at times a person get lazy that he or she can just get in touch via facebook as that is the easiest to reach someone or via Whatsup.

Therefore, I am not really qualified to say if the internet addiction has negatively affected families. Yes, it was mentioned that some people end up playing games for hours and do not want to disturbed or getting in tough with others - that might be an example of creating a gap among families at times... but it seems this will all depend on a particular family set up. A family can agree to for instance be together before and after dinner for some time and then individual families members can then continue to be online after that, just to ensure that there is family time and online time.

But, I am sure online activities has added so much value to our lives and how we communicate - and link up with our sources - you can crowd source, you can market your goods and services - you can announce anything and share almost anything as long as it is in good taste and public interest or at least in the interest of your followers and friends... yeah, you can name it.

Anyway, it is said that too much of everything is not good, whether food, alcohol or internet, so we have to also learn how to control our love for internet and not neglect our families in the process.

What is your experience with the internet indulgence??

Forgive yourself and forgive any person who wronged you - do not host anger, hatred, disappointment in your system for life - take that stand now, you will feel much better and liberated from that emotional pain.

Many of us are harbouring feelings of anger, disappointment, hatred, thoughts of revenge or just contemplating as to what to do against those who offended us and caused us pain, in relations, at the work place or just in our communities and countries. But, the question is, until when to we allow us to store those feelings, those pains that hurt more especially if we think about the person who offended us or physically or even photographically see that person or group? Do we now at the more we keep anger, hate, and pain in our hearts, the more we overload our systems and negatively affect our peace and health? Sometimes I ask myself, well a person got angry because he or she was disppointed by someone who promised him or her to be her everlasting lover - just an example - but well, if that person is no longer interested in that love, why should I habour the hatred for the rest of my life, why can't I find a way to forgive myself and forgive that person and move on - and look for a new love if that is the next option - you have the opportunity to do right that and start a new life.

You can forgive yourself now - and forgive the offender right now - and see how better you will feel.

According to the google explanation, Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as revenge, with an increased ability to wish the offender well.^[1][2][3] Forgiveness is different from condoning (failing to see the action as wrong and in need of forgiveness), excusing (not holding the offender as responsible for the action), pardoning (granted by a representative of society, such as a judge), forgetting (removing awareness of the offence from consciousness), and reconciliation (restoration of a relationship).^[1] In certain contexts, forgiveness is a legal term for absolving or giving up all claims on account of debt, loan, obligation or other claims.

Today, I  would like to challenge my facebook, twitter, linkedin and menesia.blospot.com friends and followers , especially the young ones in particular, those that might be angry at someone or a group to take a stand now and forgive such a person or group. You must start by forgiving yourself - and then that person, despite what he or she did to you - do not worry about the depth or magnitude of damage he or she caused to you and your character - the pain he orshe might have caused and the dent of your dignity. The most noble thing you can do to yourself now is to forgive yourself for the anger you might have harboured due to the damage, disappointment and hardship that came about due to that situation and then forgive him or her, right now. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE - BUT YOU WILL GAIN PEACE OF MIND -HEALING OF YOUR SOUL AND HEART - AND MUCH JOY - YOU WILL BE FREE AND LIBERATED - BUT ONLY YOU WILL EXPERIENCE AND FEEL THAT - IT IS YOUR DECISION AND NOT YOUR FRIENDS ONE - TAKE A MINUTE, THINK DEEP ABOUT IT AND TAKE THAT ACTION. You will also restore relations - but most importantly - you will restore your inner calm - happiness and relaxation. This is just a piece of advice though... it is possible and it is a memorable experience to be free and happy instead of carrying anger and be in pain all the time.

Just think that that some Tutsis and Hutu in Rwanda were on one another's throats in 1994, 20 years today, they are holding hands to build their country. And I do't need to go too far, in Namibia, before independence, a lot happened and up to now some families cannot account for their loved ones, but we cannot be bitter till death, we have to forgive one another and move on.

Now why is your situation so difficult - why can't you forgive that former friend, spouse, partner, boy friend, girlfriend, employer, employee or yours and move on ? You can do it, just try - so next time we get in touch on this page, you will be smiling and laughing off the inability to forgive that you might have faced then...good luck,.

Namibia's State Presidential MANTLE hand over processes have started - as President Hifikepunye Pohamba prepares to step down.

It will on on the 21st of March 2015 that Namibia's seating President will hand over the State Presidential Mantle to his successor - the winner of the envisage Presidential elections scheduled for November 2014.

The process to the State Presidential handing over of instruments of power - amongst others start with the national assembly and Presidential elections. These are already prepared though. Political parties to content the elections will soon to announced which also signal the political campaign period.

One of the significant process leading to the 21st of March next year was President Pohamba's State of the Nation Address which was widely seen as his last as he prepares to round of his two term period of ten years in total after he succeeded Namibia's Founding President Sam Nujoma.

Once the National Elections are over, the next will be the announcement of the winning Presidential canditate who will be declared as Namibia's President -Elect until he is sworn in on the 21st of March 2015.

Once the President -Elect is officially declared - the seating President as he has confirmed in a local print media will start the process of coaching and taking his successor through the Presidential ropes, showing hiim where he will leave off and where the new President will take off....

It must be exciting moments - both for the seating President as he takes stock of what his team and hiim have achieved during their ten year tenure - the difference they made in people's lives - the upliftment of Namibians - and of course some challenges that must still be tackled by the incoming team.

It must be equally exciting for the incoming team - ready to serve Namibia's nation - great hopes and enthusiam to further improve on development for everyone.

At the moment, the seating President as he is travelling to various international events and for bilateral relations is surely also bidding good bye to his counterparts as she privately shares with them on Namibia's next developments in terms of State Power change. He will surely also request his counterparts to continue working excellently with the next State President and boost both trade and diplomatic related aspects.

State power transfer events are usually big events - attended by some seating and former President, not to mention by friends and local communities...... there is so much in story for that event - a rebirth of some political developments - an urshering of a new page and era - but hinged on the country's nationa vision - to grow an inspiring nation as per the slogan of the local national broadcaster.

I will rather end this post here for now - as I visualize what's lying ahead for the Land of Brave - ready to say thank you so much to President Pohamba and to welcome his successor - knowing that a firm path has been paved and made ready to further travel as we strive to achieve our human resource development, technology related matters and most importantly have improved quality of live for everyone with shelter, have access to education, health and all the relevant services. 

Till death do us part - some women, married women for that matter are such beautiful and persevering bodies, but most importantly strong souls.

I decided to express my thoughts following the developments at a South African High Court today. Former COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was suspended some months ago following allegations which included the apparently inappropriate relations with a junior fellow worker. The author of this post will not go into the case as to investigate its merits - but took note that the suspension was declared invalid and media report state that Vavi could report for duty tomorrow while COSATU officials, now at its helms will have a meeting on this matter in due course.

The author's interest is more on the strength of women and their perseverance - Vavi's wife, Noluntando today went to the high court to listen to the ruling which declared her husband's suspension as invalid. Vavi himself did not attend the court proceedings today. What is interesting in this case is the fact that Madam Vavi was at the court to support her husband - knowing that his former comrades - some of them of course were not there to support him - and this is despite the fact that reports had it that her husband her an extra marital affairs with the junior at the office.

Madam Vavi in an interview with one of the African broadcasting media described the feeling as a "sweet bitter one", but she knew that she would be standing there and support her husband despite some perception that her husband has looked down on her by having an extra marital affair with another woman.

This happening reminded me of Madam Hillary Clinton who also stood by her husband those years, when reports of Monica Lewinsky and alleged private links with former USA President Bill Clinton. Strong souls and persevering hearts in these kinds of women - despite what both Vavi and Clinton could be going through - media frenzy and exposure on the allegations -they remembered the vow they took - till death do us part..

The other day - I saw the former wife and now widow of the late SA President Nelson Mandela hugging and kissing her his memorial service and walking side by side at his funeral service. Strong women with beautiful souls indeed, mature and wise, having known so much about the world and its challenges.

The question that comes to mind now is, how many of us have such strong and beautiful souls to persevere such situation? What can we learn from these women - Graca, Winnie, Hilary and Noluntando?

Sharing information can just help us to prosper in our thinging and advance us to move on in life despite any  catch twenty two situtations that might face us. I will end her for now.
"

A mobile phone fast becoming an effective political campaign tool?

With the internet revolution almost at the door step of everyone, including the poor and jobless individuals,  easily available web and online space free for everyone to use, one of the internet gadgets, the mobile phone seems to fast becoming an effective political campaign tool.

For those who follow media reports, a high court judge has  today (04 April 2014) reportedly ruled that a message that one political party used again another seems to be fair comment although the complaint is probably to review the court outcome even though the particular political respects the ruling.

This post is not focusing on whether the high court ruling is fair or not, that is another matter which deserves a separate interrogation, but on the campaign message channel or medium or the conduit, the mobile phone in this case. The message was reportedly forwarded to over one point six million target recipients or electorates in this regard.

The traditional campaign media tools like in my country Namibia have always been radio which reaches over 90 percent of the 2.1 million people and conveys the message in almost all indigenous languages spoken by all diverse language groups. The next second traditional campaign platform is the TV which whose foot print is over 67 percent of the population. And of course print media and now the social media  as we now live in the world of multi-media platforms with online messages. While the campaign messages are disseminated via free airtime –news and current affairs, some political campaign messages are paid for as political parties reinforces their manifesto priorities and why the electorates must vote for their leaders.

While many communities and some parts of even Namibia are yet be connected to the rural electrification grid via the various energy sources including solar energy – and mobile networks, a significant number of the country’s population has access to mobile phones. A few years back, a local mobile telecommunication through its mixa-live event announced that its data base had over 1.5 million mobile phone owners and the country ‘s population is just over two million. What does that tell you, that more Namibians seem to have access to mobile phone. Others through the information talk say that every second person in the street seems to own a cell phone including those looking for jobs at street corners.

The good thing about mobile phones is that the holder, owner or user carries these in his or her hand or pocket or just with him or her, making it possible for the user to be reachable at any time. Unlike portable radios that do not have additional benefits, mobile phones have radio services, they have social media platforms  most of them which are freely available and at no cost. Nowadays people even talk about Whatsup, or Viper – other software that  have added value to such gadgets as users can send message at minimum or no cost compared to traditional short message service.

A political party using mobile phones as platforms to distribute its campaign messages therefore stands to gain so much in terms of having the message reaching the recipients in real time – on instantly – and could do so at a minimum cost compared to for instance a TV platform. Unlike radio and TV platforms that only refer to such a message once unless it is repeated, the mobile phone user who receives the message has a chance to read it over and over again and understand it, and has a chance to also get in touch with the sender of the message right away. Mobile phone platforms also have opportunities to convey messages in various languages although some phones or softwar are yet to be fully developed in order to cater for local languages especially those with clicks.

This post did however not look at the challenges of sending political campaign messages through mobile phone users. The question of who the dedicated political supports or potential suppers and members is another challenge.. But for political parties must develop their members’ data bases in order to ensure that their messages will reach the intended recipients.  However, the other question is, what about sending the messages to members of other political parties with the aim to convert them?

While the focus of this post is not on which electorates to target via mobile phones, the idea was to make us think about the new way of political campaigning and appropriate and available tools  to use. In America and Europe, we have heard how President Barack Obama’s political campaign was partly successful due to social media related platforms and the involvement of the creative minds – the youth.

Now that you scanned through this post, it is now up to you to judge as to a mobile phone is an effective political message campaign too l. I am sure you have been following the debate on the political campaign message disseminated to voters in one of the African countries – and hopefully that can be a spring board to think about this subject. Good luch.