Lesotho's ruling party has turned down Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's demands for immunity from prosecution in connection with the 2017 murder of his estranged wife, Lipolelo Thabane. The decision by the leader of the All Basotho Convention party is the latest in a week of setbacks for the 80-year-old leader, who is facing pressure to resign before the end of July 2020, as he promised. Earlier Thabane rejected an offer by Lesotho's coalition government and South African mediators to step down with a dignified retirement.
Lesotho: Prime Minister Digs in His Heels
Daily Maverick, 23 April 2020
Tom Thabane seems to be reneging on an agreement with South Africa that he would quit this week. Read more »
Lesotho: PM Thabane Begs Ministers to Ditch Coalition Deal With Opposition
Lesotho Times, 20 April 2020
Embattled All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is said to have begged some of his cabinet ministers to rethink their decision to endorse his… Read more »
Lesotho's coalition government has agreed with South African mediators and other stakeholders, on a guaranteed "dignified, graceful and secure retirement" for embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane who has been under pressure to leave office over suspicions that he had a hand in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017. Thabane has also been criticised for sending soldiers onto the streets of the capital, Maseru, to "restore order" before withdrawing them.
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The courts do not have the powers to order the removal of a prime minister, Constitutional Court Judge Sakoane Sakoane has said. Earlier, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane offered to step down from office by July 31 after he was accused of having a hand in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife. But now Thabane has ordered the security forces and intelligence service to probe his party rivals, whom he accused of plotting to topple
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Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro, who was unanimously chosen by the All Basotho Convention legislators to succeed Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, says he is ready to take over when the veteran leader eventually retires. Thabane agreed to step down after evidence allegedly linked him to the murder of his estranged wife, Lipolelo Thabane.
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The police have said they will lay criminal charges against senior judicial officers involved in a controversial decision to release First Lady Maesaiah Thabane on bail in February after she was charged with the murder of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's estranged wife, Lipolelo, along with the attempted murder of Thato Sibolla on the fateful night of June 14, 2017. Meanwhile, Lesotho's leader has launched a bid to escape murder charges by petitioning the Constitutional Court for an order
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