Lands and Agric ministry in contempt of court

Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti has told Parliament that the Ministry currently has 19 physical planners deployed across land boards, with Kweneng receiving the highest allocation.

Ngwato has four planners, Kgatleng three, Malete, Ngwaketse and Tawana two each, while Tati, Chobe and Kgalagadi have one apiece.

Rolong, Tlokweng and Ghanzi are supported by desk officers from the Department of Town and Country Planning and district councils.

Dikoloti said the Ministry is rationalising vacant positions to create posts for land boards and sub‑land boards. To fully resource all boards, at least 39 additional planners are required — one Assistant Physical Planner at each sub‑land board and a Principal Planner II at each main board.

“This scenario depends on resource availability, which remains a challenge,” he noted.

He acknowledged that the Ministry lacks immediate capacity to fill all posts but is recruiting for vacant positions to meet critical needs. Answering questions from Bobirwa MP Taolo Lucas, Dikoloti revealed that 1,469 employees are owed P13.4 million in arrears, some dating back years.

Payments are ongoing, particularly for gatekeepers, night watchmen and storekeepers. Officers under C Band multiple grading have been paid, except for 10 deceased officers whose claims are before the Master of the High Court.

He said the Ministry is conducting an exercise to determine the exact number of employees owed and the total quantum, which may change as new liabilities arise and others are settled.

Following court rulings, the Ministry appeared before the Ombudsman in August 2025 and conceded to pay all similar overtime claims, many of which date back to 2015 and largely affect extension officers.

“I am concerned about the arrears and the underlying productivity issues. Transformation is required, and consultations must take place with the Directorate of Public Service Management, affected workers and trade unions,” Dikoloti said. He stressed that urgent reforms in laws and policies are needed to improve service delivery in land and agriculture.

“If we are to attain food security and sovereignty, and ensure agriculture contributes six to 10 per cent of GDP in the short to medium term, we must confront these challenges within the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme,” he added.