Lesotho PM tells SA envoy he wants to retire

Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane has told President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoy that he wants to retire, amid political drama in the country.

Ramaphosa sent former minister Jeff Radebe and deputy intelligence minister Zizi Kodwa to meet Thabane at his request on Thursday.

Thabane is said to have indicated his intention to step down but the coalition government is yet to work out the legal process to follow.

This comes as police insist that first lady Maesaiah Thabane

is a on the run after she resisted arrest in connection with ’the s first 2017 wife murder Lipolelo. of Thabane

Radebe met King Letsie before going to Thabane’s office and was later joined by other leaders in the coalition government. “It was proper for the prime minister to request it and inform the neighbours of his intentions (to retire),” Lesotho minister of communications science and technology chief Thesele Maseribane said.

Thabane had informed the king and coalition partners he wanted to retire, he added.

“We need to understand that it is a process, there should be some constitutional requirements. There should be arrangements. An official statement is still awaiting that. We need to inform other stakeholders also.”

He said top legal minds were working on a way forward.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Radebe said Thabane spoke to Ramaphosa before asking him to send an envoy. “We started with a courtesy call to His Majesty the King and then we went to see the prime minister, who explained the issues unfolding here.”

Radebe said they listened carefully to what Thabane said. “We will support all the measures and decisions the honourable prime minister and people of Lesotho are making and SA is ready to put its shoulder to the wheel because that is what a good neighbour does.”

Radebe said more announcements were expected in the next few days, and they were very optimistic about the political developments in Lesotho. Thabane’s intention to retire comes after the opposition and his own ABC party called for him to vacate office after he was accused of shielding his wife who is wanted by the police.