Lesotho PM to be charged with murdering his wife

The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane, is to be changed with the 2017 murder of his estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane, police have said. 

The prime minister’s current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, has already been charged with the murder and is set to appear in court next month. 

Mr Thabane, 80, had previously announced he would be stepping down from office in July because of his old age. He made no mention of the case. 

If charged, he would be the first African leader to be formally accused of a domestic murder while in office. 

Lipolelo Thabne was shot dead two days before Mr Thabane became prime minister in 2017. 

The killing was initially dismissed as random but police have now accused the prime minister of being involved after tracing a phone call made at the scene to Mr Thabane’s phone. 

Deputy Comissioner of Police Paseka Mokete told Reuters news agency “The Prime minister is going to be charged”. 

“The police are preparing directives and he will probably be charged tomorrow [Friday]”, he added. 

Photo: AFP