Thabane defends wife

MASERU – PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane last weekend told his All Basotho Convention (ABC) party supporters to stop meddling in
his family’s affairs. Thabane, 78, who was speaking at a rally in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday, said the practice
should stop immediately. “Put brakes to the practice,” he said. Thabane did not disclose how his ABC
supporters are meddling in his family affairs. “These people should stop their interference
in my family issues,” he said. Thabane is married to Maisaiah Liabiloe Thabane.

His former wife, Lipolelo Thabane, was shot dead by unknown assailants two days before he was inaugurated as Prime Minister
in June this year. No arrests have been made. “This is my family and nobody’s else,” he said.

Thabane’s complaints about people meddling in his family’s affairs comes barely two months after he publicly defended the office
of the First Lady from a barrage of accusations levelled against his wife. He said he was aware that some ministers
were accusing his wife of interfering in government operations.

Last month, Thabane told a party rally in Hlotse that his ABC had been infiltrated by “enemies who have come to confuse us”.
He said the enemies were spreading malicious rumours about the office of the First Lady and its role in assisting vulnerable villagers.
Thabane spoke at a time when social media was awash with complaints from people who claimed to be ABC supporters who accused his wife of “capturing the government”.

They complained that Thabane had allowed ’Maesaiah to run the government through what they termed a “bedroom coup”.
Thabane’s latest comments could suggest that the murmurs of discontent about the First Lady’s influence on the government are finally reaching him.
Thabane has in the past vociferously defended his wife telling his ABC supporters that he loves his wife so much that he would choose her over the party.

MAJARA MOLUPE