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Feb. 22, 2020

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

Vacate office now or vote of no confidence - Thabane warned

Vacate office now or vote of no confidence - Thabane warned

Lesotho parliament

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If things go according to the wishes of youth leagues of opposition parties, members of parliament from opposition parties would have nothing of the business of parliament than immediate resignation of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, alternatively vote of no confidence against him when parliament opens on Monday February 24.

Parliament resumed on Friday February 21 from long festive season recess and the first item on the agenda is the national budget for 2020/21 which will be tabled by finance minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro on Wednesday February 26. But the budget can wait, say the opposition youth.

Already the opposition has filed a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Thabane who is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property which were supposed to have been read to him in court on Friday had he not absented himself on grounds of medical check-up outside the country.

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Police said they were awaiting Thabane’s arrival so that the charges would be formerly read to him in court by the magistrate. He is accused together with his wife, Misaiah Thabane, for the murder of his second wife Lipolelo Thabane and attempted murder of her friend Thato Sibolla who narrowly escaped death on that fateful day.

At a press conference in Maseru on Friday, opposition youth league said the budget is not as important as seeing prime minister resign immediately, voluntarily as he has already indicated his desire to vacate office or be pushed out through motion of no confidence.

The president of youth league of the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC)Moeketsi Shale read a joint statement: “Our expectation was that the prime minister would resign forthwith, but to our surprise he announced he would only resign in July.”

Shale said as youth they now expect parliamentarians to take decisive action to oust Thabane from power as they have enough ammunition based on the criminal charges of murder he is facing. He said relieving Thabane of his current position would allow him to be charged as an individual without premiership status.

The youth leagues also expressed their dissatisfaction that Thabane’s wife, who already appeared in court and read charges, was released on suspicious bail which did not follow proper procedures.

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