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Political Report
Lesotho · Southern Africa
Public power, representation and democratic consequence
The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane appeared in court in Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho on Monday for murder and attempted murder charges. However, he was not pronounced charged as the court needed to settle the constitutional issue of Prime Ministerial immunity is settled, and the magistrate in charge, Phethise Motanyane ruled.
The Police made it clear to the magistrate that they wanted to charge the Prime Minister for the death of his former wife, Lipolelo Thabane who was killed outside of her home in June 2017.
The Prime Minister’s legal team successfully convinced the magistrate to refer the matter to the High Court, which in Lesotho, also serves as the Constitutional Court, to determine whether Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is immune from prosecution.
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The 80 years old was in court with the first lady, Maesaiah Thabane and some senior members of his cabinet, and was avoiding a stare at the camera throughout the proceeding.
Messiah Thabane has already been charged with murder and attempted murder of the former first lady Lipolelo Thabane and a friend. She is out on bail and is yet to enter a plea.
Police say that eight other suspects will be charged over their links to the case, although their names have yet to be made public.
The details of the case have gripped the country, forced Prime Minister Thabane to promise his resignation and opened the lid on the murky power politics that have long dominated Lesotho’s culture.
The Prime Minister was a no-show for a court date last Friday. His office later said that he had rushed to South Africa for medical treatment, insisting that he was not trying to avoid the charges against him.
When this case comes to trial, observers say that prosecuting sordid allegations against one of the most powerful figures in Lesotho will be a stiff test of judicial independence.
A new date has not been set for the trial.
