Maseru, March 04 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Security has terminated contracts of owing tenants as it has run short of M2.3 Million which was supposed to be collected from its property (commercial and industrial).
Presenting the Ministry’s Revenue Collection before the Portfolio Committee on the Economic and Development Cluster during the ongoing Ministerial consultations on the annual budget 2026/2027, Mr. Ts’eliso Sesoane said the Ministry has only collected M879,000 instead of the targeted M3.2 Million.
He said those owing include Mejametalana, which owes M687,000 and M880, 000 by Grain Processing amongst others.
Asked if the Ministry has commenced collecting the owed amount of money, the Ministry’s Legal department disclosed that it is due to find ways to collect it and that vacant spaces are still unoccupied although new applications have been received.
In another issue, Mr. Sesoane revealed that the Ministry’s revenue collection for 2025/2026 is up by M4, 656,132.27 as its target was M58, 826,148 million but collected M63, 482, 280. 27, saying they are expecting to collect more by end of March.
He indicated that the revenue was collected from crops and livestock licenses, permits for imports from South Africa, rent from properties, sale of goods or products, sale of fish, sale of services, sale of tender bidding and document, technical operation unit as well as laboratory testing services.
He also indicated that the sale of goods or products was exceeded by M13 Million as the target was M44Million but the Ministry collected M57 Million.
Meanwhile the Ministry’s presentation before the Portfolio Committee on the Economic and Development cluster is continuing.
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