Lesotho Prime Minister resigns over alleged role in ex-wife’s death

The Lesotho Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane has resigned on Tuesday following a pressure after three months, when police fingered him and his current wife as suspects in the murder of his former wife.

Penpushing reports that, Thabane’s party, All Basotho Convention (ABC), as well as opposition personalities and South African mediators had all been pressing him to tender resignation letter over the murder case.

The former wife, Lipolelo was reportedly shot dead on June 14, 2017, two days before he took office, while Maesaiah has been charged over the murder, but Thabane who was also fingered in the alleged crime has not been charged.

Penpushing further reports that, the couple denied any involvement, while, lawmakers explained that, Thabane was not offered immunity from prosecution in return for stepping down, and it remains unclear whether he will now face any charges.

The resignation of the former Prime Minister, has equally paved way for the Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro, as replacement as made known by the parliament and he is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.

“I plead with the entire nation… to give my successor utmost support, and for my part I wish to assure him of my support. The time to retire from the great theatre of action, take leave from public life and office has finally arrived’, Thabane was quoted saying in his televised address.

Penpushing also reports that it is also on record that the 80 year old Thabane’s coalition fell apart last week, leaving him with no legal choice but to resign, while, his departure marks the end of one of Lesotho’s longest political careers, one marked by exile, intrigue, tensions with the military and a political crisis that deepened when police named him as a murder suspect in February.

The Deputy leader of the Democratic Congress Party, Motlalentoa Letsosa, of the main opposition party which will now join a new coalition government under  Majoro said, “It is a relief and we believe… Lesotho will be steered to greatness and good governance as well as peace,”

Meanwhile, Lesotho is a small kingdom encircled by a South African mountain range, and  has seen several coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, while its political upheavals often drag in South Africa, which gets some of its water from high-altitude Lesotho.