Dear Editor

RECENT events and developments pertaining to the administration of our Council and Municipal affairs have drawn my attention to issues of alleged concern by a strategically placed ‘spying network’ within staff at our municipality, and to a lesser extent in he community of Tsumeb.
I am not responding to the Informanté article vilifying me (the Mayor) and our Chief Executive Officer, but would like to comment on the lies carried by that newspaper.
The Council-approved Jetta 2.0 (Mayoral Car) is not fitted with a sun-roof or any other features except tinted windows and was purchased at a price of N$218 000 to replace the ailing BMW that was purchased during 1992 by the still existing colonial administration shortly after independence.
When our delegation arrived at the office of Informanté in Windhoek to listen to the far-fetched allegations by dishonest municipal staff members, the vehicle in question was parked outside the Informanté offices but reporter Toivo Ndjebela showed no interest in verifying facts and he also deliberately failed to verify matters with the dealers, despite being advised to do so.
Being a seasoned journalist myself, with a professional career of more than 16 years – I question the integrity and professional ethics of your reporter who undermines the credibility of a worthwhile tabloid like Informanté.
We replace redundant furniture as a routine exercise, like in any other institution or government. In this case five chairs that were not meant for the CEO’s office, as was falsely by reported.
I can, however, confidently testify to the qualities and competency of Mr. Alfeus Benjamin, and that he is the right person for that job.
However, being public servants we do not harbour any intention of stooping so low as to confront disgruntled elements through a legal means.
The appointment of the HR Manager, Elina Nashixwa, was procedural and not questionable because we have registered yet another asset for our council in her. Her brother, Lineekela Shetekela (Cllr.) disclosed his interest (recorded) and recused himself from discussions about the appointment.
Rubicon Security Services provided us with a report stating that somebody had gained access to Nashixwa’s office through the neighbouring office and her computer was found opened/unlocked over the weekend when she accompanied a Council delegation to Johannesburg recently (only select people have passwords to access certain files).
It is worth noting that my investigative skills exposed two staff members who faxed the misleading reports to Informanté from a local dealership.
In my capacity as head of Council I recently made a submission to Council to closely monitor the escalating overtime bills and apply corrective measures.
In view of this situation Council is in the process of clamping down on such culprits in the interest of the community. I therefore feel compelled to sound a word of caution to many dishonest staff members.
I wish to advise that criticism of our Council, leaders or even any individual should always be constructive.
In conclusion, let me reiterate that we will leave no stone unturned to address all forms of corruption and non-compliance with the decision of Council.

E. Nawatiseb
Mayor of Tsumeb

ear Editor

IT WAS with great excitement that we read the very informative article on FNB’s Centenary by one of Namibia’s leading historians, Dr Andreas Vogt, in the Informanté of 15 July.
We share his enthusiasm for historical places and dates and have become embroiled in unraveling the fascinating history of banking in Namibia and our banks’ central role in this story.
While the focus of our story is on commercial banking in Namibia, we are fully aware of the intriguing history of FNB, being South Africa’s oldest bank, as is so eloquently reflected in Dr. Vogt’s article. Though we agree that it might seem strange that a bank that was always associated with an English heritage should have a German origin, this does indeed apply to the Namibian past of FNB.
The Namibian ancestor of the First National Bank of Namibia, the Deutsche-Afrika Bank, was formed in June 1906 as a subsidiary of a joint venture between the Norddeutsche Bank, Hamburg, and the Diskonto Gesellschaft, Berlin, and it would be equally interesting to learn more about their history.
While Dr. Vogt questions the claim of FNB to be the oldest financial services group operating in Namibia, our research from original sources found in a variety of archives in Namibia, portrays an interesting story of those early days, which we gladly share.
The month of July 2007 is hailed as the beginning of a very special period in the history of the FNB that led to the celebration of our 100th Birthday.  It all started way-back in Luderitz in July 1907 when the Deutsche Afrika Bank [DAB] opened the doors of the first bank building ever built in this country to customers, making it the 1st proper commercial bank to operate in the then Deutsch Sudwestafrika from its own premises.
In August 1915, one month after the surrender of the German troops at Khorab to the Union troops, the National Bank of South Africa [NBSA] dispatched three managers to open branches in Luderitz, Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund and Windhoek.
In 1920, the National Bank of South Africa obtained a majority shareholding of 75% in the struggling DAB for £70 000. The distress was caused by post-war actions taken against German companies and the dramatic devaluation of the Reichsmark.
In 1923, the DAB was officially put into liquidation by the Master of the High Court in Windhoek, on application of a creditor who claimed £481.12.6.
In 1925, the Master of the High Court accepted the final accounts in the liquidation of DAB, accepted an offer of NBSA to purchase the remaining assets of the DBA.
This change in ownership of banking institutions, and therefore the transition from DBA to FNB, is very clearly reflected in Customers Ledgers from those years.
Thus, we agree with Dr Vogt that banking is celebrating its centenary in Namibia this year and invite all banks to celebrate this with us. Whilst we sympathise with Dr. Vogts’ historical perspective it is our contention that outlining the architecture of FNB Holdings without due reference to the foundations would create an incomplete picture.

Strategic Marketing & Communications Dept.
Dixon Norval. FNB Namibia Holdings