Dr Phamotse makes this promise with less than 14 months to go before the country hosts the games, despite visible indicators that there is still so much to do. The new deputy minister of sports emphasized, in his acceptance remarks, that he preferred to work with peaceful employees because that would yield good results. 

“I struggle to work with people who are not peaceful because they lack focus,” he said, further highlighting that he believed in team work “as it helps to yield results that one could not achieve while working alone.  “It is only through team work that we will achieve all that is expected of us as a ministry,” he said.  Speaking on behalf of present stakeholders, the LNOC and Commonwealth Games director of operations, Mr Pulumo Nchakha, expressed joy in welcoming the deputy minister whom he said was being belatedly welcomed into the fold. 

“We are belated to welcome you during this crucial time when we are preparing to host the AUSC Region 5 games,” he said.   Mr Nchakha further indicated that the issue of doping has got into the sports fraternity in Lesotho, calling for strong measures against those who are found on the wrong side of the conduct and code of practice.  On behalf of the Principal Secretary, the Deputy Principal Secretary, Mrs ‘Mabataung Khalane, observed that the majority of the ministerial workload rested on the shoulders of the minister – a task she said was not easy for her to perform alone. “We warmly welcome you ntate, and through you we will arrive at our expectations,” she continued.

Deputy minister Makoa was recently appointed when Prime Minister Thabane reshuffled his cabinet and introduced new faces in the now more than 35 ministerial posts.