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Southern Africa · Lesotho · South Africa
Public power, representation and democratic consequence
The first lady of Lesotho, Maesaiah Thabane has been charged with murdering her husband’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane, in a crime that has gripped the minuscule kingdom.
Lipolelo Thabane was shot dead outside of her home in the capital city of Maseru, two days prior to the inauguration of the incumbent Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane in June 2017.
Following this development, Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho has not recovered from the shock. The murder shocked the small kingdom surrounded by South Africa.
Messiah Thabane – Rapporting Gaol
Messiah Thabane, 42, appeared in court Wednesday and was remanded in custody after the murder charge.
She was also charged with the attempted murder of a second woman who was with the former first lady the night she was killed.
The Kingdom of Lesotho Police released a statement that “the first lady became a prime suspect after she failed to appear for questioning in January in connection to Lipolelo Thabane’s killing. She later turned herself in on Tuesday morning at a police station close to the border with South Africa.”
Investigations into the 2017 shooting death of Lipolelo Thabane have also prompted authorities to issue an arrest warrant for Thabane’s current wife, Maesaiah Thabane.
The warrant was issued by the court earlier this month after Maesaiah Thabane failed to appear for questioning at a police station, according to court documents. Police had been looking for the first lady since earlier in January, Lesotho Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli asserted.
Efforts to reach out to Maesaiah Thabane’s lawyer for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
Prime Minister – A Person of Interest
Police in Lesotho wants to question Prime Minister Thomas Thabane as part of an investigation into the killing of Thabane’s former wife.
In a letter addressed to Thabane on Monday, Lesotho’s Deputy Police Commissioner Paseke Mokete urged the Prime Minister to attend an interview with police Wednesday to “cast a light” on the ongoing probe.
Ever since the arrest and custody drama of the first lady, political pressure have been mounting on the 80-year-old Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane.
The 80-year-old leader came under pressure from his party to step down after police chief Molibeli wrote in a letter on December 23 that communication records from the day of the killing picked up Thabane’s mobile phone number, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According to the Spokesman of the All Basotho Convention Party, Montoeli Masoetsa, the Prime Minister announced last month that he would respect the wishes of the ruling party, All Basotho Convention Party and would resign from office.
A date for his resignation has not yet been announced. It should be noted that he was inaugurated on the 16th of June 2017.
Before the shooting, the Prime Minister and his first wife, Lipolelo Thabane were negotiating their divorce and the Prime Minister remarried less than three months after her death, local media reports.
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The Kingdom of Lesotho- Fact-file
Lesotho is a democratic, sovereign and independent country with the unique characteristic of being surrounded by its neighbour, the Republic of South Africa.
The country formerly known as Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966.
In 1993, after 23 years of military rule, a new constitution was implemented leaving the King without any executive authority and proscribing him from engaging in political affairs.
In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.
However, Lesotho is one of three remaining monarchies in Africa.
