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Lesotho PM charged with murder, retires

Lesotho PM charged with murder, retires

20 February 2020

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane will formally be charged with murder when he appears before the Lesotho High Court in Maseru tomorrow, according to the deputy police commissioner’s announcement today.

Investigative journalist in Lesotho explained that this is because Thabane’s phone was allegedly used in ordering the assassination of his former wife. Thabane’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane, was shot dead in 2017 and his current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, was detained this month and charged with ordering the murder.

There is speculation that PM Thabane could actually be the one who ordered the hit, our source said. Thabane announced on state radio today that we will be retiring with effect from the end of July, citing old age. His announcement comes days after his own party’s executive council called on him to resign.

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