Toppled PM in hot seat again

DOGGED BY CONTROVERSY: COBBLES TOGETHER COALITION TO RULE TROUBLED LESOTHO

Thabane takes over in mountain kingdom two days after murder of estranged wife.

Maseru

Lesotho’s new prime minister took office yesterday at the head of a coalition government – three years after he was ousted by a putsch and two days after the murder of his estranged wife.

Thomas Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) won snap elections on June 3 but failed to get an outright majority, leading it to negotiate joint rule with the Alliance of Democrats (AD), Basotho National Party (BNP) and Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL).

But his inauguration was marred by the murder of his estranged wife, Lipolelo, 58, who was gunned down on Wednesday night in a village near Maseru.

Thabane’s new coalition government comes with the hope of ending the political uncertainty that has long dogged the mountain kingdom.

Thabane said it was disturbing Lesotho was increasingly becoming notorious for its failed governments and that it was time to change.

“I sincerely hope that political reforms will bring stability in Lesotho and ensure that Lesotho governments last for a normal five-year term,” he said in his inaugural speech.

The new alliance replaces the government of Pakalitha Mosisili, a seven-party coalition plagued by infighting and corruption.

Mosisili’s government was toppled in March and elections were triggered after opposition parties called a vote of no-confidence, which he lost. At yesterday’s ceremony, which was held inside a stadium in Maseru, Thabane thanked his predecessor “for facilitating the smooth transfer of power” and said the two would “remain friends forever”.

Thabane, 78, previously served as premier after the 2012 elections. But he was forced to flee to South Africa following an attempted military coup two years later. – ANA