Allexer Namundjembo
Allegations of workplace misconduct have been levelled against the chief executive officer of the Payments Association of Namibia (PAN), Annette Retheman, with claims she mistreats staff and that she fosters a hostile work environment.
PAN, a self-regulatory body for Namibia’s payment industry, is meant to foster collaboration across the sector.
In April 2023, the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (NAFINU) raised concerns in a letter to PAN board chairperson Adrianus Vugs.
The letter, which remains unanswered, outlined complaints from staff about the CEO’s behaviour.
Union general secretary Asnath Zemuee said PAN previously spent around N$250,000 on a life coaching programme for Retheman between 2018 and 2019 to address her poor interactions with staff. Employees say the programme had no effect.
“The CEO has a hard tone towards staff members. In spite of the coaching program she was sent to, she still frequently engages in unprovoked arguments, makes accusations, and shouts at employees,” the union said.
The union also accused PAN of unfair labour practices. It cited a 2022 case in which non-managerial staff were denied salary increases and bonuses during negotiations, while management allegedly received both despite ongoing discussions with the union.
Sources close to the organisation confirmed that several employees have left PAN due to what they describe as a toxic work environment. They say the CEO’s behaviour remains unchanged and continues to impact staff morale.
“It’s still the same situation. Workers continue to suffer. On the financial side, a lot is happening at PAN, and investigations should be launched,” said one source.
Retheman did not respond to questions sent to her on Tuesday. A follow-up request on Thursday also went unanswered.
The situation at PAN reflects challenges in Namibian workplaces, where poor management and toxic environments are linked to emotional distress. Employees in several sectors have reported suffering from depression due to unresolved conflicts.
Some cases have ended in violence. In one incident, Tuutileni Mika allegedly shot and killed his supervisor, John Myburgh, and injured another manager at Henning Crusher in Ondangwa. In court, Mika claimed that ongoing mistreatment at work triggered a mental breakdown.
In another case, Simataa Simasiku shot and killed his colleague, Sarah Mwilima, at the Global Fund offices in Windhoek. He was later declared unfit to stand trial due to schizophrenia.
