Lesotho Prime Minister Implicated in Ex-Wife’s Murder Quits
Lesotho Prime Minister Implicated in Ex-Wife’s Murder Resigns
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane resigned, three months after being implicated in the murder of his ex-wife, paving the way for possible charges being brought against him.
Thabane, 80, announced his resignation in a speech televised in the capital, Maseru, in which he urged the landlocked mountain kingdom’s inhabitants to support his successor. The All Basotho Convention, headed by Thabane, and the opposition Democratic Congress party nominated Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro to be his replacement.
Thabane had for several months rejected calls to resign and responded by suspending Parliament, deploying the army and attempting to block investigations into the June 2017 death of his second wife, Lipolelo, who was shot two days before his inauguration. His departure was all but assured earlier this month when three parties quit the ruling coalition.
His current spouse, Maesaiah, 42, was indicted on Feb. 5 for allegedly shooting Lipolelo, with whom he had been in divorce proceedings. Thabane appeared in court later that month, but no charges were laid after his lawyer challenged the court’s power to prosecute a sitting premier. The killing was initially blamed on unidentified gunmen, but details later emerged implicating Thabane. He denies any involvement.
Thabane has served in every administration since the tiny southern African nation gained independence in 1966, including as Prime Minister from 2012-15.
The country of about 3 million people that’s encircled by South Africa has been riven by political turbulence and military coups since 1986. Opposition riots in 1998 prompted its neighbor to deploy troops to restore order, and in 2014 Thabane temporarily fled the country after accusing the military of overthrowing him.
The head of the army was shot dead three years later, leading to the deployment of troops from neighboring countries.
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