A cold war has been brewing between First National Bank and Omutumwa as a result of the former’s unwillingness to do business with the latter.
While FNB Namibia’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Erwin Tjipuka initially called for a meeting between the two parties to discuss the matter, the meeting got cancelled, and then FNB Namibia’s head of marketing Ms Tracy Eagles on 1st April 2021 sent the following email to Omutumwa:
“Dear Victor
“We have taken more time to review your publication and the numerous defamatory allegations made against FNB in same.
“With this in mind, we have decided that we will not be bullied into taking up your request to advertise in your publication.
“We courteously request that you refrain from bringing our brand into disrepute on the basis of non-support of your advertising space, and hold that our investment locally into the communities within which we operate is open to public inspection and published often for easy scrutiny and engagement.
“We continue to wish you well and hope that going forward your engagement with us will be as honest, fair and transparent as we have been to date.
“At this point, we do not believe that a further conversation is called for. We have your publication details, and will continue to monitor its content and success before any commitments in the future.
“Regards
“Tracy Eagles.”
In response Omutumwa replied as follows:
“Dear Tracy
“Thank you for the communication of this morning.
“While I take note of the somehow-friendly tone of your communication and you saying that no further communication is necessary, I would like to say the following:
“1. From the very beginning we engaged you in good faith and honesty. Yet in return you gave us a cold shoulder for the last ten years. As a result, contrary to the way you perceive it as bullying or an attempt to tarnish your good image, what we are doing is to engage you through unconventional means.
“2. We do hold your brand in high regard, save for your attitude of doing business as usual. And that is what we are challenging. And we will do it as honestly and courteously as possible so that there will not be any room for acrimonious repercussions.
“3. One thing is for sure: engage you we will. For good or for worse, but always with cognizance to the fact that we shall never go sulking in the shadows of the Namibian economy as if we are strangers here.
“Warmest regards,
“Victor.”
