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Lesotho PM resigns amid ex-wife’s murder case

Thomas Thabane has formally stepped down as prime minister of Lesotho following months of pressure after he was named as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife.

The 80-year-old’s current wife, with whom he was living at the time of the murder, was charged in connection with the killing in February.

The pair have denied any involvement.

Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro is expected to be sworn in as Mr Thabane’s replacement.

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“The time to retire from the great theatre of action, take leave from public life and office has finally arrived,” Mr Thabane said on national television on Tuesday announcing his resignation.

He said he was stepping down because of his age, adding: “I am no longer as energetic as I used to be.”

He made no reference to the murder case but thanked his wife and “entire family for their unwavering support to me as prime minister”.

He also made reference to the fractious nature of politics in the country, saying that some had tried to take advantage when he announced, in January, that he would be stepping down.

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Lesotho has been plagued by political instability this year – he lost his majority in parliament last week when the coalition backing him fell apart and a new government is expected to be installed on Friday.

Gunmen shot and killed Lipolelo Thabane on June 14, 2017 – two days before Mr Thabane was sworn in as prime minister.

While returning home, she was ambushed, shot several times at close range and died on the side of a dirt road. She was 58.

At the time, Lipolelo was going through a bitter divorce with Mr Thabane and had been living apart from her husband since 2012.

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He had moved in with a new woman, Maesaiah Thabane, sometime between 2012 and 2017.

Mr Thabane appeared in court in February for acting in “common purpose” but he hasn’t been formally charged yet.

Mr Thabane, 80, is one of Africa’s oldest leaders and has spent most of his working life as a politician.

No stranger to political rivalry, Mr Thabane once fled to South Africa, alleging a coup plot by the military and had to be escorted back to Lesotho by the police.

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In the February court case, his lawyer argued that his position as prime minister granted him immunity from prosecution. -BBC

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Upper West Regional Police Command secures conviction against notorious robbers

The Upper West Regional Police Command is pleased to announce the conviction and sentencing of Abdulai Ibrahim alias Baba, 34 (Driver Mate) and Abdulai Kipo, 36 (Butcher), for their involvement in conspiracy to commit crimes to wit robbery and robbery.

The duo were found guilty and sentenced to 28 and 18 years imprisonment in Hard Labour, respectively.

The accused persons were implicated in a series of robberies across the Napogbakole, Danko, SSNIT, and Konta areas of the Wa Municipality.

Their arrest and conviction were made possible through intelligence-led investigations and meticulous gathering of evidence by the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate.

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The conviction and sentencing were carried out at the Wa Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Jonathan Avoogo.

The court’s verdict underscores the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice and safety in the region.

The Upper West Regional Police Command reaffirms its determination to make the region safe for peaceful coexistence and will continue to work tirelessly to combat crime and protect its residents.

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Police arrest two suspects for possession of suspected narcotic substance at Ayi Mensah

The Ghana Police Service has arrested two suspects for possession of eleven (11) large compressed sacks of a substance suspected to be narcotics at Ayi Mensah in the Greater Accra Region.

The suspects, Mathew Narkotey and Augustine Teye, were arrested by a team from the National Operations Department (NOD) on June 7, 2025 during routine patrols. The suspects were onboard a Mazda pick-up truck with registration number GT 3490-P when a search uncovered the suspected narcotic substance concealed in the vehicle.

The vehicle and the suspected substances have been impounded and are currently secured at the Joint Operations Centre for evidential purposes.

Both suspects are in police custody assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to arrest one Martey, named by the suspects as the intended recipient of the consignment.

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