Moorosi Tsiane

GENDER, Youth, Sport and Recreation minister Likeleli Tampane has ordered the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) to haul Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi before a disciplinary committee for saying the ministry’s top management has serious gender imbalances.

Mohapi made the remarks on a local radio last week. He said there was only one man in the ministry’s top management, which does not augur well with its gender equality drive.

Tampane’s deputy, Phuthuhelo Mafereka is the only man in the ministry’s top leadership. Principal secretary (PS) Moliehi Moejane, deputy PS Mabataung Khalane; director of sport, Puisano Tšosane; manager of sport, ‘Manerea Ramotso and recreation manager, Moleboheng Mokobocho—are all women.

An inside source said the comments angered Tampane who raised her concerns over Mohapi’s conduct at a meeting with the LSRC last Monday.

“She was fuming on Monday over Mohapi’s remarks and she ordered the LSRC to discipline him,” the source said.

“She also said the LSRC should inform LeFA to desist from approaching the ministry directly with its issues. Instead, she said LeFA must go through the LSRC, which is the sports mother body.”

LSRC spokesperson Teboho Rakhomo confirmed that the minister asked that Mohapi be disciplined but said they were yet to discuss the matter.

“She raised her concerns in a Monday meeting and said Mohapi’s comments were inappropriate. She said the LSRC must intervene but at the moment, there is nothing more that I can say because the commissioners are yet to deliberate on the matter.

“However, on the LeFA’s conduct of approaching the ministry directly, I think there is little that we can do because for a long time, they have been approaching the ministry whenever they have needs. They have never come to the LSRC,” Rakhomo said.

For his part, Mohapi said he was unmoved but warned that “people should not misquote me to suit their agendas”.

“Of course; I said the executive management in that ministry is dominated by women with only one man and I am not ashamed of that. People should stop misquoting me to suit their agendas.

“As a ministry championing equality, is it not embarrassing that they have a management mainly made up of women while we also have men who are equally capable?”

Mohapi said he was ready to face Tampane if she felt he was out of line.

“They should bring it on. I am prepared to face them. I am talking about the gender equality and representation here which we don’t see it in that ministry; it is a fact,” Mohapi said.