Wife of Lesotho prime minister charged with murder of his previous spouse

Woman was shot days before Thomas Thabane was sworn in as leader of mountain kingdom

Exterior of the Palace of Justice of Lesotho. -Photograph: Michele Spatari/AFP
Exterior of the Palace of Justice of Lesotho. -Photograph: Michele Spatari/AFP

Lesotho police have charged the prime minister's wife, Maesaiah Thabane, with the murder of his previous spouse, the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday.

Police last month issued a warrant of arrest for Thomas Thabane’s wife after she failed to turn up for questioning in connection with the murder of Mr Thabane’s then-estranged wife Lipolelo on June 14th, 2017.

Maesaiah turned herself in on Tuesday, according to South African media reports.

Lipolelo was shot days before Mr Thabane was sworn in as leader of the mountain kingdom. The couple were involved in divorce proceedings at the time of Lipolelo’s death.

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He and Maesaiah married two months after the murder.

Mr Thabane last month announced his intention to resign, but gave no reason.

Lesotho, a mountain state encircled by South Africa, three-quarters of which lies more than 1,800 metres above sea level, is one of the world's poorest countries and has one of Africa's highest levels of HIV/AIDS prevalence.–Reuters