17 Dec 2025

The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture owes 1 469 employees about P13.4 million, comprising arrears that go back a number of years and certain current obligations.
Some payments covering salary arrears are still ongoing especially for gatekeepers, night watchmen and storekeepers, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said.
Mr Mathoothe, who was answering a Parliament question on behalf of the portfolio minister on Monday said, officers of C Band multiple grading have been paid except for 10 deceased officers whose payments had been submitted to the Master of the High Court for execution of the deceased estates.
Since this is a live issue, Mr Mathoothe said there was an ongoing exercise to determine the number of employees and the quantum hence the total amount due might change over time, depending on new entries, which would include amounts settled, and those freshly introduced as liabilities.
 In the above context, let me advise this House that based on a number of court rulings, the ministry appeared before the Ombudsman on August 18 and conceded to pay all similarly circumstanced claims related to overtimes hence the need to undertake the exercise, Mr Mathoothe said.
He explained that the underlying arrears dated back to 2015, and the considerations cut across all departments, and mainly affected extension officers.
Mr Mathoothe said that some transformation was required and appropriate consultations must take place between the relevant stakeholders, comprising my ministry, the Directorate of Public Service Management, the affected workers and their representative trade unions.
Bobirwa MP, Mr Taolo Lucas had asked the minister to give a departmental breakdown of all employees owed under his Ministry and the payment plan thereof. ENDS