Foreign
80-year-old Lesotho PM to Step Down, Says he’s “No Longer Energetic”
The octogenarian, whose term is due to end in 2022, has promised to retire by the end of July this year on the grounds of “old age”. His ruling All Basotho Convention party last week rejected his demand for immunity from prosecution after he steps down. “I wish to once again reaffirm my decision to retire as prime minister,” Thabane said in an address to the nation on Thursday, without setting a clear date for his resignation.
Thabane said the decision was “voluntary” as he was “no longer as energetic” due to his age.
On Thursday he reiterated his intention to retire by the end of July “or earlier”, despite risk of prosecution for his alleged involvement in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife.
Thabane, 80, and his previous wife Lipolelo Thabane, 58, were going through a bitter divorce when she was gunned down outside her home in the capital Maseru, just two days before her husband’s inauguration in June 2017.